Heather Locklear: A rollercoaster ride through love and heartache

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.