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.
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. Continue reading…
