77-year-old Meredith Baxter was spotted enjoying a casual outing in Santa Barbara this week with her wife, Nancy Locke, looking effortlessly stylish while running errands. Fans will always remember her as Elyse Keaton on Family Ties (1982–1989), the warm, witty matriarch whose aging ex-hippie persona perfectly captured the cultural clashes of the Reagan era. The show, which ran for seven seasons and won five Emmys, even incorporated Meredith’s real-life pregnancy with twins into the storyline, adding another son to the fictional Keaton family.
Baxter’s career began in the 1970s with notable roles in films like All The President’s Men alongside Robert Redford and Stand Up and Be Counted with Jacqueline Bisset, as well as the short-lived sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie. These early performances showcased her versatility and paved the way for the breakout role that would define her career. She also earned Emmy recognition for her dramatic work on Aaron Spelling’s Family and later for A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story.
Her personal life, marked by challenges and resilience, includes a tumultuous marriage to co-star David Birney, which ended in divorce in 1989. In her 2011 memoir, Baxter spoke candidly about experiencing abuse during that marriage, demonstrating her courage in sharing her truth. After three marriages to men and raising five children, she publicly came out as a lesbian in 2009, later marrying her partner of eight years, Nancy Locke, in 2013, embracing love and family on her own terms.
Even today, Meredith Baxter continues to shine on screen, appearing in modern series such as Glee, The Young and The Restless, RuPaul’s Drag U, and Switched at Birth. Her 2021 film, Genesis: The Future of Mankind Is Woman, further demonstrates her enduring commitment to acting, proving that her talent and presence remain as strong as ever.
From her early days in Hollywood to her iconic role on Family Ties, and through her personal journey of self-discovery and love, Meredith Baxter’s story is one of resilience, dedication, and an enduring legacy. At 77, she continues to inspire fans with her warmth, authenticity, and unwavering passion for her craft.