Heather Locklear Thought She Was 'Too Old' to Be onMelrose PlaceWhen She Joined the Cast in 1992

Mar. 15, 2025

Heather Locklear in 1992.Photo:FOX TELEVISION NETWORK/SPELLING TELEVISION / Album / Alamy Stock

FOX TELEVISION NETWORK/SPELLING TELEVISION / Album / Alamy Stock

At the ripe old age of 30,Heather Locklearthought she was too old to be onMelrose Place.On the most recent episode ofMelroserewatch podcastStill the Place, the actress joined costarsDaphne Zuniga,Laura LeightonandCourtney Thorne-Smithto reminisce about her time on the hit ’90s primetime soap. Looking back on Locklear’s introduction midway through the show’s first season, the hosts wanted to know how that came about.“I watched the show because there was so much press on it,” Locklear, who had already starred inMelrose Placeexecutive producerAaron Spelling’s showsDynastyandT.J. Hooker, explained. “And I was going, ‘Oh my God, this show is gonna be great … and I wish I could be on it, but I’m too old.’ ”“I was, like, 30. Or almost 30 or something like that,” Locklear, 63, continued. “And you guys were all 20, early 20s.”The cast of ‘Melrose Place’ in 1992: Thomas Calabro, Josie Bissett, Grant Show, Amy Locane, Andrew Shue, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Vanessa Williams and Doug Savant.Fotos International/GettyThe series, which premiered on Fox in July 1992, revolved around the lives of a group of 20-somethings living in a fictional West Hollywood apartment complex. The initial cast included Thorne-Smith, with Zuniga and Leighton appearing later in the season. But with ratings stagnating,Spelling turned to Locklear, whom he called his “lucky penny,”in an attempt to boost interest inMelrose Place.Locklear remembered getting a call from her manager asking if she’d consider joining the show’s cast for what was then expected to be a four-episode guest arc.“I go, ‘Of course. Yeah. That’d be fun,’ ” she recalled. “I just said, ‘I wanna be a businesswoman. I don’t wanna be Sammy Jo fromDynasty. I don’t wanna, like, be a quirky girl.’ ”Heather Locklear circa 1992.Ron Galella Collection/GettyLocklear’s character, advertising exec Amanda Woodward, first appeared in a January 1993 episode, and the show’s ratings improved enough that, Thorne-Smith recalled, Fox add another 10 episodes toMelrose Place’s first season order. Locklear was promoted to a main cast member for season 2 and her character quickly evolved into a scheming antagonist, making the actress one of the show’s breakout stars.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.While many fans tuned in each week to see what drama Amanda might cook up next, when asked about her favoriteMelrose Placestorylines, Locklear told Thorne-Smith, Zuniga and Leighton, “I’m not in them.”Marcia Cross and Kristin Davis in ‘Melrose Place’ promo photos in the 1990s.PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy (2)“I love the one withMarcia [Cross],” she revealed. “The friggin’ head thing!”Locklear was likely referring to a season 4 storyline in which it is revealed that Cross’s character, Kimberly Shaw, suffers from severe mental illness, including dissociative identity disorder. Kimberly later dies in season 5 of an inoperable brain tumor.Locklear also cited the demise ofKristin Davis’s Brooke Armstrong as another standout moment. The character dies in a two-part season 4 episode after slipping near the apartment complex’s pool, hitting her head on its edge and drowning.“Just hearing that noise,” Locklear recalled of the scene, “It was shocking.”

At the ripe old age of 30,Heather Locklearthought she was too old to be onMelrose Place.

On the most recent episode ofMelroserewatch podcastStill the Place, the actress joined costarsDaphne Zuniga,Laura LeightonandCourtney Thorne-Smithto reminisce about her time on the hit ’90s primetime soap. Looking back on Locklear’s introduction midway through the show’s first season, the hosts wanted to know how that came about.

“I watched the show because there was so much press on it,” Locklear, who had already starred inMelrose Placeexecutive producerAaron Spelling’s showsDynastyandT.J. Hooker, explained. “And I was going, ‘Oh my God, this show is gonna be great … and I wish I could be on it, but I’m too old.’ ”

“I was, like, 30. Or almost 30 or something like that,” Locklear, 63, continued. “And you guys were all 20, early 20s.”

The cast of ‘Melrose Place’ in 1992: Thomas Calabro, Josie Bissett, Grant Show, Amy Locane, Andrew Shue, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Vanessa Williams and Doug Savant.Fotos International/Getty

Fotos International/Getty

The series, which premiered on Fox in July 1992, revolved around the lives of a group of 20-somethings living in a fictional West Hollywood apartment complex. The initial cast included Thorne-Smith, with Zuniga and Leighton appearing later in the season. But with ratings stagnating,Spelling turned to Locklear, whom he called his “lucky penny,”in an attempt to boost interest inMelrose Place.

Locklear remembered getting a call from her manager asking if she’d consider joining the show’s cast for what was then expected to be a four-episode guest arc.

“I go, ‘Of course. Yeah. That’d be fun,’ ” she recalled. “I just said, ‘I wanna be a businesswoman. I don’t wanna be Sammy Jo fromDynasty. I don’t wanna, like, be a quirky girl.’ ”

Heather Locklear circa 1992.Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Locklear’s character, advertising exec Amanda Woodward, first appeared in a January 1993 episode, and the show’s ratings improved enough that, Thorne-Smith recalled, Fox add another 10 episodes toMelrose Place’s first season order. Locklear was promoted to a main cast member for season 2 and her character quickly evolved into a scheming antagonist, making the actress one of the show’s breakout stars.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

While many fans tuned in each week to see what drama Amanda might cook up next, when asked about her favoriteMelrose Placestorylines, Locklear told Thorne-Smith, Zuniga and Leighton, “I’m not in them.”

Marcia Cross and Kristin Davis in ‘Melrose Place’ promo photos in the 1990s.PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy (2)

PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy (2)

“I love the one withMarcia [Cross],” she revealed. “The friggin’ head thing!”

Locklear was likely referring to a season 4 storyline in which it is revealed that Cross’s character, Kimberly Shaw, suffers from severe mental illness, including dissociative identity disorder. Kimberly later dies in season 5 of an inoperable brain tumor.

Locklear also cited the demise ofKristin Davis’s Brooke Armstrong as another standout moment. The character dies in a two-part season 4 episode after slipping near the apartment complex’s pool, hitting her head on its edge and drowning.

“Just hearing that noise,” Locklear recalled of the scene, “It was shocking.”

source: people.com