Melrose Place was a Beverly Hills 90210 spin-off that certainly didn’t disappoint. The highly anticipated soap opera ran for seven seasons after its debut on Fox in the summer of 1992. The show follows a group of friends (and foes) living in an apartment complex in Los Angeles located at 4616 Melrose Place.
Actress Heather Locklear, who played the conniving Amanda Woodward, described the first season as “very boring. It was all nice people, and, really, there are some bad people in the world.” To spice things up and boost the ratings, they brought in Locklear for Season Two, and the show exploded. But she wasn’t the only one from the ensemble cast that went on to become a huge star.
It’s been over two decades since the show ended, and the actors when on to bigger and better things. Here is what the cast of Melrose Place is up to now!
Josie Bissett as Jane Andrews – Then
Despite being over 25 years since its debut, Melrose Place holds a special place in the pantheon of nighttime soap operas. By Season Two, there was no question what kind of drama it was.
One of the actresses who was launched into stardom thanks to the show was Josie Bissett. She portrayed Jane Andrews, who was known for her dysfunctional, drama-filled relationship with her husband, Michael Mancini. She remained on the show throughout its entire run, and it’s still her most notable role.
Josie Bissett – Now
These days, the actress is still remembered for her seven-year stint on Melrose Place, but she didn’t let that slow down her acting career. In 2008, she made the switch from a primetime drama series targeting adults to a show geared towards teenagers when she joined the cast of the ABC show, The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
She played a Christian mother on the teen drama and was on the series until it wrapped in 2013. Since then, the actress appeared in several movies before portraying AJ in the show, When Calls the Heart.
Laura Leighton as Sydney Andrews – Then
Jane Andrews’ had a little sister named Sydney. Her character was unpredictable and would undergo one of the biggest transformations over the course of the show’s run. It wasn’t necessarily physical changes, though. It was the changes in Sydney’s demeanor that characterized her erratic behavior.
Audiences never knew what she was going to do next. The character would go from being a constant antagonist to the comedic relief in later seasons of the show. At the end of the day, however, it was always about her romantic relationships.
Laura Leighton – Now
When Laura Leighton signed on to star in the first season of Melrose Place, she got more than just a career; she got a whole new life. During the show’s seven-year run, she ended up marrying her co-star, Doug Savant, in real life.
Once she left Melrose Place, the actress had a short stint on its sister show, Beverly Hills 90210. She also brought Sydney back when she reprised her role for the short-lived Melrose revival. However, Leighton’s most famous role was on Pretty Little Liars, where she played Ashley Marin from 2010 until the show wrapped in 2017.
Courtney Thorne-Smith as Alison Parker – Then
Alison Parker was on the show from the very beginning; she was looking to move to Melrose Place, but she needed a roommate, which ended up being Billy Campbell. Predictably, Alison and Billy didn’t stay platonic roommates for very long.
Alison was impressed by Billy and how he always went out of his way to protect her. Considering the nature of Melrose Place, which loved throwing in some twists and turns at its characters, their relationship on the series would never be straightforward. It’s a perfect way to stir up drama and keep viewers on their toes.
Courtney Thorne-Smith – Now
In 1997, Courtney Thorne-Smith left Melrose Place. Unlike many of her co-stars who wanted to stay in the dramatic world of soap operas, she was more interested in pursuing her career in the direction of sitcoms. From 1997 to 2002, she portrayed Georgia Thomas in Ally McBeal.
But in 2001, she joined the cast of According to Jim. From 2010 to 2015, she was a regular on Two and a Half Men, where she played Lindsey Mackelroy until the show wrapped. Her most recent role was on Fresh Off the Boat.
Daphne Zuniga as Jo Reynolds – Then
In the earlier episodes of the show, Jo Reynolds was introduced, and it didn’t take long for her to develop a romance with Jake Hanson. The character dealt with some toxic and unhealthy relationships for years, so Jake was one of the few men in her life who actually treated her right.
Despite his kindness, Jo often feels haunted by her past. No matter how much she tried to move on and find stability, something was always holding her back. In the end, she found love that took her out of Los Angeles.
Daphne Zuniga – Now
Since then, Daphne Zuniga has had one of the most varied careers of all her Melrose Place co-stars. After leaving the series, she was ready to show off her acting chops in other ways, which included guest starring on some of the most popular shows of the time.
She joined the cast of One Tree Hill in its later years, where she played Victoria Davis from 2008 to 2012. If you’re curious what she is up to now, Daphne Zuniga’s most recent role was in the feature film Beyond Paradise.
Rob Estes as Kyle McBride – Then
Kyle McBride was a memorable character on Melrose Place. He always tried to do the right thing, but the constant temptation and intrigue that was an integral part of Melrose Place turned out to be too much for the former marine.
He came onto the show with his wife Taylor by his side. However, like all the other romances on the show, this was sure to crumble. Unlike some of the other characters in the drama-filled series, Kyle would eventually get through all his trials and tribulations and find happiness.
Rob Estes – Now
Although he didn’t join the show in Season One, he wasn’t easily disposed of and stayed on Melrose Place until its finale in 1999. After that, his next big project was Suddenly Susan, where he played Oliver Browne for a year.
Then, in 2008, he went on to join the cast of the new 90210; but he left the show in 2010. He has made plenty of guest appearances on other popular shows. If you’re wondering what he is up to nowadays, you can catch him on the new series Famous in Love, where he plays Steve.
Jamie Luner as Lexi Sterling – Then
Although audiences weren’t aware, Lexi Sterling had a long history with some of the most problematic members of Melrose Place that began way before the events of the series, and she was a great addition. When she made her debut on the show, she was already divorced.
But as with any soap opera, that certainly didn’t mean she would stay separated from her ex-husband for long, especially when the results were dramatic and entertaining. Lexi was no exception to the love triangles that plagued the other residents of Melrose Place.
Jamie Luner – Now
Jamie Luner didn’t join the show until the last two seasons, but that didn’t make her any less significant. She had a serious impact on what was happening on the show while she was there, and her character was definitely memorable.
She followed up her success with the show Profiler. Then, from 2003 to 2004, she moved on to 10-8 Officers on Duty. She then briefly returned to soap operas for the last seasons of All My Children. Luner has most recently starred in the show Murder in the First.
David Charvet as Craig Field- Then
Craig Field came onto the show in Season Five as an ambitious advertising executive joining the D&D team. But things took a quick turn. It didn’t take long for Craig to decide to go off on his own and try to destroy D&D by opening his own advertising firm.
Predictably, this gutsy move didn’t sit well with either of his relationships, first with Amanda Woodward and then with Sydney Andrews. In the end, it was Sydney who ultimately won his heart and caused his downfall.
David Charvet – Now
David Charvet was already a massive star when he joined the cast of Melrose Place. He had already made a name for himself on Baywatch. So, joining the series in the first place was a huge change for the actor.
But after leaving the show, Charvet decided to go back to France so that he could focus on a music career that was eagerly waiting for him back in his home country. After that, he worked on a few more projects; his last film was 2013’s Prisoners of the Sun.
Brooke Langton as Samantha Reilly – Then
When Samantha Reilly was first introduced to the series in the last episode of the fourth season, it appeared as though she was just there as an audience proxy. She was always curious and amazed about everything going on around her.
Although she tried to escape the turmoil going on at every turn, it would soon consume her as it did everyone else who lived in that apartment complex. She was quickly sucked into the toxic whirlpool, which would permanently change her life for the worse.
Brooke Langton – Now
Brooke Langton left Melrose Place when she landed a role on the show The Net (which would only last one season). But in 2007, the actress found success with her role in the popular show Friday Night Lights.
At the same time, she was also playing Constance Griffiths on the series Life. Since her time on both shows came to an end, the actress has continued to enjoy an impressive career. She started landing movie roles in feature films such as 2015’s Shifting Gears and 2018’s Soul Session.
Doug Savant as Matt Fielding – Then
In an atmosphere that seems to be pushing people toward villainy, Matt Fielding managed to stay relatively steady in the role of the good guy. It’s not so surprising for a social worker. However, his kind and curious nature frequently pulled him toward other people’s dramas.
The character never shied away from unraveling a good old mystery. Matt was also used as a way for the show to tackle many tough topics and issues that weren’t usually explored on television… especially in the early 1990s.
Doug Savant – Now
After Melrose Place ended, Savant was ready to move up the Hollywood ropes with both movies and more complex television roles. After a short stint on the arc drama 24, the actor began another extended run on another intriguing television show.
He starred as Tom Scavo on Desperate Housewives and remained on the show for its entire run. It is arguably his most famous role. Since then, the actor has had plenty of guest roles on a number of shows, including Criminal Minds, Lucifer, NCIS: New Orleans, and Dirty John.
Kelly Rutherford as Megan Lewis – Then
Megan Lewis was introduced to the show as the pretty girl that Kimberly Shaw paid to help save their marriage. Like any relationship on a soap opera, good intentions don’t mean things are uncomplicated.
Megan found herself in a love triangle pretty quickly… and pretty predictably. Nothing was ever easy on Melrose Place, and Megan continued to find herself entangled in a series of romances for the rest of her time on the show. But actress Kelly Rutherford did an amazing job with the character.
Kelly Rutherford – Now
After her time on Melrose Place, Kelly Rutherford began a memorable television career. She had stints on The District, Threat Matric, and E-Ring. However, it was her portrayal of Lily van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl that made her just as memorable for a younger generation.
She also played a rich mother on the short-lived Pretty Little Liars spin-off, The Perfectionists. In addition to her acting work, Rutherford was involved in a very public custody battle that just wouldn’t end. The back and forth lasted for three years between 2012 and 2015.
Thomas Calabro as Michael Mancini – Then
Thomas Calabro became of the most central characters on Melrose Place since he played Dr. Michael Mancini. He went through a giant transformation. He went from a rule-follower to someone who found it extremely difficult to control his impulses.
He started off as a devoted and honest husband with a good career and determined nature. The shift in his personality led the doctor into a string of romantic entanglements with women who were just passing through the Melrose Place area throughout the show. The character’s womanizing ways made him less and less likable through the show’s run.
Thomas Calabro – Now
When Melrose Place ended after its seven-year run, Thomas Calabro was riding high as one of the only cast members to be a series regular for the entire series. His career continued as he would go on to star in a number of television movies throughout the years.
He also returned to the short-lived Melrose Place reboot in 2009, where he reprised his role. Calabro continued to guest star in many popular television shows, but in 2015 he decided it was time to return to soap opera life when he joined The Bay for two years.
Lisa Rinna as Taylor McBride – Then
Lisa Rinna joined the cast of Melrose Place as Taylor McBride in the fifth season of the show. But that doesn’t mean the character didn’t have a strong and significant impact on the storyline. Unfortunately, her behavior wasn’t that different from the other characters on the show.
She gets close with her big sister’s ex-husband, even though she is already married to someone else. Taylor didn’t lack drama in her life from the moment she moved to Los Angeles with her husband until they got the heck out of there.
Lisa Rinna – Now
When Lisa Rinna came to Melrose Place, she wasn’t exactly a stranger to soap operas, considering she was a regular on Days of Our Lives since 1992. During her many breaks from her long-running daytime drama, Rinna found time to appear in many television movies and feature films.
She made several guest appearances on Veronica Mars back in 2004, and, in 2008, she even appeared on an episode of Hannah Montana. She has had plenty of guest roles, and recently, she went back to Days of Our Lives.
Andrew Shue as Billy Campbell – Then
Billy Campbell’s womanizing ways may not have been on the same level as Dr. Michael Mancini, but his romantic relationships often drove his storyline. There was a time when Campbell wanted to be a writer, but he ended up taking a job at the magazine before moving into advertising.
Campbell was easily manipulated by both Amanda Woodward and his later wife, Brooke Armstrong. His relationships were frequently characterized by instability, mostly because the women schemed. Obviously, these romances weren’t the healthiest, and his playboy personality was toxic.
Andrew Shue – Now
Andrew Shue certainly got his breakout role on Melrose Place. It would also prove to be his biggest and most notable role throughout his career. He was on the show until it ended in 1998, but he wouldn’t return to acting until nine years later.
In 2007, he appeared in the movie Gracie, which was partly produced by his sister and loosely based on her life. Other than that, Shue had been focusing on his website, CafeMom, as well as his non-profit organization, Do Something.
Grant Show as Jake Hanson- Then
There might have never been a Melrose Place in the first place if it weren’t for Grant Show’s character, Jake Hanson. He was only in a few episodes of Beverly Hills 90210 because the main reason he was there was to provide a storyline for the spin-off show Melrose Place.
Unlike many of the people he’s surrounded by, Hanson came from a working-class background and worked in the construction field before the show even started. Most of his friends were enjoying white-collar jobs.
Grant Show – Now
At this point in his career, Grant Show is pretty familiar with the soap opera formula. Despite his luck with this specific form of drama, he has also relished long arcs on various well-regarded television shows such as Private Practice, Accidently On Purpose, and Big Love.
He played the character of Spence Westmore on the show, Devious Maids from 2013 until 2013. But since 2017, he has been working on the long-running hit soap opera, Dynasty, starring Blake Carrington. His most recent role was in the television movie White Before Christmas.
Jack Wagner as Dr. Peter Burns – Then
If you thought for a second that Dr. Peters Burns would be a good guy, you probably haven’t watched that many soap operas in your day. While he started off playing the nice guy, that quickly changed.
As soon as he needed to turn a situation to his advantage, his behavior became decidedly cruel even when he acted against one of the biggest villains in the series. Like many of the other characters on Melrose Place, all the secrets Peter was hiding would eventually come to light.
Jack Wagner – Now
Jack Wagner is a veteran soap opera star who had such a substantial presence in so many shows; you don’t even know which was the one that made him famous in the first place. Either way, he has made quite the name for himself.
Jack Wagner’s first big break came way back in 1983 when he landed the role of Frisco Jones in General Hospital. By 2003, Wagner snagged the role in The Bold and the Beautiful, where he had a nice long run as Dominick Marone until 2012. These days, you can catch him on When Calls the Heart.
Kristin Davis as Brooke Armstrong – Then
Brooke Armstrong also joined the advertising company that many of the other characters on Melrose Place were working at. What nobody suspected was the kind of scam Brooke would engage in later.
She did manage to charm her coworkers at first, but in the end, she proved she wasn’t any more moral than any of the other characters on Melrose Place. Brooke also benefited from coming from a rich, powerful family, which gave her a leg up. This often caused her to look down on others, which nobody appreciated.
Kristin Davis – Now
If Melrose Place wasn’t Kristin Davis’s breakout role, Sex and the City definitely was. The actress portrayed Charlotte York from 1998 to 2004, and it really put Davis on the map. She would later return for both feature films that the hit TV show inspired, once in 2008 and once in 2010.
But since then, Davis slowed down her acting career a bit. She starred in Bad Teacher in 2014 and in A Heavenly Christmas in 2016. She also appeared in Holiday in the Wind as Kate Conrad and in Deadly Illusions as Mary Morrison. She was a producer on both.
Linden Ashby as Dr. Brett Cooper – Then
From his very first scene, it was clear that Dr. Brett Cooper was there to lend a feeling of prestige. As a surgeon, he definitely enjoyed a professional reputation that went way beyond the other doctors who had appeared on the show. But you can only be a saint for so long in Melrose Place.
But navigating his intense career wouldn’t keep him from playing along with all the drama that was haunting Melrose Place. Eventually, Brett’s actions would sink so low that he decided to get the heck out of town instead of facing the consequences.
Linden Ashby – Now
Linden Ashby was a constant presence on Melrose Place for five years until he left for bigger and better endeavors. Toward the end of the series, he began sharing the spotlight with the show Spy Game. But he would only stay there for one season.
From 2009 to 2013, Linden made several guest appearances in the TV drama Army Wives. Then, he moved on to the show Teen Wolf which started its tun in 2011. Most recently, he appeared in the television films A Daughter’s Revenge and Escaping My Stalker.
Marcia Cross as Kimberly Shaw – Then
Kimberly Shaw was arguably one of the most outrageous characters on a series built around which neighbor could be the most ridiculous, so that’s saying a lot. She often acted erratically, which wasn’t out of the ordinary for characters on Melrose Place, but her behavior might be explainable.
Kimberly was in an accident earlier in the season, which is perhaps why her impulses are out whack. Her storylines were almost as insane as her behavior was. However, it was through her storylines that we could see that she had medical problems.
Marcia Cross – Now
As we know, Marcia Cross tends to tackle every role she has with a convincing, passionate performance, no matter how crazy. As it turns out, there is a reason she is a natural. The actress has the advantage of being a Julliard graduate, where she learned the skills to expand her talent.
Her most famous role would be as Bree Van De Kamp on Desperate Housewives, which lasted eight years before it wrapped in 2012. She then played Claire Hass in Quantico from 2012 to 2017. These days, you could catch her on the show Youth and Consequences.
Denise Richards as Brandi Carson – Then
At the beginning of her career, Denise Richard joined the Melrose Place cast for a several-episode arc where she played Brandi Carson, a beauty pageant contestant who stopped at nothing to win. This included bribing the judges in some scandalous ways for a teenager.
She clearly had a lot of determination and motivation. However, it seemed like Brandi learned her ambition from her mother, who pushed her into the Rendez-Vous with a much older Michael Mancini before attempting to sue him for his actions.
Denise Richards – Now
Denise Richards ended up becoming best friends with her co-star Heather Locklear. But the two would later find themselves at odds with some real-life soap opera drama that had more to do with their respective exes, Charlie Sheen and Richie Sambora.
The now A-list actress has certainly been busy since her time on Melrose Place and has quite an impressive resume. She has been actively working in Hollywood and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. She is now working on three films that haven’t yet been released: Send It! Love Accidently, and Saturday at the Starlight.
Heather Locklear as Amanda Woodward – Then
If there is one thing Melrose Place has, it’s an ensemble cast. But almost everyone involved in the show would likely agree that it was Heather Locklear as Amanda Woodward who saved the show from near disaster. She was great.
Amanda Woodward is known as one of the best female villains in television history and still holds a legendary place in this series even two decades after she left the show. Amanda was always scheming and outing herself first. She had no problem bulldozing everything and everyone in her way.
Heather Locklear – Now
When she left Melrose Place, Heather Locklear was riding high. Her career was skyrocketing, but she didn’t realize the next decade would have some tough surprises in store. The actress fell into a downward spiral after she got divorced from Richie Sambora in 2006.
Despite all the personal struggles she faced, Locklear is continuing to focus on her career. Her latest movie role was when she appeared in Scary Movie 5 back in 2013. As for television, she appeared in The Game of Love, Too Close to Home, and Fresh Off the Boat from 2016 to 2017.