Who Was the Most Successful Male on ‘Melrose Place’?
For those of us who lived through the 1990s, there was one TV show that dominated water cooler conversations like no other. The ultimate guilty pleasure — Melrose Place — ran for seven sultry seasons before taking a final bow in 1999, leaving a long list of seductive stars and sexually charged escapades in its wake.
So why were the residents of Melrose Place so irresistible to each other? Sure, they were all insanely good-looking, but they also had various levels of the one trait that’s even hotter than perfect jawline and six-pack abs: success. Never letting realism get in the way of a good story, plenty of the show’s characters found their way to lots of success in their chosen fields. Take a look at our favorite hunks and how their careers evolved throughout the popular series.
>> ‘Melrose Place’ Cast Now & Then: Find Out Where the Stars are in 2024
Dr. Michael Mancini
When we first met Michael (Thomas Calabro) in the series premiere, he was a struggling resident doctor at Wilshire Memorial Hospital, working in his rare off-hours as Melrose’s apartment manager just to earn some much-needed extra cash. By the time the original series ended, Dr. Mancini had risen in stature, finally clinching a coveted role as his hospital’s chief of staff. It doesn’t get any higher than that. Not bad for TV’s favorite lying, cheating scumbag.
Billy Campbell
The original boy next door of Melrose Place, Billy (Andrew Shue) started from low ground as an aspiring novelist, taxi driver and part-time Arthur Murray dance instructor. After briefly working as a newspaper columnist, he finds his footing in the marketing world by getting a job at D&D Advertising, opening the door for a more success-driven Billy Campbell to evolve his career. He eventually accepts a job in Rome, where he moves with Jennifer Mancini (Alyssa Milano) upon both characters’ departures from the show.
Jake Hanson
The rugged good looks and no-nonsense attitude that Jake (Grant Show) brought to Melrose Place on their own would have been enough to cement him as a fan favorite character (and ’90s heartthrob) throughout his time on the show. Regardless, Jake found his way to bigger and better things after starting off as a struggling construction worker and motorcycle mechanic, eventually buying the local hangout Shooters (he also evaded a murder attempt via explosives planted on a boat). Is there anything this guy couldn’t do?
Dr. Peter Burns
Dr. Burns (Jack Wagner) entered Melrose Place on a high note as Wilshire Memorial’s chief of staff (a position he eventually paved the way for Michael Mancini to take over). This accomplishment was all the more impressive after eventually learning of Burns’ meager formative years in Texas, all of which pales in comparison to his Amanda Woodward’s (Heather Locklear) reunion and escape from the United States after amassing a multimillion-dollar fortune.
Kyle McBride
Despite only appearing in the show’s final three seasons, Kyle McBride (Rob Estes) immediately established himself as a capable businessman via ownership of his own restaurant, Kyle’s. He later realized another dream by launching a jazz club called The Upstairs, making him the coolest cat in the Melrose complex.
Matt Fielding
One of TV’s first openly gay characters, Matt Fielding had a big heart, often battling social injustices as we worked to help troubled teens. Although Matt saw a tragic end (we found out in Season 7 that he had been being killed in an auto accident), the actor who played him (Doug Savant) walked away with the greatest ending — marrying his costar Laura Leighton. The two have been happily married since 1998.
If you think the men of Melrose Place did well for themselves, perhaps you need a reminder of what the ladies could do. Stay tuned!
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