What Happened to the Melrose Residents?
intro tk
Everett Collection
Thomas Calabro
Played: Dr. Michael Mancini
Then: The Brooklynite's got his first break when he took over the lead role of Oberon in a Fordham University production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' when fellow student Denzel Washington dropped out. Through the '80s and early '90s, he bounced around in small spots on TV shows like 'Law & Order' and 'Father Dowling Mysteries' before landing his most famous role, as the responsible MD, husband and building superintendent turned sexual mad man. Was it the stress, amnesia or booze that sent him over the edge?
Related Links
Everett Collection
Thomas Calabro
Played: Dr. Michael Mancini
Now: The only original cast member to stay with the program to the bitter end, he even directed four episodes and will reprise his role as the "good" doctor in the new series. In his 10-year hiatus from 'MP,' Calabro has guest-starred on a number of TV shows, including 'Nip/Tuck,' 'Cold Case,' 'Greek' and 'Without a Trace.' According to his website, he's also developed a number of TV show pitches with pal Scott Baio.
Related Links
Everett Collection
Andrew Shue
Played: Billy Campbell
Then: Along with his famous sister Elisabeth, Shue attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J. The siblings were inducted into the high school's Hall of Fame alongside other famous alum Max Weinberg and Lauryn Hill. He played soccer for Dartmouth while working as an extra in films. After graduating, he had a few small roles before starring seven seasons as Billy, struggling writer and Allison's roommate/friend/lover/foe.
Related Links
Everett Collection
Andrew Shue
Played: Billy Campbell
Now: While still working on 'Melrose Place,' Shue played for the major league soccer team Los Angeles Galaxy. In five games, he tallied one assist. In 1997, he played a wife beater in 'The Rainmaker,' and left 'MP' a year later. Those were his last sizable roles. Since then he's focused on activism with his organization Do Something and online entrepreneurship with his company CafeMom. He did play small roles in two soccer-themed films: 'Gracie,' in which he worked with Elisabeth and brother John, and 'Goal! III.'
Related Links
Everett Collection
Heather Locklear
Played: Amanda Woodward
Then: While attending UCLA, the L.A. native dabbled in acting and modeling. Before long, she began landing bit parts in shows like 'CHiPS' and 'Eight Is Enough.' Aaron Spelling took a liking to Locklear and cast her as Sammy Jo Dean in the second season of 'Dynasty' and as Officer Stacy Sheridan in 'T.J. Hooker' a year later. In all, she appeared in seven Spelling-helmed series, including 'Matt Houston,' 'Fantasy Island,' 'The Love Boat,' 'Hotel' and of course 'Melrose Place.'
Related Links
Everett Collection
Heather Locklear
Played: Amanda Woodward
Now: After 'Melrose,' she joined 'Spin City' until the show's cancellation. But the years since her 2007 divorce from second rocker hubby Richie Sambora (Tommy Lee was her first) have been rough for Locklear. She's been in rehab for "anxiety and depression" and arrested for reckless driving. Recently she co-starred with Billy Ray Cyrus in the straight-to-dvd 'Flying By.' One bright spot has been her relationship with former 'MP' co-star Jack Wagner.
Related Links
Everett Collection
Josie Bissett
Played: Jane Andrews Mancini
Then: The Seattle native began her career in front of the camera at the age of 12 as a model in print ads and TV commercials. At 16, she moved to Japan to further her career, before heading to Hollywood to make her mark. Josie soon landed the role of Cara on 'The Hogan Family,' where she spent two seasons before she was cast on 'Melrose Place' as the doctor's wife and a budding fashion designer. Her divorce and problematic younger sister quickly spun her life into crazy town.
Related Links
Everett Collection
Josie Bissett
Played: Jane Andrews Mancini
Now: After divorcing, getting engaged, being raped by her ex-fiancé, burying her ex-fiancé alive and getting robbed at gunpoint (not necessarily in that order), Jane left 'Melrose' but returned for the final season. Bissett left the biz while she raised two children with former co-star Rob Estes. She resumed her career in '03 with a guest spot on 'Law & Order: SVU'; she's since scored a regular role on 'The Secret Life of the American Teenager' and wrote a children's book. Bissett, whose marriage to Estes ended in '06, will reprise Jane in the new 'Melrose Place.'
Related Links
Everett Collection
Doug Savant
Played: Matt Fielding
Then: The Burbank boy began getting roles in the '80s teen flicks like 'Secret Admirer,' 'Teen Wolf,' 'Trick or Treat,' and 'Masquerade,' before gaining notice as young Mack Mackenzie on 'Knots Landing.' Small roles on everything from 'Fact of Life' to 'Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence' followed, until he landed one of the first mainstream gay roles on television. 'Melrose Place' became one of the first primetime network programs to show a gay hate crime, AIDS and two guys kissing (or it would have if Fox hadn't cut the scene at the last minute).
Related Links
Everett Collection
Reader Comments (21)
Sara at 7:08PM on Aug 5th 2009
"but the series became a pop-culture touchstone, with a six-season run (1992-'97). "
No it ended in 1999!
glen at 12:09AM on Aug 14th 2009
Why wasn't Traci Lords added to the story. She did add controversy.
Glen at 12:10AM on Aug 14th 2009
Why wasn't Traci Lords added to the story? She did add controversy.
c at 8:09PM on Aug 16th 2009
i do not know who the idiot who wrote this article got his story from but it is WRONG!!!! thomas calabro and laura leighton and josie bissett and daphne zuinga are reprising their roles on the cws revival of the series. Melrose place is the best and is my fav so who ever wrote this get your facts straight!!!!!!!
Lee at 8:10AM on Aug 17th 2009
That's not the only thing this writer got wrong. Laura Leighton married Grant show, NOT Dougles Svant. Plus it looks like there were other accounts that I don't remember in his article.
Christina at 8:25PM on Aug 16th 2009
I guess that someone forgot that Laura Leighton was run over and killed on her wedding day just after saying "I do". How can they bring someone back from the dead even for TV.
whoareyou925 at 10:15PM on Aug 16th 2009
Is it wrong for a man like him to have sugar baby?? you know it is an absolutely extramarital relationship, but more and more services c ome out on Internet focusing on this kind of relationship..like !!!.----SugarsCupid. C O M----what will the world be??
miah at 10:20PM on Aug 16th 2009
The only place on earth where dead people can come back alive is Melrose Place. Remember Kimberly? She came back from the dead with that nasty scar on her head.
ShelleyGrrrl at 12:19AM on Aug 17th 2009
not true! here in la and in sunnydale ca, peeps come back from the dead all the time! ask angel n buffy, they'll tell ya...
Michel at 10:29PM on Aug 16th 2009
Josie Bissett was the hottest one in that show and she still looks great to this day.