Patrick Duffy & Linda Purl's Romance Started after He Accidentally Declared His Love — They Will Star in 'B&B'

• Patrick Duffy's return to his iconic role in "B&B" was filled with off-screen chemistry with Linda Purl.

• Duffy and Purl's romance was an unexpected gift for both after Duffy's family tragedy.

• Dating at an older age is stress-free and all about positivity for the couple.

Patrick Duffy, who played Stephan Logan on the loved TV show "The Bold and the Beautiful," will bring his character back to the show.

Duffy played the character from 2006 to 2011, and now he is said to bring more drama to the Logan family. His return is particularly special because he will act alongside his girlfriend and actress Linda Purl.

Purl is a long-time actress who appeared in "Happy Days" and "The Office." Her character in "The Bold and the Beautifully" will supposedly be Duffy's love interest.

This will not be the first time the actors will be acting together. Duffy and Purl played a married couple in the film, "Doomsday Mom: The Lori Vallow Story." The movie was shot during the peak of quarantine, so Duffy and Purl were couped up together to prepare to film their roles.

This was a chance for the couple to build the foundation of their relationship. Duffy told Closer Weekly that it was the perfect time for them to get to know each other without the outside noise.

Purl called the beginning of their relationship "a very Victorian process" because they talked for three weeks before sharing a kiss. Duffy revealed they had three-hour zoom calls talking about their family history, past loves, and listening to music.

Since the shooting of their joint film was at the early stages of their relationship, Closer Weekly asked the couple what the experience was like for them.

Duffy and Purl said everything felt natural, and their chemistry was strong on and off camera. Duffy even gushed over the experience of waking up next to his costar and walking to set with her holding hands.

The actors said they loved spending that much time together and freely expressing affection for one another. Duffy and Purl have realized that they make a good team and are looking forward to more projects together.

Duffy and Purl were friends before being romantically involved, but they lost contact along the way. For Duffy, love did not seem possible after losing his wife of over four decades.

Patrick Duffy's Children Helped Him Grieve His Wife

According to People, Duffy married his beloved wife Carlyn Rosser in 1974 and had a happy marriage of over 40 years before Rosser died in 2017.

Rosser's death left Duffy heartbroken. A Closer Weekly source revealed that the actor was vocal about his pain, but he was grateful for his time with his wife even though he wished it was longer.

Duffy and his wife welcomed two children, Padriac and Conor. As much as the children missed their mother, they understood that death could hit any family and did their best to get their father to move on.

An insider told Closer Weekly that Duffy's children tried to set him up, but it was difficult because he knew it would not be easy to find the love he shared with Rosser.

Rosser survived her two children and four grandchildren. Duffy remains strong and grateful for his family because he would not have had it without his wife. So they will forever be a beautiful reminder of his love.

Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl's Special Connection

When Duffy and Purl ended up in the same group chat, they did not think it would end with them falling in love. While Duffy had lost his wife and Purl was divorced, the two had been single for the same period, and both did not think they had shot at love again.

Since this was all new territory for the actors, one can only imagine how the first "I love you" felt for them. According to You UK, Duffy dropped the three magic words on one of their long Zoom calls.

Purl told People it was all a shock to her, but she anticipated their next video call to make sure he meant it. The couple told You UK that since Duffy professed his love, they were anxious about unlocking different stages of their relationship.

However, Duffy was ready to take their relationship from Zoom to real life. The actor recalled the first time he kissed Purl, which was even more adorable than their "I love you" story.

The couple had been having a long-distance relationship for the first few months. Duffy lived in Los Angeles, and Purl in Colorado.

So Duffy had to drive 23 hours to get to Purls's house. The actor said when he was five minutes away, he changed into better-looking clothes, freshened up his hair, gargled up his mouthwash, and sprayed a bit of perfume.

On the other hand, Purl was just as nervous; she admitted that she had changed her outfit several times before Duffy arrived. When he finally arrived at Purl's doorstep, all the doubts went out the window, and the first thing the actor said to his girlfriend was, "May I kiss you?"

Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl are Grateful for Finding Love Again

Purl told You UK how astonished she was that she found Duffy. In fact, the "Happy Days" star said she was still in a state of "wonder." "What [were] the chances?" said Purl.

Duffy and Purl have been inseparable since their first kiss. The actor said he packed up his car, drove 20 hours to see if what they had was real, and never left her sight.

Even though Duffy had doubts about love, he confirmed he was grateful for the connection he shared with Purl and said he knows his wife would want him to find joy.

The "Dallas" actor even claimed that finding love at an older age was much better because it was less about himself and more about making sure his partner was happy.

Relationships are less complicated for the actors because "we've eliminated all the trial and error that happen in [younger] relationships. It's all positive and lovely," stated Duffy.

Purl told Closer Weekly that life was full of surprises; she went from believing she would spend the rest of her life alone to crossing paths with Duffy. So, the actress encouraged anyone still hoping to find love to never give up.