Meredith Baxter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Meredith Baxter
Meredith Baxter at a Human Rights Campaign event 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 a well-known American actress and producer. She is famous for her roles in popular TV shows. These include the CBS sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie (1972–1973) and the ABC drama series Family (1976–1980). She is perhaps best known for playing Elyse Keaton in the NBC sitcom Family Ties (1982–1989). Meredith Baxter has been nominated for an Emmy Award five times for her acting.

Early Life and Education

Meredith 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. When Meredith was young, her parents separated in 1953. She and her two brothers, Richard and Brian, were raised by their mother in Pasadena. Her mother later married Allan Manings, who was a writer for TV comedies.

Interestingly, Meredith Baxter shares her birthday, June 21, 1947, with her Family Ties co-star, Michael Gross.

Meredith went to James Monroe High School before moving to Hollywood High School. During her last year of high school, she studied voice at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. She then returned to Hollywood High and graduated in 1965.

Acting Career

Meredith Baxter started her TV career in 1967. She appeared in shows like Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in and The Partridge Family. In 1972, she became one of the main stars of Bridget Loves Bernie, a CBS comedy show. This series lasted for one season. She met her second husband, David Birney, on this show. They married in 1974.

Baxter in 1977, during her time on Family

From 1976 to 1989, she was known as "Meredith Baxter Birney." She became very famous in 1976 for her role as Nancy Lawrence Maitland in the TV drama Family. She received two Emmy Award nominations for her work on this show. In 1976, she also appeared in the movie All the President's Men.

After Family ended, she starred in Vanities (1981). This TV show was about three Texas cheerleaders and their lives from high school to after college. It was shown on HBO.

In 1982, Baxter got the role of Elyse Keaton in the NBC sitcom Family Ties. She played the mother of the Keaton family, who used to be a "flower child." While working on Family Ties, Baxter also starred in TV movies.

After Family Ties finished, Baxter continued to produce and act in TV films. She received an Emmy Award nomination for her role in A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story (1992). This film was based on a true story. For her work in the TV film My Breast (1994), she received a special award for helping people learn about breast cancer. In 1997, she played the mother of a character played by Michael J. Fox (her TV son from Family Ties) in two episodes of Spin City.

In 2005, she started appearing in TV commercials for Garden State Life Insurance Company. She also co-hosted the NBC morning show Today for a short time in 2006. In 2007, she made guest appearances on the ABC drama What About Brian and the CBS series Cold Case. In Cold Case, she played the dying mother of Detective Lilly Rush.

Meredith Baxter also created a skin care line called Meredith Baxter Simple Works. This line helps raise money for breast cancer research. In 2008, she received an honorary doctoral degree from National University.

In 2011, Baxter published her memoir called Untied. The book became a New York Times bestseller. She also became a spokesperson for Consumer Cellular, a mobile service provider for seniors. In 2013, she appeared in the season 4 finale of Glee. She also guest-starred on the show Switched at Birth.

In 2014, Baxter joined the cast of The Young and the Restless, a popular daytime soap opera. She played Maureen Russell, a charming woman who wanted a more privileged life.

Personal Life

Family Life

Baxter and Birney in Bridget Loves Bernie (1972)

Baxter in September 1990

Meredith Baxter has been married four times and has five children.

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

Health

Meredith Baxter was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999. After receiving treatment, she made a full recovery.

Film and Television Roles

Film

Chad Everett and Baxter in 1975

Television

Awards and Nominations

Meredith Baxter has been recognized for her acting with several award nominations.

See also

In Spanish: Meredith Baxter para niños