This glamorous TV star has had a life filled with ups and downs, including a successful career, a famous divorce, and finding love again in her 60s. Let’s take a closer look at her journey and stunning change over the years.
This well-known television star first caught the public’s eye in the late 1970s with her breakout role as the stylish and clever secretary Jennifer Marlowe on “WKRP in Cincinnati.” Her mix of beauty and great comedic timing made her an instant hit, but her rise to fame didn’t happen overnight. Before she became the blonde bombshell known by millions, she had a simple upbringing in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Born in 1945 to a chemist father, she had jet-black hair as a child. She studied art at the University of Minnesota, but her stunning looks helped her win spots in beauty pageants, even finishing as a runner-up in the Miss Minnesota contest in 1964.
Her early life was marked by challenges, including a marriage and divorce before she turned 21. She took on a teaching job to support herself and her daughter while finishing her college degree.
She grew interested in acting through local theater productions, performing in plays like “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Born Yesterday,” and “The Threepenny Opera.” Determined to pursue acting more seriously, she and her second husband, actor Ross Bickell, moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s.
After landing small roles in popular shows like “S.W.A.T.” and “The Bob Newhart Show,” her career began to grow. However, her choice to dye her hair blonde truly pushed her into the spotlight.
In 1978, she got her role on “WKRP in Cincinnati,” earning two Emmy nominations. While she was doing well professionally, her second marriage ended in 1981, partly due to the pressures of her rising fame.
Her success on “WKRP in Cincinnati” opened doors for more roles, leading her to portray real-life Hollywood figures like Jayne Mansfield in “The Jayne Mansfield Story” and Thelma Todd in “White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd.”
Although she showed her dramatic skills, she was often seen as a glamorous Hollywood star. Still, her roles kept her popular and confirmed her status in the television industry.
In the early 1980s, she started a high-profile relationship with Burt Reynolds, one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. They were often seen on red carpets and magazine covers, becoming a glamorous couple. After dating for six years, they married in a small but public ceremony in 1988.
Their wedding took place at Reynolds’ Florida ranch and attracted much media attention, with helicopters overhead and paparazzi waiting outside.
Although their relationship looked perfect to the public, problems arose behind the scenes. Just five years after their wedding, Reynolds served her divorce papers.
Their separation became famous, with tabloids reporting accusations of infidelity, bad parenting, and financial issues. Reynolds claimed she maxed out his credit cards and said she had been unfaithful.
In 1995, she accused Reynolds of being violent. Their divorce was messy and took years to finalize, with their financial ties lingering for over two decades.
Despite the difficult end to their marriage, the actress later looked back on their relationship positively. In an interview after Reynolds died in 2018, she said they reconciled before he passed away.
“We were friends first and friends last. It’s time to move on,” she stated. Their adopted son, Quinton, played a key role in their eventual reconciliation.
“We have this wonderful child together. Having a son was a big event in our lives, and everything revolved around him,” she explained. Their son even brought them together one last time before Reynolds died.
In a final kind gesture, Reynolds took her out to dinner and brought her flowers. She cherished these memories, speaking fondly of her ex-husband’s gentle side.
While her tumultuous relationship with Reynolds was the focus of many headlines in the 1990s, the actress remained committed to her career. She continued to work in television, often appearing in sitcoms and TV movies, although her roles often reflected the glamorous image she built in the 1980s.
In 2008, at 62, she found love again, this time in a quieter setting. She married Bob Flick, a musician and founding member of The Brothers Four, a folk group.
Their relationship had deep roots, as they first met decades earlier at a movie premiere when her career was just beginning. After reconnecting later in life, they wed in a private ceremony attended by close family and friends, including her son.
This beloved figure in Hollywood is none other than Loni Anderson, now 79. Take a look at the actress’s transformation over the years as she embraced life in the spotlight.
You Won’t Believe How Grown-Up Meryl Streep’s Kids Are Now!
Meryl Streep is one of the most famous actresses in Hollywood. She’s had a long career and has been amazing in many movies.
In her personal life, Streep is also a dedicated mom to her kids. Now that her children are grown up, you might be surprised when you see how much her oldest daughter looks like her.
Meryl Streep is known for her acting but keeps her personal life private. She started gaining fame in Hollywood in the 1970s. During that time, she was in a relationship with John Cazale, whom she met while doing theater.
When they met, Streep was 27 and Cazale was 41. He was well-known in acting circles and was friends with stars like Al Pacino, who admired him.
Streep and Cazale fell in love when they worked together on Shakespeare’s play “Measure for Measure.” They moved in together in Cazale’s loft in Tribeca and enjoyed a few happy years while both pursued their careers in entertainment.
Sadly, everything changed in May 1977. Cazale became very ill and had to see a doctor urgently. He was diagnosed with lung cancer, which had already spread to other parts of his body. The doctors said his condition was very serious.
After John Cazale got very sick, Meryl Streep trusted only a few people with the news. Al Pacino was one of them and even took him to some of his doctor visits. In March 1978, Cazale had to go to the hospital and passed away shortly after. Streep stayed with him the whole time.
When Streep told Cazale’s brother about what happened, he asked her to leave Cazale’s apartment right away. Streep didn’t have anywhere to go, so she called her brother Harry for help. He connected her with his friend Don Gummer, who was in Pakistan at that time. Gummer let Streep stay in his apartment, and they started writing letters to each other. Eventually, they fell in love and decided to be together.
Meryl Streep and Don Gummer got married in 1978. They’ve had a happy marriage for over 44 years, which is rare in Hollywood. Gummer is a sculptor, and he’s proud to support his talented wife.
Meryl Streep and Don Gummer have four children together. Their oldest is their son, Henry Wolfe Gummer, born in 1979. He’s an actor and musician who is married to Tamryn Gummer, and they have two kids.
Their second child and oldest daughter is Mamie Gummer, born in 1983. She started acting when she was very young and appeared in her mom’s movie “Heartburn” in 1986. Later, she had a small part in her mom’s famous movie “The Devil Wears Prada.”
Following her mother’s path, Mamie Gummer is now an actress. She has been on TV shows like “The Good Wife,” “Emily Owens, M.D.,” and “Elementary.” Many say she looks just like her mother.
Meryl Streep’s third child is her daughter Grace Jane Gummer, born in 1986. Like her famous mom and older sister, she’s also an actress. Grace has performed on Broadway and won a Theatre World Award for her first Broadway show.
She has been on several TV shows like “The Newsroom” and “American Horror Story: Freak Show.” In 2021, she married Mark Ronson, the DJ known for his hit song “Uptown Funk.” Recently, they shared they’re expecting their first child.
Meryl Streep’s youngest child is Louisa Jacobson Gummer, born in 1991. She’s 31 years old and an actress too. After doing theater for a bit, she starred in the show “The Gilded Age” with Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon.
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Meryl Streep’s four children have all pursued careers in entertainment, just like their famous mother.
It’s wonderful to hear about Meryl Streep’s children and their accomplishments. Share this article with other fans of the actress so they can discover more about her family life!
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