“I love him so much”

Heather Locklear still loves her ex David Spade very much.

On Friday, December 6, the 63-year-old actress made a rare appearance at Steel City Con in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, where she took part in a question-and-answer session. The Melrose Place alum opened up about her career and her crush on 60-year-old Spade, whom she briefly dated in 2006.

After reflecting on the experience of hosting an event in 1994 Saturday Night Live In the episode where she first met Spade – who was then a writer on the series – Locklear told the audience: “He’s one of my favorite people. I love him so much.”

“His birthday was the same as my dad’s,” she continued, jokingly recalling her reaction to their first kiss. “So I don’t know what we did, but he kissed me and I was like, ‘Oh my God, you even kiss like my dad!’ “

Locklear later appeared as a guest star on Spade’s sitcom Rules of engagement in 2007, and the two remain friends to this day.

Related: Heather Locklear has made a rare appearance at the first event for nearly three years Melrose Place Castmates

In addition to Locklear, Josh Gad, Joe Manganiello, Bryce Dallas Howard, Cole Sprouse, Danny Glover and Soleil Moon Frye will also be taking part in the weekend-long fan event, which includes a series of panels, question-and-answer sessions and photo ops.

Locklear’s appearance at Steel City Con comes just months after the actress attended her first public event in nearly three years, joining several of her at the event Melrose Place Castmates for a panel discussion at 90s Con Florida in Daytona Beach on September 14th. The group – which included Josie Bissett, Brooke Langton, Laura Leighton, Grant Show and Daphne Zuniga – spoke about the revival series that is in development.

“Everyone agreed to do it,” Zuniga, 62, said at the time. “Laura and I have been working on it a bit now,” she said. “It is in discussions. Business affairs and lawyers and all these people talk about it and they want to do it.”

Leighton, 56, added: “The stars have to align but we want it as much as the fans want it.”

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Locklear also took part in a solo panel at the convention and spoke about her love of tackling more rebellious characters – Melrose PlaceIncluding Amanda Woodward – in her acting work. “It’s more fun not playing it straight,” she told the audience. “When you’re a slut, you don’t think you’re a slut – you just think you’re right.”

Related: Heather Locklear Kept ‘Everything’ From Her ‘Melrose Place’ Wardrobe — Guess Who’s Wearing It Now?

Locklear recently returned to the small screen for the first time since 2021 in the Lifetime film Mormon Mother Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Storywhich premiered on October 28th. In the true crime story, she portrayed Jodi Hildebrandt, the Utah marriage counselor accused of child molestation, alongside controversial family vlogger Ruby Franke.

Outside of her career, Locklear celebrated a happy occasion as a mother earlier this year – the engagement of her daughter Ava Sambora. Just days before Valentine’s Day, 27-year-old Ava – who shares Locklear with ex Richie Sambora – announced on Instagram that she said “yes” to her longtime boyfriend Tyler Farrar.

Ava’s proud mother commented on the post: “My two favorite people💗.”

The couple later celebrated their engagement at a party surrounded by their family and close friends. “It was a beautiful day celebrating with family and loved ones,” a source told PEOPLE at the time.

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