Heather Locklear: A rollercoaster ride through love and heartache
Heather Locklear. Credit / Getty Images
Heather Locklear has always been one of my all time favorite celebs.
The blue-eyed bombshell worked her way up and starred in iconic shows such as Dynasty and Melrose Place, earning millions of dollars.But her love life has been plagued by scandals and messy divorces.
Read on to learn why her family is deeply worried and feels ”helpless” about the star’s current lifestyle, and discover the events that led to her unfortunate decline.
Hollywood can be such a cruel place. You’re on top of the world one moment, and then they cast you aside like garbage. Just ask Heather Locklear—she knows all about it.
In recent years, countless tabloids have detailed her personal struggles, reveling in her alleged substance and alcohol abuse. However, the reality is that Heather Locklear’s tragedies began early in life.
Touched twice by tragedy
We’ve seen it so many times before—a quintessential All-American girl makes a spectacular breakthrough. She’s beautiful, successful, and has high-profile relationships. For Heather, it all started in high school.
With her blonde hair, big blue eyes, and dazzling smile, it was impossible for her to go unnoticed. Back then, many compared her to the legendary Farrah Fawcett.
So, from the outside, everything seemed perfect. But was that really the case?
Looking at what the Melrose Place star has said in old interviews paints a different picture. Despite her eventual success and recognition, she struggled with self-image issues during her youth.
Heather described herself as a shy child, with ”bony elbows, acne, and braces.” She dreamed of being part of her high school cheerleading squad – but was considered too skinny and weak.
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At home, however, there were no major issues, and Heather has described her childhood as loving and happy.
The actress has often spoken warmly about her parents, and praised their strong marriage. Her mother was a production executive and her father was a former colonel in the Marine Corps.
”My father was a Marine colonel, very loving, but there’d be a look in his eyes when he was displeased,” Heather told New York Times.
Family catastrophe
However, there were terrible things that shook Heather’s childhood, things no child should have to experience up close.
When she was only 16, her uncle committed suicide. In 1986, Locklear’s 27-year-old cousin also took his own life, shooting himself with a handgun.
The tragic deaths sent shockwaves through the Locklear family. The terrible events still make Heather freeze when they arise in conversation.
The TV audience had no idea about this when Heather rose to fame. Many saw her as a ‘nice girl’ – almost bordering on boring. But all of this was to change with her first marriage. Because the person she tied the knot with was anything but ordinary.
Dancing with Tom Cruise
After her breakthrough in the prime-time soap opera Dynasty, Heather was often seen in the arm of rock greats and other talented actors.
After an audition in the early 1980s, Tom Cruise and Heather Locklear developed a bit of a liking for each other. It wasn’t exactly dating, but Heather recounted their wild night together in an episode of Chelsea Lately.
According to Heather, the duo decided to hang out one evening because Tom didn’t have many friends in Tinseltown at the time. Tom was, of course, thrilled to spend the evening with a big and beautiful star like Heather. Although Tom himself was an upcoming actor and had found success with Risky Business, he wasn’t quite on Heather’s level.
Apparently, Tom Cruise showcased some of his crazy moves from Risky Business, which left Heather a bit bewildered. ”You just kind of stand there and don’t know what to do,” she recalled and continued: ”Do you dance around him?”
The actress decided to sit back and watch as Cruise worked his magic. And that was the end of it, the couple didn’t go on any more dates after that night.
Scott Baio relationship
Scott Baio’s combination of charm, acting talent, and roles in popular TV shows made him a big star in the 80s’. The Hollywood heartthrob was a hot commodity among many girls during this time, but he found himself falling for Heather Locklear.
”Heather Locklear was the first girl I was ever in love with,” Scott Baio told People and added: “She is the greatest chick in the world, and I just ruined it.”
The duo first met in 1983, during the shooting of Battle of the Network Stars. Scott was captivated by Heather’s beauty and fell head over heels for her. The feeling was mutual, but their relationship eventually fell apart. The reason? Scott Baio couldn’t commit seriously.
Dating Mark Harmon
NCIS star Mark Harmon hasn’t always been married to his beloved Pam Dawber. Before their wedding, Mark was one of Hollywood’s most sought-after bachelors.
Heather Locklear & Scott Baio (Photo by Barry King/WireImage)
In 1986, People magazine even voted him the sexiest man alive. At the time, Mark was making waves as Dr. Robert Caldwell on St. Elsewhere and could have had his pick of single women in Hollywood, though he might not have fully realized his own popularity. His co-star, Cristina Pickles, who played nurse Helen Rosenthal on St. Elsewhere, once remarked on how women reacted to seeing Harmon.
“Mark’s sensitivity shows through that handsome face, and women love that,” she told People in 1986. “I don’t think he is fully aware of his effect on women.”
“Forget Mel Gibson,” actor Donna Mills said. “Whenever I see Mark, I think to myself, ‘Your place or mine?’”
Heather Locklear had, of course, also noticed Mark Harmon, and they had a brief fling in 1984. They would probably have made a great couple, but fate had other plans. Their romance was short-lived, according to the NCIS star.
“It began around Christmas [1984] but was over by New Year’s,” Mark recalled and said that Heather was “just an emotional cup of coffee to me.”
First marriage
In 1985, Heather Locklear started dating the fast-living Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee. The two first met at an REO Speedwagon concert.
”He was a bad boy, and that image was exciting to me. Maybe it was my way of rebelling,” she said.
Sadly, the marriage began to falter quite quickly. Despite this, the couple stayed married for almost eight years.
Barry King/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images
”I really loved Tommy – well, for a brief time”, she said. ”I gave it my best”.
Their original plan was to stay together for life, and Heather often spoke about only getting married once.
“I think we’ll be the coolest grandma and grandpa in the world,” Tommy Lee excitedly said in an interview with People shortly after their union. “We’ll be like 85 or 90; I’ll still be a rock pig, and Heather will still be gorgeous.”
In 1993, the couple went their separate ways, but Heather would soon find love again.
Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora
Just one year after her divorce, Heather Locklear found love again, this time with rock star Richie Sambora, lead guitarist for Bon Jovi. Their paths crossed in New York during one of Heather’s Melrose Place PR trips.
Amidst speculations about whether she had taken enough time to heal from her first failed marriage, Heather and Richie faced initial challenges, living on opposite coasts of the USA — he in New Jersey and she in California. However, despite the distance, the couple seemed to make it work.
In 1994, they tied the knot in a New Jersey civil service. Not content with just one celebration, the newlyweds jetted off to Paris for another ceremony shortly after.
Having been previously married to the wild Tommy Lee, the then-33-year-old Dynasty/T.J. Hooker/Melrose Place star expressed that she found something different and special in Richie Sambora.
L. Cohen/WireImage
”He’s really grounded, really family oriented, and very close to his parents,” she noted of Sambora in 1998. ”Who I am as a person is really who Richie is as a person…. We mirror each other.”
On the other hand, Sambora had also lived a hard rock ‘n’ roll life; there were rumors of him dating Cher, among others. But when he saw Heather, his life changed.
”I had a great time dating women,” he recalled. ”But the minute I met my wife, I knew I was done. That was it. I think the same thing happened to her.”
According to Heather, her second marriage was very different compared to the first time she walked down the aisle.
”I handled it so differently from my first marriage,” she said in 1996 and continued:
”I told him, ‘This is who I am and this is what I want’”.
The couple spent their weekends at their mountain home in Lake Arrowhead, outside of Los Angeles.
”We are very boring. We go out to dinner to the same three restaurants and eat the same things. We like to sit around and talk,” Heather said.
In many ways, Heather and Richie seemed to live like any ordinary married couple, despite their celebrity status.
”By all accounts, they were a perfect couple,” Jamie Bufalino, senior editor at People magazine, said. “Many of their friends envied their relationship.”
In 1997, the couple welcomed their only child, daughter Ava. When she was a little kid, Ava was often seen on-stage during concerts with Jon Bon Jovi. Sometimes, she introduced them to the audience and even danced with the band members.
Being the daughter of two big stars, her not-so-average upbringing could easily have been a nightmare. But instead, it looks like she turned out fine –Ava is a very smart and highly-educated woman today (check here).
Unfortunately, her parents’ marriage didn’t fare as well.
Breakup with Sambora
Rumors of the couple’s impending breakup swirled, with some tabloids claiming that their disputes revolved around whether to have a second child.
The speculation reached a point where Heather and Richie eventually had to address the reports.
”The real story is that there is no story. The truth is that after 11 years together, we are still happily married. Boring but true,” the couple said in a joint statement to the New York Daily News, in December 2005.
Heather Locklear, Richie Sambora and daughter Ava Elizabeth (Photo by L. Cohen/WireImage)
A few months later, the situation took a different turn. After eleven years as husband and wife, Heather Locklear filed for divorce. She cited irreconcilable differences, a typical reason in celebrity divorces. However, the fallout of Heather’s filing for divorce was anything but typical.
It all started when Heather’s publicist spread the news of the divorce in February 2006. However, there was a problem – Richie Sambora had no idea that his wife wanted to split up.
The rocker was taken aback by the news, because the message apparently didn’t reach the rocker, who had been on tour recently. And he fired back when reporters asked what had happened between the couple. Richie claimed that the reports of their divorce were ”completely untrue” and that he was in the midst of making plans for Valentine’s Day with his wife.
But the fact was that Heather had indeed filed for divorce. And as the days went by, more and more dirty details began to emerge. According to People, Heather had stumbled upon an email sent to Richie Sambora from a woman they both knew. The email contained provocative pictures.
That discovery was the last straw, leaving Heather ”absolutely devastated.” Sambora, however, vehemently denies any marital indiscretion.
Heather Locklear and Denise Richards, what happened?
But the turmoil surrounding her divorce didn’t end there. The breakup also caused a rift between Heather and her close friend Denise Richards. Shortly after the divorce, Richie Sambora began dating Denise, who was also going through a highly publicized and tough split from Charlie Sheen. Since Charlie and Heather had become friends after working together on the TV show Spin City, the two couples were well-acquainted.
The divorces brought Denise and Richie together, and they eventually fell in love, which naturally didn’t sit well with Heather. There was speculation that a possible affair between Richie and Denise was the real reason for Heather’s divorce, though Denise has denied this. What is clear, however, is that Richie and Denise’s relationship deeply hurt Heather.
“The thing with Heather, that’s been hard,” Denise Richards told Entertainment Tonight in 2006. “You can’t help who you fall for and that friendship, unfortunately, was done and wasn’t salvageable.”
According to Denise, she and Heather were never “best friends,” and she didn’t steal her friend’s husband, as some malicious rumors suggested. Getting together with Richie was the last thing she wanted, but it couldn’t be helped once they fell for each other.
”We (her and Sambora) were friends and we were both going through divorces, and that’s what drew us to each other … I did not steal someone’s husband. Did I date a former friend’s ex-husband? Yes. Did I break up a marriage? No,” Richards told Us Weekly.
The relationship between Denise Richards and Richie Sambora was short-lived. They broke up in early 2007 but remained friends afterward. The couple gave it another try in 2011, but ultimately decided to stay friends.
Relationship today
Despite the tumultuous circumstances surrounding their divorce, Heather and Richie have managed to maintain a good relationship. Many years after their split, Richie Sambora spoke with People and revealed that he and Heather still love each other.
”Time does heal old wounds. I mean, I still love Heather and I know she loves me. She’s the mother of my child, man. What can you say?,” Richie explained.
Of course, their beloved daughter Ava plays a key role in maintaining healthy communication between them. Both of her parents are incredibly supportive, and when Ava Sambora walked the catwalk at the White Trash Beautiful Spring 2011 Fashion Show, Heather and Richie were there, standing side by side. They have also been together for several Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations.
”We’re very good. It’s actually even beyond for [our daughter’s] sake,” Richie told Access Hollywood in 2012. ”Heather and I really respect each other, and we’ve become better friends, I think, now that we’re not married.”
The past few years have, as many know, been quite tough for Heather Locklear. She has been arrested multiple times and has struggled with alcohol and medication addiction. The first worrying sign came in 2008, when someone who claimed to be Locklear’s doctor called 911 and said that the star was trying to kill herself.
Emergency responders rushed to her house and the police investigated the matter, but afterward, Heather’s publicist said the alarm was false. However, the police believed the call was genuine.
Unfortunately, Heather’s decline continued, and she has received treatment for addiction 20 times. Not long after that alarming call in 2008, the six-time Golden Globe nominee checked herself into an Arizona medical center for anxiety and depression treatment. In 2018, Richie Sambora revealed that he had hired a team of specialists to care for Locklear after she once again faced issues with alcohol and was arrested for domestic violence and battery against a police officer.
Richie helped arrange and cover the costs so that Heather could remain at a long-term care residence, where some of the best doctors and psychiatrists could assist her.
Ventura County Sheriff’s Dept.
”I will of course always be there for Heather and especially Ava. I am very proud of my daughter for her composure and strength during this difficult time,” Richie Sambora told Daily Mail.
In recent years, Heather seems to have been more stable, and she reportedly has been sober for many years now. Unfortunately, in 2023, some concerning images of her were published, sparking worries about her well-being once more.
The New York Post released photos showing Locklear behaving erratically and talking to herself in public, raising concerns that she might be struggling again.
We sincerely hope that Heather is doing well today. It’s not easy to achieve the level of TV stardom she did, with all that entails.
But she seems to be a genuinely wonderful woman, so we wish her all the wellness in the world and hope she finds happiness for many years to come. Let’s send her positive vibes and love as she continues her journey.
At 61, Meg Ryan makes rare public appearance, sparks debate
Meg Ryan. Credit / Getty Images
Meg Ryan made her first public appearance in half a year with a show of support for Michael J. Fox prior to the release of the new documentary focusing on his battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Ryan, 61, has reportedly not been seen for some six months, having made a conscious decision in recent years to take a step back from the limelight.
As per the Daily Mirror, she ventured out to lend support to friend Michael J. Fox at a screening of his forthcoming production, STILL: A Michael J. Fox Movie.
The pair were snapped together looking happy, though fans were quick to comment on Ryan’s new look, which some termed “unrecognizable”.
The Sleepless in Seattle Star, who made her on-screen debut in Rich and Famous (1981), displayed an incredibly smooth complexion, once again fueling rumors that she may have dabbled in plastic surgery, despite her previous denials.
Indeed, some shared less than flattering opinions over Meg’s new look online, reigniting a debate that the actress herself has weighed in on in the past.
“This is Meg Ryan,” one Twitter user commented. “Hopefully women will learn from this. Plastic Surgery is for Frankenstein.
“Meg Ryan spent thousands to make herself unrecognizable and hideous,” another added.
Another person wrote of the pictures, “what did she do to herself? These hollywood elites overdo the plastic surgery. Get a refund”
“Wtf has Meg Ryan done to her face?!” a third wrote.
In the past Ryan has insisted that she pays little attention to those offering negative opinions as to her appearance.
In a 2015 interview with Porter Magazine, she openly addressed the rumors regarding plastic surgery.
“I don’t pay a lot of attention, frankly,” she said at the time. “There’s a lot of hatred in the world today. It’s so easy to judge. Imagine being a hater, how stupid.”
Turning out for the aforementioned screening, held at the Alice Tully Hall in the Lincoln Center, New York, the actress seemed to be in good spirits as she posed for pictures with the likes of Billy Murray and Elvis Costello on Michael J. Fox’s big night.
Credit / Michael Simon – Shutterstock
Fox, who recently conceded that he didn’t think he would live to see 80 years old, is releasing a new documentary focusing on his life during the three decades since his diagnosis.
The Back to the Future star was first told he had Parkinson’s disease aged just 29. Despite initially endeavoring to hide his condition, he’s since become a leading figure in the fight for heightened awareness and research.
In a tear-jerking recent interview, Fox candidly reflected on his own mortality, saying that his ongoing battle with Parkinson’s was “getting tougher”.
“I’m not gonna lie. It’s gettin’ hard, it’s gettin’ harder. It’s gettin’ tougher,” the retired actor said. “Every day it’s tougher. But, but, that’s, that’s the way it is. I mean, you know, who do I see about that?”
Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
He added that he recently had spinal surgery after a tumor was found on his spine. While it was benign, it affected his ability to walk, and he was injured after a fall.
“[I] broke this arm, and I broke this arm, I broke this elbow. I broke my face. I broke my hand,” Fox said.
“You don’t die from Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s. I’ve been thinking about the mortality of it. … I’m not gonna be 80. I’m not gonna be 80.”
What do you think to Meg Ryan’s look? Should people really have the right to comment on her face and made judgements? Let us know in the comments section.
Meanwhile, join us in sending love and prayers in Michael J. Fox’s direction!
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A camel bit off its owner’s head after being left tied up in the hot sun all day.
Left tied up in the scorching heat all day, the camel attacked and killed its owner by biting off their head.
An Indian man who left his camel tied up in the heat all day lost his life because of it.
When he tried to untie the camel, it became aggressive, attacking him and biting off his head.
“The camel grabbed him by the neck, threw him to the ground, bit his body, and severed his head,” villager Thakara Ram told The Times of India.
It took around six hours and 25 people to finally control the camel.
Some villagers in Rajasthan said the camel had attacked the man, Urjaram, before.
Camels don’t usually attack people very often.
Camel attacks can be extremely violent and unexpected.
In January last year, a camel at a breeding farm in Texas killed two people by crushing them.
The previous fall, an American man who owned an animal sanctuary in Mexico was killed by a camel. It bit and kicked him, then sat on him until he suffocated.
Rescuers had to tie the camel to a truck to pull it away from the body. Some believe the camel was upset because it didn’t get its daily Coca-Cola that day.
A few months earlier, a similar attack happened in California when a camel attacked an elderly man the same way. However, he survived.
Camels are usually friendly animals that like to sniff and even play with people’s hair.
However, male camels can be aggressive and sometimes fight with females.
Even though they have big teeth, camels raised in captivity are usually bred to avoid biting.
Camels tend to kick in a circular motion, but experts say they rarely kick people.
Pop icon Justin Bieber, now 30, has captivated millions of fans worldwide for over a decade. But lately, his latest photos have sparked serious concern among his devoted followers.
Once the ultimate teenage heartthrob, Bieber’s recent appearance has left many asking — what’s really going on?Disheveled look
Pop sensation Justin Bieber has always been known for his ever-changing looks, but his latest public appearances have left fans more worried than entertained. The 30-year-old singer has been spotted looking noticeably pale and gaunt, often dressed in oversized, shabby clothing, fueling speculation about his well-being.
What’s most unsettling for his loyal supporters is that this should be a joyful chapter in Bieber’s life — he recently became a father to baby Jack Blues, born in August 2024.
Yet, instead of exuding the glow of new parenthood, Bieber’s disheveled look has sparked concern, marking a stark contrast from his previous public image.
Bieber first shot to fame as a teen heartthrob, rocking his signature side-swept fringe while repeating the word “baby” in a way that made the whole world sing along. As his career skyrocketed, his style evolved — transitioning from skate park casual to something clearly influenced by a professional stylist.
In recent years, his wardrobe choices have often been quirky and unpredictable, at times even bizarre — but mostly in a way that felt harmless, even amusing. Now, however, fans fear those days are long gone.
In recent months, several photos of Justin Bieber have surfaced, sparking concern among fans about his well-being. Many believe he hasn’t looked his best, and his latest public appearances have only fueled speculation.
Wandering the streets of NYC in a bathrobe
Back in January, Justin was seen leaving a New York City studio alone, looking visibly exhausted. While he’s always been a fan of oversized clothing, his fashion choices took an unexpected turn this week when he was spotted wandering the streets of NYC in a bathrobe and stained Ugg boots.
The latest images have left fans genuinely concerned for his well-being.
In response to the photos, one person commented that it appeared he was going through a “difficult time,” while another fan noted that he looked like he was “struggling.” Some even speculated that he might be “suffering,” further fueling worries among his followers.
Justin Bieber is seen on February 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by XNY/Star Max/GC Images)
His latest appearances suggest something deeper may be going on, and the internet is buzzing with speculation. Is it just an experimental fashion phase? Exhaustion from fatherhood? Or is there something more serious behind Bieber’s drastic change?
Since Justin Bieber appeared to be his usual self in January 2024, sharing selfies on Instagram that showcased a healthy appearance, fans have been left puzzled by his recent transformation.
P. Diddy mentored Bieber
As the year progressed, many noticed he appeared noticeably thinner and more downcast. This shift in his demeanor coincided with the mounting struggles surrounding Diddy’s situation, which worsened over time, culminating in his arrest in September 2024. Fans can’t help but wonder if these events may have had an impact on Bieber’s well-being, prompting a wave of concern from his loyal followers.
Music mogul Diddy, readers will surely already know, is facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. According to a troublesome claim made by RadarOnline, Bieber is “haunted” by his past.
Recently, fans voiced concerns when Justin Bieber was seen looking fatigued and gaunt during a dinner outing with his wife, Hailey. The sighting sparked worries, and RadarOnline points out that this was around the same time old clips of Bieber and Diddy resurfaced online.
Prince Williams/FilmMagic
In one particularly notable clip, Diddy, who had mentored Bieber in his early years, proudly reminisced about spending “48 hours” with Bieber when he was just 15 years old. The re-emergence of these videos only seemed to intensify the growing concern for the pop star’s well-being.
“He’s having 48 hours with Diddy. What we’re doing, we can’t really disclose. But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream … we’re gonna go full crazy,” he said.
Now sources are suggesting that Bieber’s links to Diddy may be adversely affecting the Baby singer. One individual, said to have worked in Bieber’s team for years, told PageSix: “Do I believe he was involved in some stupid s—? Yeah.
“He was a teenager. He was the biggest pop star in the world. Everyone was worried about him, and we didn’t know if he would survive it.
“People took advantage of everything he did.”
While celebrities like Justin Bieber live their lives in the public eye, it’s easy to forget that they too are human, facing their own challenges behind the glam and flashing cameras.
Paparazzi and constant media attention can often overshadow the fact that, at the end of the day, they deserve the same kindness and understanding as anyone else. As fans, it’s important to remember the pressures that come with fame and offer support where we can — because, like all of us, they need it too.