Amy Locane Explained

Amy Locane
Birth Name:Amy Rose Locane
Birth Date:19 December 1971
Birth Place:Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma Mater:Villa Victoria Academy
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1984–2005
2009, 2020
Children:2
Module:Criminal information
Child:yes
Apprehended:December 2010; September 2020
Criminal Status:Incarcerated at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women
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 Rose Locane (born December 19, 1971) 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 that occurred 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.[1]

Early life and career

Locane was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and graduated from Villa Victoria Academy.[2] 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.[3] [4] The film was a commercial failure, but has since become a cult classic. She twice played the girlfriend of Brendan Fraser, 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.[5] She played Jessica Lange's daughter in the 1994 drama film Blue Sky.[6] 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.[7] [8] They have two daughters, born in 2007 and 2009.[9] [10]

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.[11] [12] Locane was driving in a 35mph zone and rapidly closed on the car driven by Fred Seeman, which was traveling at 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.[12] Following the crash, testing revealed Locane's blood alcohol level was .23 percent, nearly three times the limit for legal impairment.[13] In December 2010, Locane was indicted for aggravated manslaughter and assault by automobile.[8] On November 27, 2012, a Somerset County jury convicted Locane of vehicular homicide and assault by auto.[13] 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.[14] [15] [16] Locane served her sentence at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women and was released on parole on June 12, 2015.[17] Late in 2015 following Locane's release from prison, her husband filed for divorce and for custody of their two daughters.[18]

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.[19] 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.[20] Speaking later about the crash and victims, Locane said the memory of Helen Seeman will "be forever in her thoughts."[21] In February 2019, Locane was re-sentenced to five years behind bars but remained free on bail pending an appeal.[22]

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.[23] [24] In 2022, Locane lost a federal appeal to have her state prison sentence cut.[25] She is currently incarcerated at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women.[26]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989Lost AngelsCheryl Anderson
1990Cry-BabyAllison Vernon-Williams
1991No SecretsJennifer
1992School TiesSally Wheeler
1994AirheadsKayla
1994Blue SkyAlex MarshallFilmed in 1990
Nominated — Young Artist Award for Best Performance by a Young Actress Co-Starring in a Motion Picture
1995Criminal HeartsKeli
1996Carried AwayCatherine Wheeler
1997Going All the WayBuddy Porter
1997PrefontaineNancy Alleman
1997The Girl Gets MoeBeth
1998BongwaterJennifer
1998Bram Stoker's Legend of the MummyMargaret Trelawny
1999ImplicatedAnn Campbell
2001The HeistLucy
2002Secretary Lee's Sister
2002Bad KarmaCarly Campbell
2005ThrottleMolly Weaver
2009VisitingJuliaShort film
2009CoffeeSarahShort film
2020CootiesChristineShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984−1985SpencerAndrea WingerAlso known as Under One Roof
Series regular, 13 episodes
1985Young People's SpecialsKarenEpisode: "Narc"
1985Special Treat Bridget FrommerEpisode: "Out of Time"
1988HothouseNancy3 episodes
1992Melrose Place Sandy Louise HarlingSeries regular, 13 episodes
1997End of SummerAliceTelevision film
1998Ebenezer Erica MarloweTelevision film
1998Route 9 Sally HoganTelevision film
1999Touched by an AngelStellaEpisode: "The Compass"
2003Mystery WomanTracy StenningTelevision film
2005Alien Express Rosie HoldenTelevision film

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Melrose Place' actress Amy Locane sent back to prison for fatal 2010 DUI crash. 2021-07-28. EW.com. en.
  2. Abdur-Rahman, Sulaiman. "Former Melrose Place actress Amy Locane-Bovenizer of Hopewell indicted in fatal crash", The Trentonian, December 16, 2010. Accessed November 12, 2017. "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."
  3. Web site: Cry Baby. EW.com.
  4. News: Picket-Fence America, As Seen by John Waters. Janet. Maslin. The New York Times. April 6, 1990.
  5. Web site: REVIVING 'MELROSE PLACE': IT'S A DIRTY, NASTY STORY. Deborah Starr Seibel Special To The Tribune Deborah Starr Seibel writes about television for TV. Guide. chicagotribune.com.
  6. Web site: Blue Sky. EW.com.
  7. Web site: Stoeckert . Anthony . 2007-07-13 . Returning Star – Central Jersey Archives . 2024-04-23 . centraljersey.com . en-US.
  8. News: Melrose Place Star Amy Locane Indicted for Fatal Car Crash . Dahvi . Shira . . 2010-12-16 . 2017-10-20 . 2012-11-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121128070410/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20451393,00.html . dead .
  9. News: 2007-01-26. CBB (CeleBrityBabies) Exclusive: Actress Amy Locane gives birth to a baby girl. People. dead. 2017-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20180728035640/http://celebritybabies.people.com/2007/01/26/cbb_exclusive_a/. 2018-07-28.
  10. News: 2009-01-26. Amy Locane Welcomes Second Daughter, Avery Hope. People. 2017-10-20.
  11. News: Judge: Ex-'Melrose Place' actress' intoxicated statements permissible in upcoming trial. October 3, 2011. Paik, Eugene. The Star-Ledger. cs2. March 31, 2012.
  12. News: Actress Amy Locane charged in connection with fatal weekend accident in Montgomery . June 28, 2010 . . . Bridgewater, NJ . cs2 . June 29, 2011 . dead . 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 . July 1, 2010 .
  13. News: Amy Locane Convicted of Vehicular Homicide . . . November 27, 2012 . September 24, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162733/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20651334,00.html . dead .
  14. News: Daughters' hardship yields lighter sentence for 'Melrose Place' actress . Bill . Wichert . . 2013-02-15 . 2017-10-20.
  15. News: Melrose' Actress Gets 3 Years for Deadly NJ Crash. The New York Times. Associated Press. February 14, 2013.
  16. News: Judge admits he erred in sentencing 'Melrose Place' actress . . Associated Press News . 2016-09-16 . 2016-09-17.
  17. Web site: 'Melrose Place' actress out of prison, but law's not done with her . nj.com . June 17, 2015 . June 27, 2016.
  18. News: Melrose Place Actress Amy Locane on Being Divorced and Shunned by Friends After Fatal DWI. Petit. Stephanie. 2017-01-17. People. 2017-10-20.
  19. Web site: 'Melrose Place' actress faces new sentence in fatal drunken-driving crash. 22 July 2016. 17 September 2016.
  20. News: 'Melrose Place' actress won't serve more time for fatal crash . Dave . Hutchinson . . 2017-01-17 . 2017-10-20.
  21. News: 'Melrose Place' actress breaks silence on fatal DWI crash . Dave . Hutchinson . . 2017-01-18 . 2017-10-20.
  22. Web site: 'Melrose Place' actress Amy Locane to serve more time for fatal DUI crash . Lieu . Amy . 2019-02-16 . . 2019-04-12.
  23. News: 'Melrose Place' actress Amy Locane headed back to prison for drunken fatal crash a decade ago. Nj . 17 September 2020. 17 September 2020.
  24. News: Hattenstone . Simon . 2021-03-10 . 'Thrown back in jail – it's cruel': why was actor Amy Locane imprisoned twice for the same crime? . 2024-04-23 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  25. Web site: NJ.com . Ted Sherman NJ Advance Media for . 2022-12-14 . Melrose Place actress Amy Locane loses federal appeal of DWI sentence, will remain in prison . 2024-04-23 . nj . en.
  26. Web site: New Jersey Department of Corrections . 2024-03-01 . www-doc.state.nj.us.