It was the set of “Loving” — the daytime soap opera — where Michael Weatherly met his first wife, Amelia Heinle. Heinle was only 19 when she was cast as the character Steffi Brewster, while Weatherly played Cooper Alden. From there, it was love at first sight — or love at first soap opera — as the two began dating and ultimately married in 1995 following their time on the show, per People.
“Loving” was Heinle’s first big gig, one she looks back on fondly, for not only starting her career, but also allowing her to meet Weatherly. “Somehow I lucked into that role ’cause I had absolutely no experience,” she told Soap Opera Digest in 2020. “But it was fine. I mean, I was just happy to be doing it.” Following her three-year contract on “Loving,” Heinle explained that she and Weatherly both went on to pursue other opportunities within the industry, including a spin-off series of “Loving”. But once the spin-off series was canceled, Weatherly and Heinle’s relationship became rocky, as the two were newly married and had just welcomed their first son, August.
Trying to support his new family, Weatherly began taking any role he could land to help pay the bills, which became a stressor in their relationship. That stressor eventually ended his and Heinle’s relationship. The two divorced in 1997.