Arrests, rehab, and now hospitalization — a look at Heather Locklear's troubles
Heather Locklear is making headlines again for troubling behavior.
On Sunday, the Melrose Place and Dynasty actress — who ruled the tube in the ’80s, ’90s, and early aughts — was hospitalized after threatening to kill herself, according to multiple reports. In dispatch audio obtained by TMZ, the operator described Locklear as “agitated and violent” after her mother called 911. The news outlet reported that Locklear’s parents went to their daughter’s house when the actress sounded distressed and upon arrival, Locklear allegedly hit her father and choked her mother.
Yahoo Entertainment reached out to Locklear’s attorney for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Although the actress used to make headlines for her primetime TV work, for the last decade or so, the news cycle has been about personal drama. Following the success of Melrose Place and then a turn in her Golden Globe-nominated role on Spin City, Locklear never settled into another starring TV role for the long term. In the mid-2000s, her marriage to Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora — with whom she shares a 20-year-old daughter, Ava, a model — ended. It has been ups and downs ever since.
2006: After 11 years of marriage, Locklear, whose first husband was Tommy Lee, files for divorce from Sambora. Although they ultimately put aside their differences and co-parent peacefully (even vacationing together), Sambora initially goes on to date Locklear’s “friend” Denise Richards, and the tabloids have a field day.
2007: Locklear rebounds with her Melrose co-star Jack Wagner.
2008: In March, a 911 call is made from someone claiming to be Locklear’s doctor saying she was suicidal. Locklear is deemed fine by emergency personnel after a wellness check. Three months later, she checks into an Arizona medical facility to deal with anxiety and depression. In September, Locklear is pulled over by the California Highway Patrol on suspicion of driving under the influence. Although blood tests indicated she wasn’t drinking or on illegal drugs, prescription medicine she took for anxiety and depression “could have impaired her ability to safely drive a motor vehicle,” according to the Santa Barbara County deputy district attorney. She is charged with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence.
2009: In January, Locklear pleads no contest to reckless driving amid a deal that included probation and a fine.
2010: Locklear is arrested for a hit-and-run in Westlake Village, Calif. She hit a no-parking sign on a public street and didn’t report it to anyone, leading to the misdemeanor charge. She completes a 30-day inpatient rehab program for prescription drugs.
2011: Locklear and Wagner get engaged in August but call off their romance soon after. It wasn’t a happy parting of ways — in fact, police were called to break up an altercation between the two.
2012: Locklear’s sister calls 911, saying that the actress has consumed prescription pills and alcohol, and is in danger. She is taken to a hospital but is released the next day. Family members confide to People magazine in the following days that the actress’s issues with alcohol go back a long time and that they want her to go into rehab. She is put under a doctor’s care but opts not to go to rehab.
2013: She starts dating plastic surgeon Marc Mani.
2016: After breaking up with Mani, Locklear reconnects with her high school boyfriend, Chris Heisser, and they start dating. The tabloids enjoy picking apart their romance, with one claiming that he was seeing another woman when they first got together.
2017: Locklear starts the year in rehab for undisclosed treatment. In September, days after making her first public appearance in a year, Locklear drives off the road into a ditch. She’s transported to the hospital with minor, nonthreatening injuries.
2018: In February, Locklear is arrested for domestic violence. TMZ reported that Locklear’s brother called police after arriving at her home in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and finding her arguing with her boyfriend. Although the boyfriend was not identified, Locklear has been dating her former high school sweetheart, Heisser, for several years.
Even though domestic violence charges are eventually dropped, she still faces four counts of misdemeanor battery on a police officer and one charge of resisting or obstructing a police officer. She pleads not guilty. The actress is banned from owning a firearm following the incident. (She has one registered in her name.)
Locklear, who has long dealt with drug and alcohol issues, is hospitalized in June after threatening to kill herself. According to multiple reports, she was taken in for a psychiatric evaluation.
Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:
