logo
Getty Images
Getty Images

Ted Knight, Nancy Dussault & Rest of 'Too Close for Comfort' Cast 40 Years after 1st Episode of Fan Famous 80s Sitcom Aired

Bettina Dizon
Feb 14, 2020
12:46 P.M.

Many baby boomers recall their beloved ‘80s show “Too Close for Comfort” and the amazing cast that entertained them. Here’s a look at where the actors and actresses are now.

Advertisement

It has been 40 years since “Too Close for Comfort” premiered, and the cast members have since gone their separate ways and pursued greater heights. Here’s a look at their lives after the sitcom ended.

TED KNIGHT

Ted Knight already made a name for himself in the industry before joining the cast of “Too Close for Comfort,” specifically making it big on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” in the ‘70s.

Ted Knight, 1972. | Source: Wikimedia Commons

Ted Knight, 1972. | Source: Wikimedia Commons

His role as anchorman Ted Baxter won him two Emmy Awards in 1973 and 1976 and he also had more roles in commercials and television.

In 1980, he starred in “Too Close for Comfort,” but left after he was diagnosed with a terminal illness for which he needed to undergo treatment.

Advertisement
Georgia Engel and Ted Knight from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." | Source: Wikimedia Commons

Georgia Engel and Ted Knight from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." | Source: Wikimedia Commons

His health continued to deteriorate, leading to his demise in 1986. He was survived by his wife and three children.

Throughout his career, Knight accumulated nearly 400 credited on-screen roles, including “Caddyshack” and Broadway productions, such as “Some of My Best Friends.”

Ted Knight, Cloris Leachman, Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." | Source: Wikimedia Commons

Ted Knight, Cloris Leachman, Mary Tyler Moore and Valerie Harper from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." | Source: Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

NANCY DUSSAULT

Before starring on the show, Nancy Dussault was best known for her role in “The In-Laws.” Later, she appeared in “The Nurse” and “Alias.”

Apart from acting on television, Dussault is a Broadway performer who was twice nominated for Tony Awards as Best Supporting or Featured Actress for “Do Re Mi” and “Bajour.”

J.M. J. Bullock, Lydia Cornell, Nancy Dussault and Deborah Van Valkenburgh pose with a "Too Close for Comfort" poster. | Source: Getty Images

J.M. J. Bullock, Lydia Cornell, Nancy Dussault and Deborah Van Valkenburgh pose with a "Too Close for Comfort" poster. | Source: Getty Images

It was through her work on Broadway that Dussault gained recognition and good critical reviews. At the age of 19, she appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and was named Broadway’s brightest new star.

In 1958, she married James Dunton Travis but divorced him in 1982. Three years later, she married Valentine Mayer and has been with him since.

Advertisement
Nancy Dussault arrives The Actors Fund's 20th Annual Tony Awards Viewing Party. | Source: Getty Images

Nancy Dussault arrives The Actors Fund's 20th Annual Tony Awards Viewing Party. | Source: Getty Images

DEBORAH VAN VALKENBURGH

Multi-talented artist Deborah Van Valkenburgh is an actress, singer, and writer who began her career singing in coffee houses before making her Broadway debut in the production “Hair.”

She later appeared in “The Warriors” and “Too Close for Comfort” before focusing on her musical career. She has since performed in several venues such as The Old Globe Theater and Portland Center Stage.

Deborah Van Valkenburgh at the Alamo Drafthouse screening of "Streets of Fire." | Source: Wikimedia Commons

Deborah Van Valkenburgh at the Alamo Drafthouse screening of "Streets of Fire." | Source: Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

LYDIA CORNELL

After appearing in “Too Close for Comfort” as a blonde bombshell, Lydia Cornell battled alcoholism and changed after the birth of her son in 1994.

She has since shared her story through books and public speeches, helping others to overcome their inner demons.

 Lydia Cornell, 2007. | Source: Wikimedia Commons

Lydia Cornell, 2007. | Source: Wikimedia Commons

JIM J. BULLOCK

Wyoming-born Jim J. Bullock is most known for his work in “Too Close for Comfort,” “Spaceballs,” and “Ron and Laura Take Back America.”

Like his other co-stars, Bullock appeared on Broadway and off-Broadway in productions including “Hairspray” and “The End of the World Party.”

Advertisement

AUDREY MEADOWS

Throughout her career, Audrey Meadows has starred in over 250 television shows and films. She has also won a People’s Choice Award and was nominated for an AFI Best Actress.

Since “Too Close for Comfort,” Meadows has appeared in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Bill Zucker Comedy Hour,” “Me, Miami, and Nancy,” and several others.

Audrey Meadows from the early television program "Bob and Ray." | Source: Wikimedia Commons

Audrey Meadows from the early television program "Bob and Ray." | Source: Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

DEENA FREEMAN

Deena Freeman started her career acting in The Theatreworks company and starred in several productions such as “Ah Wilderness,” “Canities,” and many others.

She formally began her acting career as a lead in the ABC show “In Trouble” and later appeared in “Newhart,” “The White Shadow,” and “Crazy Like a Fox.”

Advertisement
info
Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories!
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Advertisement
Related posts

'Who’s the Boss?': What Happened to Its Main Actors since the Series Ended over 3 Decades Ago

December 07, 2023

Wayne Gretzky Has 5 Children, Some of Whom Are Also Athletes

December 21, 2023

Johnny Cash’s Children: A Closer Look at His 5 Kids from 2 Marriages

January 16, 2024

Diane Ladd's Spouse Robert Charles Hunter Is Her 3rd Although She Only Had Kids with Her 1st Husband

December 05, 2023

How the Lives of the Main Cast of 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' Evolved in over Three Decades

December 06, 2023

Boston Russell Is Kurt Russell's Son from His Marriage to Season Hubley

December 07, 2023

Terri Garr Disappeared from Hollywood — For More than 20 Years She Has Struggled with Diagnosis

December 18, 2023

Kim Delaney's 3rd Husband's Identity Is Kept Under Wraps - Facts About Her Marriages and 1 Engagement

November 10, 2023

Fielder Jewett Became Hunter Doohan's Husband after They Met on Tinder

December 06, 2023

Evie Wynn Johnson Became Van Johnson's Wife Hours after Divorce from Her Ex-husband Finalized

November 27, 2023

Jennifer Landon Has 8 Siblings Yet Shares the Same Parents with Only One Brother

January 22, 2024

This Lady Captured the Heart of 'James Bond' Star and One-Time Sexiest Man Alive Who Showers Her with Praises

November 15, 2023

‘Home Alone’ Cast Then & Now: What Became of the Actors from the Iconic 1990 Christmas Movie

December 07, 2023

Jane Seymour's Kids Set Her up with Her Man after Ex Left Her 'Homeless'

January 12, 2024