Amy Locane

{{Infobox person

| name = Amy Locane

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.

| alma_mater = Villa Victoria Academy

| occupation = Actress

| years_active = 1984–2005
2009, 2020

| spouse = {{marriage|Mark Bovenizer|2008|2017|end=div}}

| children = 2

| module = Criminal information{{Infobox criminal

| child = yes

| apprehended = December 2010; September 2020

| criminal_status = Released

| conviction = Vehicular manslaughter

| criminal_penalty = 3 years in prison (released on parole; original sentence)
8 years in prison (eligible for parole after 6 years)}}

}}

Amy Locane is an American actress known for her role in John Waters' 1990 musical comedy Cry-Baby. In 1992, Locane portrayed Sandy Harling in the first season of the prime time soap opera Melrose Place. She appeared in the 1992 film School Ties alongside Matt Damon and Brendan Fraser, as the object of their affections.

In September 2020, Locane began serving an eight-year sentence for a fatal DUI car crash she caused in 2010. She had previously been sentenced to three years in prison, of which she served two and a half, and was re-sentenced due to the leniency of the original sentence.{{Cite web|title='Melrose Place' actress Amy Locane sent back to prison for fatal 2010 DUI crash|url=https://ew.com/tv/melrose-place-actress-amy-locane-sent-back-to-prison-fatal-dui-crash/|access-date=2021-07-28|website=EW.com|language=en}}

Early life and career

Locane was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and graduated from Villa Victoria Academy.{{cite web |last1=Abdur-Rahman |first1=Sulaiman |title=Former 'Melrose Place' actress Amy Locane-Bovenizer of Hopewell indicted in fatal crash |url=http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20101216/NEWS/312169973 |website=May 27, 2025 |access-date=May 27, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113114232/http://www.trentonian.com/article/TT/20101216/NEWS/312169973 |archive-date=November 13, 2017 |url-status=dead |quote="A native Trentonian who graduated from Villa Victoria Academy in Ewing, Locane-Bovenizer's film career includes acting alongside Hollywood heavyweights like Adam Sandler in 1994's Airheads and Johnny Depp in 1990 cult-favorite Cry-Baby, which was directed by John Waters."}} By age 12, she had performed in more than 60 commercials before being cast as a series regular on the sitcom Spencer (1984).

In 1989, Locane made her big screen debut in the independent teen drama film Lost Angels starring opposite Adam Horovitz. The following year, Locane had a lead role opposite Johnny Depp as Allison Vernon-Williams in John Waters' romantic comedy film Cry-Baby.{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/04/13/cry-baby-2/|title=Cry Baby|website=EW.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/06/movies/picket-fence-america-as-seen-by-john-waters.html|title=Picket-Fence America, As Seen by John Waters|first=Janet|last=Maslin|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 6, 1990}} The film was a commercial failure, but has since become a cult classic. She twice played the girlfriend of Brendan Fraser's character, in the films School Ties (1992) and Airheads (1994).

In 1992, Locane was a member of the original cast of the Fox prime time soap opera Melrose Place but left the series after only 13 episodes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-03-03-9403030053-story.html|title=REVIVING 'MELROSE PLACE': IT'S A DIRTY, NASTY STORY|first=Deborah Starr Seibel Special To The Tribune Deborah Starr Seibel writes about television for TV|last=Guide|website=chicagotribune.com}} She played Jessica Lange's daughter in the 1994 drama film Blue Sky.{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/1994/09/30/blue-sky-3/|title=Blue Sky|website=EW.com}} She played the young lover of Dennis Hopper in the 1996 film Carried Away. In 1997, she starred alongside Ben Affleck and Rose McGowan in Going All the Way and with Jared Leto in Prefontaine. In 1998, she starred in the black comedy Bongwater and fantasy horror Bram Stoker's Legend of the Mummy. Locane returned to television starring in the Christmas movie Ebenezer opposite Jack Palance. Her later credits include The Heist (2001) and Secretary (2002).

Personal life

In 2006, Locane became engaged to businessman Mark Bovenizer and subsequently retired from acting in films. She acted occasionally in local community theater near their Hopewell, New Jersey, home and appeared in two eight-minute shorts released in 2009.{{Cite web |last=Stoeckert |first=Anthony |date=2007-07-13 |title=Returning Star – Central Jersey Archives |url=https://archive.centraljersey.com/2007/07/13/returning-star/ |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=centraljersey.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20451393,00.html |title=Melrose Place Star Amy Locane Indicted for Fatal Car Crash |first=Dahvi |last=Shira |work=People |date=2010-12-16 |access-date=2017-10-20 |archive-date=2012-11-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128070410/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20451393,00.html |url-status=dead }} They have two daughters, born in 2007 and 2009.{{cite news|date=2007-01-26|title=CBB (CeleBrityBabies) Exclusive: Actress Amy Locane gives birth to a baby girl|work=People|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2007/01/26/cbb_exclusive_a/|url-status=dead|access-date=2017-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728035640/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2007/01/26/cbb_exclusive_a/|archive-date=2018-07-28}}{{cite news|date=2009-01-26|title=Amy Locane Welcomes Second Daughter, Avery Hope|work=People|url=http://celebritybabies.people.com/2009/01/26/amy-locane-welcomes-second-daughter-avery-hope/|access-date=2017-10-20}}

=DUI car crash and legal issues=

On June 27, 2010, at 9:05 pm, Locane was involved in a fatal motor vehicle collision in Montgomery, New Jersey.{{Cite news|title=Judge: Ex-'Melrose Place' actress' intoxicated statements permissible in upcoming trial|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/melrose_place_actress_intoxica.html|date=October 3, 2011|author=Paik, Eugene|work=The Star-Ledger|mode=cs2|access-date=March 31, 2012}}{{Cite news|title=Actress Amy Locane charged in connection with fatal weekend accident in Montgomery |url=http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100628/NEWS/100628040/Actress-Amy-Locane-charged-in-connection-with-fatal-weekend-accident-in-Montgomery |date=June 28, 2010 |work=Courier News |publisher=Gannett Company |location=Bridgewater, NJ |mode=cs2 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701030212/http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100628/NEWS/100628040/Actress-Amy-Locane-charged-in-connection-with-fatal-weekend-accident-in-Montgomery |archive-date=July 1, 2010 }} Locane was driving {{convert|53|mph}} in a {{convert|35|mph|adj=on}} zone and rapidly closed on the car driven by Fred Seeman, which was traveling at {{convert|3|mph}} as it made a left-hand turn in front of her to enter his driveway. The crash killed Seeman's wife, 60-year-old Helen.

Following the crash, testing revealed Locane's blood alcohol level was .23 percent, nearly three times the limit for legal impairment.{{Cite news |title=Amy Locane Convicted of Vehicular Homicide |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20651334,00.html |work=People |agency=Associated Press |access-date=November 27, 2012 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162733/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20651334,00.html |url-status=dead }} In December 2010, Locane was indicted for aggravated manslaughter and assault by automobile. On November 27, 2012, a Somerset County jury convicted Locane of vehicular homicide and assault by auto. On February 14, 2013, she was sentenced to three years in prison for the crime, with Montgomery Superior Court Judge Robert B. Reed imposing less than the minimum five-year sentence due to mitigating factors that included consideration of her children's welfare.{{Cite news |url=http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2013/02/melrose_place_actress_receives.html |title=Daughters' hardship yields lighter sentence for 'Melrose Place' actress |first=Bill |last=Wichert |work=NJ.com |date=2013-02-15 |access-date=2017-10-20}}{{Cite news|title={{-'}}Melrose' Actress Gets 3 Years for Deadly NJ Crash|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2013/02/14/us/ap-us-actress-fatal-accident.html|work=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|access-date=February 14, 2013}}{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/f86e89b1d50f47a0b6effd41a26f85a6/judge-admits-he-erred-sentencing-melrose-place-actress |title=Judge admits he erred in sentencing 'Melrose Place' actress |work=NJ Advance Media |publisher=Associated Press News |date=2016-09-16 |access-date=2016-09-17}} Locane served her sentence at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women and was released on parole on June 12, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2015/06/melrose_place_actress_released_from_prison.html |title='Melrose Place' actress out of prison, but law's not done with her |publisher=nj.com |date=June 17, 2015 |access-date=June 27, 2016}} Late in 2015 following Locane's release from prison, her husband filed for divorce and for custody of their two daughters.{{cite news|url=http://people.com/tv/melrose-place-actress-amy-locane-divorced-shunned-by-friends-after-fatal-dwi-crash/|title=Melrose Place Actress Amy Locane on Being Divorced and Shunned by Friends After Fatal DWI|last=Petit|first=Stephanie|date=2017-01-17|work=People|access-date=2017-10-20}}

On July 22, 2016, a New Jersey appeals court ruled that the three-year sentencing would be re-reviewed due to what the court felt was an inadequate explanation by Reed for leniency.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/07/melrose_place_actress_to_head_back_to_court_over_d.html|title='Melrose Place' actress faces new sentence in fatal drunken-driving crash|date=22 July 2016|access-date=17 September 2016}} Upon review, Reed stated in September 2016 that he had erred in his decision and that she should serve an additional six months. On January 13, 2017, however, Reed ruled Locane would not have to go back to prison, saying her conduct since her release indicated she was not a threat to society.{{cite news |url=http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2017/01/melrose_place_actress_resentenced_to.html |title='Melrose Place' actress won't serve more time for fatal crash |first=Dave |last=Hutchinson |work=NJ.com |date=2017-01-17 |access-date=2017-10-20}} Speaking later about the crash and victims, Locane said the memory of Helen Seeman will "be forever in her thoughts."{{cite news |url=http://www.nj.com/somerset/index.ssf/2017/01/melrose_place_actress_breaks_6-year_silence_on_fat.html |title='Melrose Place' actress breaks silence on fatal DWI crash |first=Dave |last=Hutchinson |work=NJ.com |date=2017-01-18 |access-date=2017-10-20}} In February 2019, Locane was re-sentenced to five years behind bars but remained free on bail pending an appeal.{{cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/melrose-place-actress-amy-locane-to-serve-more-time-for-fatal-dwi-crash |title='Melrose Place' actress Amy Locane to serve more time for fatal DUI crash |last=Lieu |first=Amy |date=2019-02-16 |website=Fox News |access-date=2019-04-12}}

On July 22, 2020, an appeals court ruled that a different judge incorrectly re-sentenced Locane in 2019 and sent the case back for another sentencing. The ruling issued also rejected Locane's argument that sentencing her again violates double jeopardy protections since she had already completed her sentence and parole term.

On September 17, 2020, Locane was sentenced to eight years in New Jersey state prison after a judge agreed with prosecutors that Locane's initial sentence was too lenient. New Jersey state law requires Locane to serve more than six years before being eligible for parole.{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/somerset/2020/09/melrose-place-actress-amy-locane-headed-back-to-prison-for-drunken-fatal-crash-a-decade-ago.html|title='Melrose Place' actress Amy Locane headed back to prison for drunken fatal crash a decade ago|newspaper=Nj |date=17 September 2020|access-date=17 September 2020}}{{Cite news |last=Hattenstone |first=Simon |date=2021-03-10 |title='Thrown back in jail – it's cruel': why was actor Amy Locane imprisoned twice for the same crime? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2021/mar/10/to-get-thrown-back-in-jail-its-cruel-the-legal-nightmare-of-actor-amy-locane |access-date=2024-04-23 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} In 2022, Locane lost a federal appeal to have her state prison sentence cut.{{Cite web |last=NJ.com |first=Ted Sherman {{!}} NJ Advance Media for |date=2022-12-14 |title=Melrose Place actress Amy Locane loses federal appeal of DWI sentence, will remain in prison |url=https://www.nj.com/news/2022/12/melrose-place-actress-amy-locane-loses-federal-appeal-of-dwi-sentence-will-remain-in-prison.html |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=nj |language=en}} She was incarcerated at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women.{{Cite web |title=New Jersey Department of Corrections |url=https://www-doc.state.nj.us/DOC_Inmate/details?x=1482199&n=0 |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=www-doc.state.nj.us}} She was released from custody on December 20, 2024.{{Cite news|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/amy-locane-shares-her-journey-regrets-and-life-post-prison/#:~:text=Five%20days%20before%20Christmas%202024,60%2Dyear%2Dold%20woman.|title=Former ‘Melrose Place’ Actress Amy Locane Talks Life After Prison: ‘I Have a Lot of Remorse’ (Exclusive)|last=Stanton|first=Leanne|date=April 9, 2025|last2=Simpson|first2=Andrea|access-date=May 24, 2025|work=Us Weekly}}