Actresses Charged with Domestic Violence
Stories about well-known performers sometimes include difficult chapters, and legal records occasionally intersect with public careers. This article highlights documented cases in which actresses were charged in connection with domestic-violence incidents, using reputable reporting; outcomes vary, and charges are sometimes reduced or dismissed.
Alongside those case facts, each entry also includes straightforward details about notable screen work—plots, casts, and key creatives—so readers can place each performer’s career in context without relying on commentary or opinion.
Naya Rivera
Rivera was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery in West Virginia after an incident involving her then-husband; prosecutors later dismissed the case.
On TV, Rivera is widely known for playing Santana Lopez in the Fox musical dramedy ‘Glee’, created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan. The show follows a high-school glee club balancing competitions with personal dramas, and features an ensemble including Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, and Kevin McHale, with music supervision by Adam Anders and frequent episodes directed by Murphy and Paris Barclay.
Rivera’s character arc intersects with the show’s performance-heavy format, where each episode blends narrative and chart covers arranged for choir. Production companies include 20th Television and Ryan Murphy Television, with additional cast across seasons such as Dianna Agron, Darren Criss, Jenna Ushkowitz, and Jane Lynch, and recurring guest directors contributing to the series’ staging and choreography.
Heather Locklear
Locklear was arrested and initially booked on a felony domestic-violence count; prosecutors later dropped the domestic-violence charge while pursuing misdemeanor counts related to battery on responding personnel.
On ‘Melrose Place’, created by Darren Star, Locklear portrayed advertising executive Amanda Woodward, a role that became central to the ensemble’s interconnected storylines set around a Los Angeles apartment complex. The series was produced by Spelling Television and features a large rotating cast including Thomas Calabro, Andrew Shue, Marcia Cross, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Leighton, Grant Show, and Josie Bissett, with episodes directed by recurring television veterans across multiple seasons.
Narratively, ‘Melrose Place’ blends workplace plots with neighborly intrigue, using multi-episode arcs and cliffhangers typical of primetime soaps. Behind the scenes, executive producer Aaron Spelling’s team coordinated overlapping character trajectories, while department heads in costume and production design accented the show’s glossy look and rapid plot turns.
Carmen Electra
Electra was charged with misdemeanor battery after a Miami Beach altercation with then-husband Dennis Rodman; the case was later dropped.
On television, Electra is closely associated with ‘Baywatch’, an action drama about lifeguards on Southern California beaches led by the character Mitch Buchannon. Created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Gregory J. Bonann, the series stars David Hasselhoff, with prominent cast members including Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Alexandra Paul, and David Chokachi; Electra appeared as Lani McKenzie, one of the lifeguards rotating through the ensemble.
The show pairs episodic rescues with serialized character beats and on-location shoots featuring water stunts and second-unit action. Produced by Fremantle’s predecessor entities and syndicated widely, ‘Baywatch’ relied on stunt coordinators and a large technical crew to stage ocean sequences, while guest stars and recurring characters refreshed subplots around station politics and personal relationships.
Pia Zadora
Zadora was arrested and charged with domestic battery and coercion after an incident at her Las Vegas home, according to police; she was booked and later released on bail.
In film, Zadora headlined ‘Butterfly’, directed by Matt Cimber and based on James M. Cain’s novel. The drama centers on a remote mine caretaker and his estranged daughter, with Stacy Keach and Orson Welles among the cast, original music by Ennio Morricone, and cinematography credited to Eduard van der Enden.
The production mixes courtroom sequences and small-town settings, with supporting performances by Lois Nettleton, Edward Albert, and James Franciscus. Released by Analysis Releasing, the movie’s credits reflect Cimber’s dual role as writer-director and include additional editing credits for Thierry J. Couturier and colleagues.
Stacey Dash
Dash was charged with domestic battery in Pasco County, Florida, following a dispute at a residence; prosecutors later declined to file the case after review.
Dash’s breakout role came in ‘Clueless’, written and directed by Amy Heckerling and inspired by Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’. The teen comedy follows Beverly Hills students navigating friendships, romance, and status; Alicia Silverstone leads as Cher Horowitz with co-stars Paul Rudd, Brittany Murphy, Donald Faison, Elisa Donovan, Breckin Meyer, and Wallace Shawn, and production involvement from producers including Scott Rudin and Robert Lawrence through Paramount Pictures.
On television, Dash also starred as Val Stokes in the dramedy ‘Single Ladies’, created by Stacy A. Littlejohn. The VH1 series centers on three friends balancing careers and relationships in Atlanta, with executive producers including Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere, and a cast featuring LisaRaye McCoy, Charity Shea, and later Denise Vasi.
Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments: which cases or screen credits did we miss, and what projects should we cover next?
