Heather Locklear never had to run away to Hollywood—she was already there. Born in Los Angeles on September 25, 1961, she grew up just far enough from the spotlights to play softball in the street, yet close enough to feel their heat on her face. Dad worked at UCLA, Mom kept offices running, and the teenage Heather figured she’d probably sell ads or counsel teenagers. Psychology textbooks filled her dorm room at UCLA—until a part-time modeling gig paid tuition and a casting scout paid her a compliment: “The camera likes your smile. Ever try speaking while you use it?”
Aaron Spelling heard that smile first. One guest spot on Dynasty turned into a contract role as Sammy Jo Carrington—the blonde dynamite who could bat eyelashes and throw punches in the same scene. While oil barons plotted upstairs, Sammy Jo schemed downstairs, and viewers realized this wasn’t just another pretty face; it was a face that could carry both sweetness and venom without cracking its lipstick. Spelling doubled down, casting her opposite William Shatner in T.J. Hooker as Officer Stacy Sheridan, proving she could handle a badge, a squad car, and dialogue faster than a speeding bullet.
