Annie Potts Found Love Again at 38 as a Single Mom - Now She Dances with Grandkids after Learning to Walk Once More

• "Designing Women" Annie Potts, popularly known as Mary Jo, is an energetic grandmother in her 70s. Potts did not give up on love as she found a husband who appreciated her beauty and every look in her fourth marriage.
• The actress got lucky finding love again as her husband immediately became best friends with her eldest son from her third marriage. The couple had two more children of their own.
• Potts and her husband now live an interesting and extraordinary life. They also look very happy.

Annie Potts is a well-known actress who dominated productions in films, stage, and television. The actress's first major appearance was in the comedy film "Corvette Summer," which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

Potts has also been featured in several other films and series, including "The Big Bang Theory," "Pretty in Pink," "Ghostbuster," and "Young Sheldon."

The "Love & War" actress has never given up on love as much as she was married three times before marrying her fourth husband, whom she enjoys living with now.

Potts' first marriage was to Steven Douglas Schwartz on August 26, 1973. Schwartz was Potts' high school sweetheart, whom she married at the age of 20. The ex-couple once got into a serious automobile accident shortly after they got married.

The actress suffered several fractures and got traumatic arthritis, which has lasted to date. Schwartz was badly injured as he lost a leg. Potts and Schwartz divorced in June 1978.

Potts got married to her second husband, Greg Antonacci, on June 21, 1978. Antonacci was an actor best known for playing Johnny Torrio in the drama series "Broadwalk Empire." The ex-couples marriage was short-lived, as they divorced on April 5, 1979.

The actress then married Brian Scott Senechal on February 28, 1981. Senechal, who is an assistant director and producer, had one child with Potts, Clay Senechal, born on April 21, 1981. Potts and Senechal also divorced in 1990.

The "Happy Anniversary" star is now married to her fourth husband, James Hayman. Potts and Hayman got married on September 2, 1990. The actress's husband is a director, producer, and multiple Emmy Award-winning nominee. Hayman directed "Desperate Housewives" and "The Sopranos."

Potts admitted that after her third marriage ended, she was worried she would not find the right person for herself. "…I was sort of done. It was like, why did I think I needed somebody else?" she revealed.

By the time the actress met her fourth husband, James Hayman, she said she was self-reliable and taking care of herself, which made her happy. So, when she met Hayman, she told him, "I don't need you. So how can you make yourself useful given that I don't need you?"

Potts' life is even more fulfilling now that she is a grandmother to two beautiful children.

Potts and Hayman met on set while shooting "Breaking the Rules," which was released in 1992. The two were working alongside Jason Bateman and Jonathan Silverman. Hayman was the cinematographer, and the actress said he taught her a few things about cameras and lighting:

"We fell in love because we both loved the work. It's all we talked about. He was very inclusive to me about his process and made me interested in the work he was doing."

Potts, who at first felt like she didn't need someone special in her life, now says their union is a work in progress, and it involves lots of enduring. However, she said their family is important to her and that with her husband, they strive to make it work.

Potts' Husband Appreciates Her Beauty

Potts decided to give marriage another shot, which was worth it as her husband loves her and appreciates her beauty and looks. Apart from Clay, the couple have two sons together, Doc, 31, and Harry, 27.

According to the actress, she gave marriage another chance because she grew up in a tight family and wanted her kids to experience the same. She added that her desire drove her to seek harmony that's beneficial to everyone:

"By the time I met Jim, I was very successful in my career and successfully mothering as a single mom. I thought… this might be fun. I've always been practical."

The mother of three also admitted that she knew Hayman was the one for her because he immediately loved her son. When the couple met, Potts and Senechal's son was eight. The actress noted that she always knew the partner she would settle with had to love her son too:

"…they have to love both of us. He was willing to do that. We were instantly a family, had two more sons together, and a very happy life."

Potts and Senechal's son is now 42 years old. He loves hiking, and when he was 23, he went hiking in Mount Baldy in San Bernadino County with his friend Jonathan Lemkin.

Clay and his friend didn't go back home on that day and were reported missing, but they were later found alive and safe. According to Clay, the weather had gotten worse, and they decided to camp overnight instead of hiking the trail and risking getting lost in the dark.

The actress is proud of the boys she has raised. She said she had taught them to be kind and thoughtful to their friends. Potts has urged her boys to listen to their mates too. She said that as much as she had raised boys only, she had also been blessed with two great daughters-in-law.

When asked how she managed to raise great boys amidst her busy and demanding career, the actress replied that his sons understood her work. However, she admitted that she received help from nannies and a group of women who loved her boys:

"…they benefitted from having guys around to be tough with them. Like every other woman in every other job, I just did the best I could and got lucky. They turned out great."

Aside from raising wonderful kids, Potts and Hayman have also spent their 32 years together enjoying each other's company. Hayman has documented their time together with beautiful Instagram photos and captions.

In 2018, Hayman shared a beautiful family photo of him, his wife, and their sons enjoying vacation time in a pool in Bagno Vignoli, Italy. Everyone looked so happy, and they each had their arms around each other to appear as a unit.

The producer also shared pictures of the family spending time together on Christmas and Thanksgiving. In 2017, the family had a splendid Christmas in New York. In 2018, they shared a Christmas picture holding their adorable dogs. The family's Thanksgiving in 2017 was spent in New Orleans.

The whole family of five gathers together from time to time, all looking happy, but sometimes Potts and her husband travel solo and share pictures of just the two of them.

A day after their anniversary in 2017, Hayman shared a picture of him and his wife at The Integratron, a historical landmark in California. The two seem to have so much fun together as they also took another fun photo in Italy, Venice, in 2018.

The couple's photo was taken when they were on a boat, and Hayman, who had his hands on his wife's shoulder, kissed her softly on the cheek. Hayman and Potts also get goofy together; they took a photo in 2015 that showcased their fun side. The two were all smiles in funny goggles shaped like stars and guitars.

Potts and Hayman also visit some of the most touristic places in the world. In 2018, the couple visited the famous Spanish Steps in Rome. The two looked so much in love that they were all smiles and had their arms around each other.

The pair also had an exciting time in Venice, Italy, in 2018 when they visited Piazza San Marco and took pictures with the beautiful pigeons that had perched on their hands. Potts and Hayman were visibly happy and full of laughter in their shared picture.

Apart from his family's pictures, Hayman also takes fantastic photos of his wife, who appears to be his muse, as her photos are numerous on his Instagram. In one picture taken in New Orleans in 2017, Potts looked relaxed and was lounging on a couch with her dogs.

The actress's other photo with her dog was taken outdoors. She was holding her dog in a sweet embrace while giving the furry dog affectionate smooches.

Hayman has also shared pictures of his wife happy on vacation. In 2018, he shared a photo of Potts at the Rome Train Station waiting to board. In another photo, Potts was all smiles in her wide sun hat, resting on a beach seat in Anguilla in 2016.

On Mother's Day in 2018, Hayman took a photo of the actress in Anguilla on a seaboat. Potts seemed to be enjoying the moment as she had laid back and was basking in the sun. The producer also takes photos of his wife with her friends on set.

Hayman is deeply in love with his wife, whom he likes to take close-up pictures of to showcase her beauty. The producer has taken beautiful portraits of his talented wife. In 2019, he took a photo that showcased how pretty Potts looked while doing her own makeup in Los Angeles.

Potts' life with her beloved husband is exciting and extraordinary as they get to travel and engage in their mutual hobbies together, which has strengthened their bond after years of being married.

She Loves Spending Time with Her Grandchildren

Potts' life is even more fulfilling now that she is a grandmother to two beautiful children. Her first grandchild was born on July 13, 2021. The actress announced his arrival on Facebook:

"We've GOT ONE!!! Introducing our very first grandchild. Cassius James Hayman! 😍 He was born today at 11 am and weighs 8 lbs. We are THRILLED! ❤️.”

The 70-year-old made the announcement alongside pictures of her grandson. She shared photos of his son and daughter-in-law on the hospital bed. She also shared a photo of herself cradling her sweet grandbaby.

In 2022, Potts, who said she loved the family she had created, announced that she was a grandmother for the second time. She excitedly shared the news that her second grandbaby had arrived:

"Meemaw 2.0! 😍 My first born has his first born... Welcome Silas! My heart is exploding! 💓 @claysenechal 👨‍👩‍👦 @annacareybooks 💓”

Potts shared a picture of his son Clay and his wife Anna holding their newborn. She also posted a cute picture of her second grandchild. In one photo, Potts was holding her second grandchild and looking at her adorably.

The "After Life" actress has also had challenges alongside her blessings. In 2022, she announced that she had just undergone her 23rd surgery. The actress couldn't walk before, but a bionic ankle was put in her knee to help her walk.

Potts thanked her fans, friends, and family for their well wishes and said she was grateful to be alive to witness the power of prayer and science do wonderful things in her body:

"So thankful for science and to be alive at a time that incredible work like this is possible, so I can walk my dogs, act…."

The actress, who likes spending time with her grandkids, said she was happy that she could now walk as the return of this ability would allow her to dance with her grandchildren.

She Is at a Wonderful Place in Her Career and Her Life

Potts turned 70 on October 28, 2022. She said she doesn't know how she feels about turning 70 but added that she was at a wonderful place in her career and life:

"My children have started to have children; I have a seven-month-old grandson, and I have another on the way in June. So, it's good. I got no complaints."

However, the actress admitted that sometimes she looks in the mirror and is surprised by her appearance. She added that regardless of this feeling, she was happy to turn a year older compared to the alternative of not seeing another year.

The actress also said it might be difficult for fans to see her aging, especially those who used to know her in her younger year.

She noted that when actors age, it's different from other people as older actors often run into people who criticize their age:

"...people say, oh, they don't look like that person that I idealized or whatever. I've run into people before who meet me and go, oh, my God. They say it like, wow, I used to have a crush on you. Ugh."

The "Texasville" star now spends time with young people who need support either emotionally or financially. She added that besides her children's rooms in her home in New Orleans, she has spare rooms where these young people who participate in her little artistic residency program live.

Potts also revealed that there have been conversations about a sequel of "Designing Women." The actress said that if it's confirmed, the producers want her to feature in it as much as she can without interfering with her "Young Sheldon" shooting.