Meredith Baxter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Meredith Baxter
Baxter at the Human Rights Campaign Gala in 2014
Born	Meredith Ann Baxter (1947-06-21) June 21, 1947 (age 78) South Pasadena, California, U.S.
Other names	Meredith Baxter Birney
Education	Interlochen Center for the Arts
Occupation	Actress producer
Years active	1971–present
Spouse(s)	Robert Lewis Bush ​ ​ (m. 1966; div. 1969)​ David Birney ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1989)​ Michael Blodgett ​ ​ (m. 1995; div. 2000)​ Nancy Locke ​ (m. 2013)​
Children	5
Parents	Tom Baxter (father) Whitney Blake (mother)

Meredith Ann Baxter (born June 21, 1947) is an American actress and producer. She is famous for her roles in popular television shows. These include the sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie, the drama series Family, and the sitcom Family Ties.

Baxter has been nominated for five Emmy Awards. One nomination was for her role in the 1992 TV movie A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story.

Early Life and Education

Baxter was born in South Pasadena, California. Her mother, Whitney Blake, was an actress, director, and producer. Her father, Tom Baxter, was a radio announcer. Her parents divorced in 1953. Meredith and her two older brothers were raised by their mother in Pasadena.

Baxter went to James Monroe High School and later Hollywood High School. For her senior year, she studied voice at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. She returned to Hollywood High and graduated in 1965.

Acting Career

First Television Roles

Baxter's first television appearance was in 1971 on an episode of The Partridge Family. In 1972, she starred in the CBS comedy show Bridget Loves Bernie. The show only lasted for one season. Her co-star, David Birney, became her second husband. For many years, she was known by the name "Meredith Baxter Birney".

In 1976, she played a role in the movie All the President's Men.

Stardom with Family and Family Ties

Baxter in 1977

From 1976 to 1980, Baxter starred in the drama series Family. She played Nancy Lawrence Maitland. Her performance earned her two Emmy Award nominations in 1977 and 1978.

In 1982, Baxter began playing Elyse Keaton in the NBC sitcom Family Ties. She played the mother of the Keaton family. The show was very popular and ran until 1989. During this time, she also starred in the TV movie Kate's Secret (1986). She played a suburban mother with a secret eating disorder.

Later Work in TV and Film

After Family Ties, Baxter starred in and produced many television movies. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role in A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story (1992). In 1997, she appeared in two episodes of Spin City with Michael J. Fox, who had played her son on Family Ties.

In recent years, Baxter has appeared as a guest star on many TV shows. These include Cold Case, Glee, and The Young and the Restless. She also voiced a character in the animated show Dan Vs..

Personal Life

Baxter and Birney in Bridget Loves Bernie (1972)

Baxter in September 1990

Baxter has been married four times and has five children.

• Robert Lewis Bush (1966–1971); they had two children.
• David Birney (1974–1989); they had three children.
• Michael Blodgett (1995–2000)
• Nancy Locke (2013–present)

Baxter is a vegetarian. In 1999, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She received treatment and made a full recovery.

Filmography

Film

Chad Everett and Baxter in 1975

Television

Award nominations

See also

In Spanish: Meredith Baxter para niños