What Happened to the Cast of FAMILY (1976-1980) After the Show Ended?

[@suestabile1262]

Remembering Sada Thompson.
Passed 13 yrs ago today,
May 4th, 2011.
Great show.📺

[@robm3074]

I really enjoyed this show when it was on TV. One thing you neglected though regarding Willie Ames... One of his most notable projects was on the TV show Eight is Enough. I really think that show Is what boosted his career at the time.

[@kellygreene6752]

That’s a huge fact to leave out!

[@727100bear]

always enjoyed Kate’s one liners in response to things the other family members particularly the kids would say - the writing for this program was impeccable

[@anjoleahdupree1963]

*FAMILY* was a very highly enjoyable and quality Show.It was outstanding programming,way above shows that are currently on now these days.

[@donparisheo]

Meredith Baxter Birney was the second actress to play Nancy Maitland. There was a different one who portrayed Nancy in season 1. Also, the beautiful Season Hubley warrants an update as well.

[@kallen868]

How do you leave out Eight is Enough when talking about Willie? That show cemented his career.

[@gracededmond9939]

Loved this show when it aired ...& love it to this day...❤❤❤great cast too

[@ScottRandolph-dd7dr]

🎉 retro greetings from coastal Mississippi. I watched Family from beginning to end. I enjoyed the drama..... ground breaking for the 70's

[@donnamcgill6939]

Also from the coast! I've just discovered this show as it's running on one of the streaming services. Not sure how I missed this gem then, but the nostalgia is heavy now that I'm binge-watching it today.

[@ScottRandolph-dd7dr]

@@donnamcgill6939 southern greetings....if you enjoy Family, then you might enjoy Thirty Something, Once and Again, Brothers and Sisters. Thanks for replying. Enjoy

[@spokanetomcat1]

I went to high school with Willie Aames and his sister. I forgot he was in this TV show too for a season. As I saw in another comment, how could you miss him being in Eight is Enough and a season in Swiss Family Robinson before that.

[@leesashriber5097]

I watched Family on several occasions. Thank you!! I appreciate all your hard work you do to allow us these trips down memory lane.😊

[@palmyrapilato7256]

I loved this show when I was young 😊

[@Jean-ni6of]

I'm in my 80's and still love the show. I watch reruns on RUclips.

[@cidweinberg]

This show inspired me to be a screenwriter! I’m so grateful that I was a kid (growing up in CA) in the mid70s and teenager in the mid80s. Words cannot describe how much I love this series, and the comfort it gave and gives me.

[@judymcfarland9834]

Love this so very much 🥰 Thank you so very much ❤

[@laura6796]

My momma and I watched this show together when I was a teenager. ❤

[@carolynred4616]

I loved this show. Great writers and actors. Hard to find skills in tv shows like that today ❤

[@marilyntaylor9577]

Great family dynamic I could relate to.

[@jasonwomack4064]

I've never heard of this show until now. I really like this format of "what happened" to the actors though.

[@jackandlill]

You forgot the first actress that paid Nancy Maitland. As well, you forgot to mention Willie Aimes' role in Eight is Enough!

[@stacystoltz8722]

Great show 👏 👍 👌 🙌🏿 ❤️🆒️🌄🙏

[@cynthiariley1782]

Hey they didn't say what little Timmy and the first Nancy before Meredith were up to these days.😮

[@Theyralltakenfu]

Willie Ames was a big part of Eight is Enough, how did you skip that role.

[@meekybow7199]

Leif Garret was on the show from time to time as Buddy’s boyfriend.

[@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc]

Leif Garrett had a couple of hit songs in the late 1970's.

[@averydaymond1560]

@@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc He took a couple of hits of various drugs every hour during that time.

[@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc]

@@averydaymond1560 Leif Garrett ruined his career over drugs. He's been in and out of rehab for over 20 years.

[@samanthab1923]

I used to watch Family. John Rubinstein played MBB’s ex. One summer he rented a beach house on my uncles street.

[@danielsweeney6742]

I always liked Kristy McNichols

[@jtshark9283]

I am amused that she Baxter went from Family to Family TIes in just under 24 months.

[@jackilynpyzocha662]

The first Nancy Lawrence Maitland?

[@bethtyree6346]

Great show

[@BryanClarkFerguson-xc6uc]

Willie Ames was on eight is enough and little house on the prarie for one episode. Also played in the movie Zapped with Scott Baio.

[@Randallsansone-vf1gt]

You forgot Elayne Heilveil

[@EclecticDD]

Willie Aames did 8 is Enough before Charles in Charge

[@Yograce2]

I came here to say this!

[@oldladyjamz]

Actually, per Gary Frank, there were 3 Nancys. The second one was never seen because MB was hired after a couple of season 2 episodes were in the can, so they made MB reshoot the scenes with the 2nd Nancy (who looked a lot like Nancy #1) originally in them.
This show had an annoying habit of a lack of continuity. Doug had 4 or 5 dads. In season 2, he married Constance and then in season 3 until 5...no Constance. There were 2 Elaine Hogans. And two Lauras (Buddy's first best friend). It's amazing they managed to keep the same Timmy all 5 seasons.

[@Michele-pt2in]

Thank you for the info. I was saying the same thing about the storyline not being consistent. The baby Timmy didnt age like Buddy and Willy did. They would jump a couple years, but the baby was still a baby.

[@farhanarahman6743]

Hi you left out Lief Garrett Buddy's last boyfriend on the show just thought that I point that out

[@maverick214]

I thought Meredith Birney was miscast as Nancy because she looked so different to the other tv siblings. Elayne Heilveil, who portrayed Nancy in the mini series, was more believable.

[@kimberlymassimo832]

You forgot Timmy

[@stacystoltz8722]

📺😍🌞📺💕📺🆒️

[@user-du2sk7pc9e]

Meredith Baxter Birney - great in that tv movie about the crazy, money-obssesed wife of Dan Broderick who shots the guy and his new trophy wife! Also, a lesbian.

[@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc]

It's odd that Kristy McNichol and Meredith Baxter became lesbians after the show ended.

[@user-xe5cz3dw8m]

@@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc Kristy McNichol was always a lesbian. Merideth decided to become one when she grew bitter toward her husband David Birney because of all their ups and downs and it made her a man-hater.

[@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc]

@@user-xe5cz3dw8m In Meredith's memoirs, she said that David Birneywas mentally and physically abusive towards her . I read somewhere that David died from Alzheimer's disease a few years ago.

[@user-xe5cz3dw8m]

​@@GeminiladyJackson-xq6hc I haven't read her book but I remember for years she had said her relationship with David Birney was tumultuous. She had also become an alcoholic. David Birney did pass away a few years ago in 2022, I think it was from Alzheimer's. I have a hard time separating Meredith from the character of Nancy she played on Family. She always seemed as self-centered as Nancy Lawrence, but I like her. I think she is a good actress.

[@andrewbalogh9868]

@@user-xe5cz3dw8mactually she was always a lesbian. No one chooses that

[@jtshark9283]

Rubenstein only directed 4 episodes of different shows. He did not do any motion picture directing

[@babybunnie8669]

You did not mention that Meredith Baxter Birney came out same as her acting sister, lesbian. Changing her name to Meredith Baxter again!!

[@cavsomecadence6117]

Summer of my German soldier.

[@user-xe5cz3dw8m]

I remember that made for T.V. movie

[@PolPotsPieHole]

I had such a crush on Kristy McNichol

[@averydaymond1560]

We’ll look her up and ask her out, she’d likely say yes.

[@Classic_Rock_Chick]

You lifted a lot of these descriptions verbatim from Wikipedia. You should at least credit your sources.

[@ronnieparker4311]

Wikipedia police

[@averydaymond1560]

Oh my gawd, you have no life. You do realize Wikipedia lifts their data from other sources and do not cite them or reference them? You are a complete dork.

[@JohnMiller-oz7gv]

No shit.

[@cameraman655]

Man, I hated that show as a kid in the 70s. My sister loved it and being a one-TV household, she and her dominating persona kept me away from the TV. I still have yet to see the appeal of the show.

[@jbp60]

It was a very well produced drama series with hight quality production team and award winning actors. It was also a realistic portrayal of a modern family of the late 1970s-early 1980s that was unique from all the family comedy shows. It still holds up because of the high quality.