Lee Majors: Still Acting

September 28, 2026February 24, 2026 / thewritelife61 / 2 Comments

As we wind up my blog theme “Expensive Parts,” we finish by taking a look at the career of Lee Majors, who starred in The Six Million Dollar Man.

Known then as Harvey Yeary, Majors was born in Michigan in 1939. Sadly, both his parents died in separate car accidents before he reached two years of age. He was then adopted by his aunt and uncle who moved him to Kentucky.

Majors was a big sports guy, playing football and running with the track team. He received a scholarship to Indiana University. He transferred to Eastern Kentucky University to play football. Unfortunately, a back injury left him paralyzed for two weeks, putting an end to his football career. He then turned to acting but graduated with a degree in history and physical education with plans to be a football coach.

After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles to be the recreation director for North Hollywood Park. During his time there he met Dick Clayton who had been James Dean’s agent. Clayton convinced Lee to go to acting school, and after a year, Clayton felt he was ready to look for work in the entertainment business. He took on the name Lee Majors in honor of Johnny Majors who was a player and coach at the University of Tennessee. He said many people in Hollywood had trouble pronouncing his real last name, so he took on a new one.

During this time, he took his first stab at marriage. He and Kathy Robinson were wed in 1961 but divorced in 1964. His marriages were not as successful as his career.

In 1964 he received his first big-screen offer for Strait-Jacket. A year later he showed up on the small screen on Gunsmoke. He would continue to flip back and forth between the two genres his entire career.

1965 was also the year he got his first recurring role. Chosen from more than 400 actors, including Burt Reynolds, he was given the role of Heath Barkley on The Big Valley. This was the decade of the westerns and Big Valley was a big hit. The show was on the air till 1969 at which time Majors signed with Universal Studios.

From 1971-1974, he was part of the cast of Owen Marshall Counselor at Law on ABC. In 1974, ABC decided to transfer a movie plot of The Six Million Dollar Man into a series and Majors got the job. The show was an immediate success. In 1977, Majors announced he wanted to renegotiate his contract with the show which had not ended. Some insiders said he wanted more money; Majors always claimed that he was asking that his production company, Fawcett Majors Productions, become an independent producer with Universal. The producers filed a lawsuit to report to work since his contract was still ongoing, but Majors refused and eventually the executives agreed to his demands. However, that might have put the nail in the coffin of the show. A spinoff, The Bionic Woman had slid in the ratings and was picked up by a different network and then The Six Million Dollar Man lost viewers as well, so both shows were cancelled the following year. However, the series continued in three made-for-tv movies during the eighties.

During the beginning of The Six Million Dollar Man, Majors married Farrah Fawcett; they divorced in 1979. He tried to get her the part of The Bionic Woman, but it went to Lindsay Wagner. Fawcett guest-starred on the show three times before getting her own series, Charlie’s Angels.

Majors spent the rest of the seventies primarily doing movies. In 1981 he received another starring offer for The Fall Guy. Majors played Colt Seavers, a stuntman who worked part time as a bounty hunter. This series was on the air for five seasons before ending in 1986.

In 1988, marriage three happened when he wed Karen Velez, but after six years, they too divorced. In 2002, he walked down the aisle one last time, marrying Faith Noelle Cross, and they are still together.

He did have smaller recurring roles in the 1990s and 2000s but they were on little-known shows: Tour of Duty, Raven, Too Much Sun, Son of the Beach, The Game, and Ash versus Evil Dead. He had heart bypass surgery in 2003, but it didn’t keep him down long.

He was in three episodes of the well-known show, Weeds in 2008. He made appearances on several popular shows during this time including Will and Grace, Cold Case, According to Jim, Grey’s Anatomy, and Magnum PI. He still continues to work off and on as of 2026.

It’s amazing that Majors has continued to work so long in the business. After five decades, he is still doing what he loves. He has said that he was “never into my looks. What’s important to me is my health and family.” He also was fine not being a leading man forever as he said, “A lot of guys think they can be leading men forever. And believe me, we all can’t be.”

I was surprised to learn that despite the fact that so many kids looked up to Steve Austin, Majors did not love his time on the series. He said it “was so hard and so boring for me. Ironically that was the most popular. It was total work. You’re there 16-17 hours a day.” His favorite role? Heath Barkley. He considered Barbara Stanwyck his mentor. He said it “was the most fun at the time because it was my first and I love Westerns. All the action, horseback riding. I really loved it.” Linda Evans, his sister Audra on the show, also has mentioned how much she loved doing the show and how much she respected Stanwyck.

I’m not sure if he ever regretted choosing acting over football coaching because he mentions the importance of football coaches and the inspiration he received from his often. But he had a very successful career. He was never stereotyped in his roles moving from The Big Valley to Owen Marshall Counselor at Law to The Six Million Dollar Man and ending with The Fall Guy, all very different roles and highly rated shows. He also found the perfect partner for him and his children, a blended family from several of his marriages. And at 87, is still acting when he wants to.

In an interview with Terry Pace on http://www.leemajors.us/films/leeinterview.htm, Majors discussed his acting philosophy. He said, “Acting is a tough business, and the percentage of people who make it is very low — it’s about 1 percent. I’ve had disappointments and heartbreaks and setbacks and roles I didn’t get, but something always came along that either made me better or was an even better role.” That’s a great way to look at the ups and downs of the entertainment business. We should all learn from him.

Meredith Baxter: Her Long and Successful Career

August 24, 2020 / thewritelife61 / 2 Comments

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know I am a big fan of the show Family starring James Broderick and Sada Thompson. Along with Gary Frank and Kristy McNichol, Meredith Baxter played one of their children on the show. As Nancy, she got divorced and moved into a garage apartment with her son Timmy. She went to law school to follow in her father’s footsteps. Today we will learn a bit more about the life Meredith Baxter had off the show.

Baxter was born in 1947 in California. Her mother was Whitney Blake who played Dorothy Baxter on Hazel. Her father was a radio announcer. Her parents divorced when she was 6. She lived with her brothers and her mother who eventually remarried; Meredith’s stepfather was sitcom writer Allan Manings. Manings wrote for a variety of shows, including McHale’s Navy, Laugh-In, Good Times, and both the original and reboot of One Day at a Time.

Baxter went to Hollywood High. She briefly transferred to Interlochen Center for the Arts as a voice major, but returned to Hollywood High to graduate. Shortly afterward she married Robert Lewis Bush and they had two children. They divorced in 1971.

For the next few years, Meredith appeared on a variety of television shows and in several big-screen movies, including The Doris Day Show and The Partridge Family.

Image #: 2088657 David Birney (as Bernie Steinberg) and Meredith Baxter (as Bridget Fitzgerald Steinberg) in the CBS comedy series “Bridget Loves Bernie.” 1972 – – Picture by Landov / Retna Pictures – Job: 79439 Ref: LAN / CBS – UK Rights Only *Unbylined uses will incur an additional discretionary fee!*

The following year, Meredith got her first major acting role: Bridget Loves Bernie. She starred with David Birney. The premise behind this sitcom is that wealthy, Catholic Bridget Fitzgerald marries lower-class, Jewish Bernie Steinberg who drives a cab. Both sets of parents are uncomfortable with their children’s mates.

Although the show only lasted one season, she and Birney lasted a little longer. They married in 1974 and had twins. In 1989 they divorced and don’t have very good things to say about one another.

Photo: sitcomsonline.com
Asea on The Love Boat

In the mid-seventies, television kept Meredith very busy with 11 appearances on shows such as Medical Center and McMillan and Wife and 10 made-for-tv movies.

She appeared on the big screen in All the President’s Men in 1976 before taking the role of Nancy Maitland on Family that same year. Family featured the Lawrences. Kate is a stay-at-home mom and a bit distant but obviously loves her children. Warm, friendly Doug is a lawyer and judge. Nancy is in her twenties but much more mature than her brother Willie who can’t decide what to do with his life. Buddy, a tweener, is the youngest in the family.

Critics as well as viewers were devoted to the show. Baxter was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in both 1977 and 1978. She was beat by her “sister” McNichol in 1977 (McNichol was nominated every year the show was on) and by Nancy Marchand for Lou Grant in 1978. For both years, Family was nominated as best show and Sada Thompson as lead actress which she won in 1978 (Thompson was also nominated every year). Gary Frank as Willie won in 1977. James Broderick also received a nomination during those years.

After Family ended, she went back to making made-for-tv movies with 7 during the 1980s and 21 in the 1990s.

The following year, she would land the role that made her the most famous, Elyse Keaton on Family Ties. In this much-beloved show, Elyse and Steven, former hippies, raise their four children who have different values than they did. Alex, the oldest is a conservative interested primarily in money, Mallory cares more about shopping and boys than anything else, Jennifer has a dry sense of humor and is trying to find her spot in the family and the birth of baby Andy doesn’t help her figure that out. The show was on the air for seven seasons.

In 1995, Baxter married actor and screenwriter Michael Blodgett, but their married only lasted five years. (Blodgett wrote for a variety of television shows and several movies.) Shortly before her divorce, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She made a full recovery and has become a spokesperson for treatment and research and developed a skin cream (Signature). A portion of the proceeds is donated for breast cancer prevention.

THE FACULTY — Meredith Baxter stars in the new comedy series, THE FACULTY, which airs on the ABC Television Network.

In 1996, she again attempted a television series, The Faculty. The show wasn’t renewed for a second season. Baxter played the role of a principal who is divorced and a single mother, and features the choices she has to make to balance her busy life. While the critics praised Baxter’s performance, they didn’t find much else to like about the show, and it was cancelled after 13 episodes.

She made several television appearances on various shows or movies but her only recurring role was as Lilly Rush on Cold Case in 2007.

In 2011, Meredith published her memoir, Untied. She talks frankly about her unhappy marriages, including the abusive one with Birney. She also discloses that she was a recovering alcoholic and that she was gay. After coming out, she met Nancy Locke whom she married in 2013.

In 2014 Baxter accepted a role as Maureen, Nicky’s friend, on The Young and the Restless which began and ended that year. Since that time, she has appeared on a variety of television shows and in several movies. She has a couple of movies coming out soon.

Photo: tvguide.com
With Melody Thomas Scott on The *Young and the Restless*

Baxter has also done a variety stage work including the two-character play, “Kissing Place” with David Ogden Stiers. Most recently she has appeared in “Women Beyond Borders,” “Angels in America” and “Love Letters.”

Although Meredith has definitely had some trauma and sadness in her life, she has had a varied and long-lasting career. Being cast in three successful television shows is not something that happens for most actors. She seems to have come to a place in her life where she is happy and content and that is something all of us strive for. Join me next week as we look more closely at the show that made her a household name: Family Ties.

“The Ultimate Definition of Success is to Repeat It” says Jeffrey Benjamin

October 3, 2016February 19, 2018 / thewritelife61 / Leave a comment

After reading about That Girl and what a tough time Marlo Thomas and Ted Bessell had finding new roles that did not stereotype them as Don and Ann, I thought about actors who were able to transcend that hurdle. I could think of numerous actors and actresses who were able to have two important television roles. Mary Tyler Moore began as Laura Petrie but Mary Richards was also a strong character. Ron Howard grew up from Opie Taylor to Richie Cunningham. Kristy McNichol lived out her adolescence in Family and then moved to Florida as Barbara in Empty Nest.

I started to do some research and found the following actors who had numerous television series.

Alan Alda – Of course, his iconic role was Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H. From 1972-83 he kept us laughing or crying in Korea. Since M*A*S*H he has taken on roles in several television series including ER (1999), West Wing (2004-06), 30 Rock (2009-10), The Big C (2011-13), and The Blacklist (2013-14).

Fun Fact: He got his start on the Phil Silvers Show in 1957.

Meredith Baxter – Most people remember her as Elyse Keaton in Family Ties (1982-89), but for me it was Nancy in Family (1976-80). Other shows include Bridget Loves Bernie (1972-73), The Faculty (1996), Cold Case (2006-07), The Young and the Restless (2014), and Finding Carter (2014-15).

Fun Fact: Her mother was Whitney Blake, Missy on Hazel.

Sally Field – I think most people will always think of Sally Field as the Flying Nun (1967-70). Her first show was Gidget (1965-66). As we discussed a couple of weeks ago, she had a role in the forgettable Hey Landlord (1967) and she was The Girl with Something Extra (1973-74). Like Alan Alda, she also had a recurring role in ER (2000-06), and her most recent show is Brothers and Sisters (2006-11).

Fun Fact: She won an Emmy for her appearance on ER.

John Forsythe – While younger people only know him as the voice of Charlie on Charlie’s Angels (1976-81) or Blake Carrington from The Colbys (1980-86) which led to Dynasty (1981-89), one of my favorite sitcoms of all is Bachelor Father which John starred as Bentley Greg from 1957-62. Before Bachelor Father, he starred in Lights Out (1951-2), Suspense (1951-52) and Studio One (1949-55). Before Charlie’s Angels, he was in the John Forsythe Show (1965-66) and To Rome with Love (1969-71). His last show was The Powers That Be (1992-93).

Fun Fact: Along with Harry Morgan and Meredith Baxter, he was on episodes of The Love Boat.

Harry Morgan – Harry Morgan is the king of shows, with 12 series to his credit. He is probably best remembered for three of them–Pete and Gladys (1960-62), Dragnet (1967), and M*A*S*H (1974-83). His first sitcom was December Bride (1954-59) which spun off Pete and Gladys. In the 60s before Dragnet he was in Kentucky Jones (1964-65) and Dr. Kildare (1965). The seventies saw him in Hec Ramsey (1972-74) and Gunsmoke (1970-75). After M*A*S*H, he literally was in After M*A*S*H (1983-85), Blacke’s Magic (1986), You Can’t Take It With You (1987-88), and Third Rock From the Sun (1996-97).

Fun Fact: He was in an episode of the Partridge Family in the first season.

Bob Newhart – Bob Newhart gets the award for having the most shows with his name it in. Fans fondly remember The Bob Newhart Show set in Chicago when he played Dr. Hartley (1972-78) or Newhart where he was the inn owner Dick Loudon (1982-90). His first show was The Bob Newhart Show (1961). After Newhart, he tried out Bob (1992-93) and George and Leo (1997-98). Like Alan Alda and Sally Field, he also had a recurring role on ER (2003) and most recently has had a recurring role on The Big Bang Theory (2013-15).

Fun Fact: The 1982-90 show had the best finale ever when the show ended with Bob in bed with his wife from the 1972-78 series thinking Newhart had been a dream.

Ed O’Neill – If any actor should have been stereotyped after a role, Ed O’Neill seemed doomed after Al Bundy in Married. . . With Children (1987-97), yet he now has an even bigger hit in Modern Family as Jay Pritchett (2009-16). In between he was on the Big Apple (2001), Dragnet (2003-4), a remake of Harry Morgan’s show, and John From Cincinnati (2007). Like Alan Alda, he took on a role on The West Wing (2004-05).

Fun Fact: He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969 but was cut in training camp.

Dick Van Dyke – Finally, we have Dick Van Dyke. Before I researched this blog, I thought he and Bob Newhart might have the most sitcoms to their credit. He comes in with only four starring shows overall. Like Bob, he never wanted to stray far from his name: We had the iconic Dick Van Dyke Show as Rob Petrie (1961-66), The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1971-74), The Dick Van Dyke Show (1988), and then Diagnosis: Murder (1993-2001). Like so many of these actors who have something in common with Alan Alda, Dick Van Dyke’s first appearance in a sitcom was also The Phil Silvers Show (1957-8).

Fun Fact: He can trace his family line back to the Mayflower.

Why do some stars get locked into a role that they are never able to separate themselves from? Think Henry Winkler as the Fonz, Lucille Ball as Lucy, or Don Knotts as Barney. I think part of it is that we get so attached to these characters we almost want to believe they are real and the actor moving on destroys that image.

The above actors all had different situations that allowed them to move on more easily. Alan Alda never had that hit show again. After M*A*S*H, he took on dramatic recurring roles. Meredith Baxter was in a mixed genre of shows. Of her two hit shows, one was a drama, Family, and one a sitcom, Family Ties. Dick Van Dyke had the same formula: The first Dick Van Dyke Show, a sitcom, and Diagnosis: Murder, an action/mystery series. John Forsythe and Harry Morgan came into show business during the golden days of television. They were able to have extremely successful shows and characters and then start over. Forsythe had 10 series to his credit, Morgan had 12. Sally Field, although starting out in television, was certainly better known as a movie actress. Audiences were seeing her on the big screen as other characters so they perhaps don’t pigeon hole her into one role so much. Ed O’Neill actually had success on two sitcoms about families. Maybe Jay Pritchett is so successful because he shows what Al Bundy may have been like growing up in a more enlightened era where the fathers help parent and run the house. And Bob Newhart, I think, was successful because he actually plays the same character in most of his shows, and we love that character so we keep looking for him, no matter what the show is actually titled.