'Did Not Recognize Her at All': Meredith Baxter's Latest Outing Sparks Discussion of Her 'Natural' Look

Netizens are taken aback by Meredith Baxter's recent appearance, as many struggled to recognize the '80s sitcom star, who found love with a woman and has grandkids.

Hollywood star Meredith Baxter, 77, best known as the beloved matriarch on the hit 1980s sitcom "Family Ties," was recently seen out and about in Santa Barbara, embracing a different yet relaxed and stylish look.

Baxter stepped out for a casual grocery run in her coastal hometown, where she resides with her wife, Nancy Locke. The TV talent sported a cozy gray sweater paired with black pants.

Her signature blonde locks, once a staple of her sitcom days, have transitioned into a short, silvery-white cut, framing her face with a graceful, age-embracing elegance. Dark sunglasses shielded her eyes, adding an air of mystery to her understated ensemble.

Reactions to Baxter's latest outing flooded social media, with many netizens stunned by how different she looks at 77. Some were outright shocked, struggling to recognize the "Family Ties" alum.

"Wow! I never would have known that was her! 😱," exclaimed one person, while another echoed the sentiment, "I did not recognize her at all! She looks way older than 77. I never would have guessed it was Meredith Baxter. Looks nothing like her!"

However, not everyone was taken aback in a negative way. Many praised Baxter for embracing a natural look without turning to cosmetic enhancements. "Maybe unrecognizable but at 77 she's fabulous. Smart ,doesnt looks dirty [sic]," one supporter noted.

Another admirer kept it simple, praising, "I think she looks good. Natural." Others emphasized the importance of aging gracefully, pushing back against the obsession with youth.

"Worry about your age as you progress. She's ageing [sic] gracefully without plastic surgery," one fan advised, while another chimed in with, "No plastic surgery. She looks lovely for her age."

Despite the divided opinions, Meredith Baxter still has plenty of devoted fans who continue to admire her. "Meredith Baxtar [sic], just amazing and beautiful as always 😍 ❤️ love her," gushed one loyal supporter, showing that for many, she remains an icon — no matter how much time has changed her looks.

While opinions on Baxter's recent appearance varied, there's no denying the impact she has had on television history.

Before becoming a beloved sitcom mom, Baxter first made a name for herself in the 1970s, starring alongside Hollywood heavyweights like Robert Redford, Jacqueline Bisset, and Lana Turner. Though she found steady work in film and television, true stardom awaited her in the next decade.

Her breakthrough came in the 1980s when she landed a leading role on a sitcom that not only entertained audiences but also reflected the shifting cultural landscape of the Reagan era.

As Elyse Keaton, the warmhearted mother of a precocious teenage boy (played by fellow A-lister Michael J. Fox) on "Family Ties," Baxter helped define a generation of television families.

Even after the show ended, Baxter remained in the spotlight, though her personal life took unexpected turns. After three marriages and raising five children, she made headlines two decades after "Family Ties" when she publicly came out as a lesbian.

When Baxter was 19 years old, in 1966, she married Robert Lewis Bush with whom she welcomed two children, Theodore Justin "Ted" Bush and Eva Whitney Bush.

They separated three years later in 1969, and their divorce was finalized in 1971. At one point in Baxter's career, she began dating her "Bridget Loves Bernie" co-star, David Birney. They got married in 1974, and their marriage lasted until the end of "Family Ties" in 1989. They share three children, Kathleen Jeanne "Kate" Birney, and twins, Peter David Edwin and Mollie Elizabeth Birney.

In 1995, she married novelist Michael Blodgett. By then, she had been married thrice. Through her marriage to Blodgett, Baxter became a stepmother to three daughters from his previous marriages.

Throughout her three marriages, it was the second one that affected her the most. Baxter exposed Birney as an abusive husband and claimed that none of her "Family Ties" co-workers knew what she was going through behind the scenes.

As a result, Baxter turned to alcoholism for several years to cope with her toxic family life. She revealed all her troubles through her book, "Untied." Baxter said she valued her own personal space when it came to work. So, she never divulged any of her personal experiences to those she met on set.

Baxter's son, Ted Bush, clarified that the abuse his mother experienced wasn't physical but rather verbal. She was made to feel like she was not valued, worthy, or responsible enough as a human being.

Birney, who has since passed away in 2022, once denied the abuse. However, Baxter fought for her truth and said the verbal and emotional abuse she experienced made her turn to alcohol to numb the pain.

She once said, "I was so caught up [in] my own hurt, and I deserved this because everything else is so horrible. I don't know what I was saying to myself, but I was so angry."

While she kept quiet, there were signs of the trauma that were left unnoticed. While filming "Family Ties" with her on-screen husband Michael Gross once, she was backstage when Gross mentioned that Birney was headed home from Europe soon.

Baxter burst into tears, and Gross assumed it was because she missed her husband. Little did he know, it was because she feared her husband, and dreaded that he was already coming home.

It was then that Baxter finally released the tension she was feeling towards her husband to another person. Gross was all ears and was stunned because Baxter and Birney had been the poster child for a healthy Hollywood marriage.

When they divorced, the couple had a heated custody battle over their children. Birney accused Baxter of making up the assault story to gain custody of their three kids.

Ultimately, Baxter and Birney shared custody of their kids until they headed to college. It hadn't been easy, and Baxter's anger sometimes reflected on her relationship with her children.

She admitted to using her kids as pawns, letting them hear bad things about their father, and drowning herself in self-pity around them. In fact, there were even some celebrations ruined by her bitterness, like her daughter's high school graduation.

At the time, Baxter hosted a dinner party for her daughter, but when she discovered Birney was going to be in attendance, she chose not to attend.

Instead, she demanded her daughter have another dinner with her. Looking back, Baxter reflected that she was too focused on her feud with her husband that she didn't realize the effect it had on her children.

Through the years, the actress found it in her to work amicably with Birney for the sake of their children. They met again on some occasions, including their daughter's wedding.

Before Baxter began dating women, the idea of being gay never crossed her mind. Instead, she struggled with her own identity, claiming she was never ever comfortable with herself.

Baxter had been dating after her marriages, but the trauma she endured from her previous relationships always left her guarded. She had her walls up every time she got close to someone in fear that what happened in the past would happen again.

When she realized she enjoyed the company of women, the actress also feared how it would affect her career in case she decided to let her true colors show. It took her years until she finally decided she was willing to tell her story.

Baxter met building contractor Locke who changed her perspective on dating. For the first time in her life, Baxter claimed their relationship has made her feel honest with herself.

She first met Locke when the actress was called in as a sober coach for the contractor. A friend of Locke's gave her Baxter's phone number, without her knowing that it belonged to the actress.

"She didn't give me a last name," Locke said. For the next five months, she spent time pouring out her worries to "Meredith," without knowing it was actually the Meredith Baxter. By the time Baxter knew everything about Locke, she found it in her to finally end her sobriety issues.

Locke didn't know anything about Baxter, because her job was more to be a listener than a speaker. Their calls ended, until one day, Locke found herself upset that she had difficulties making new friends. The same friend who gave her Baxter's number told her to "call Meredith," and she did.

They set up a meeting at a local Starbucks near Baxter's residence. At the time, Locke realized she had no idea what Baxter looked like. However, rather than describing herself, Baxter just insisted they meet up at the Starbucks branch.

When they did, Locke was shocked that it was Baxter she was meeting. After the initial embarrassment they both felt, they began dating. They had an instant connection, and for the first time in a long time, the actress felt honest about herself.

Baxter opened up to her children about her new-found identity shortly after dating Locke. Her children were both supportive and reassuring – they were all smiles that their mother had finally discovered the key to her happiness.

Personally, Baxter couldn't be happier that her life had changed for the better. "It's hard to imagine, but even in the dark times, some wonderful things emerged: I have five beautiful children; I'm in a loving relationship now," she once gushed.

In 2013, Baxter married a fourth time. She married Locke, with whom she continues to be happily married. Through the years, Baxter and Locke have publicly been spotted on several occasions. In one sighting, they were shopping in Montecito wearing matching white button-down tops, and pants.

More than their clothing, even the lovely couple's hairstyles matched. They sported the same grayish shade, and both kept their hair short.

At that time, onlookers revealed that Baxter and Locke appeared to be very happy with one another. Aside from a budding marriage and a healthy relationship with her five children, Baxter is also a proud grandmother to her three grandkids.

Aside from her personal life and acting career, Baxter has always been a beauty icon. In 1971, she was the very first celebrity to say L'Oreal's slogan, "Because I'm Worth It."

During "Family Ties," Baxter promoted Clairol, a hair product that promoted healthy-looking hair. She also claimed Noxzema was her holy grail beauty product rather than soap, which resulted in her skin looking youthful and softer.

Back when her career was at its peak, Baxter revealed she was pressured to consider plastic surgery until she was in her forties. On "Where Are They Now," she shared the unpleasant experience she had with a producer who said she couldn't have a scene with other women who had a lift.

"Meredith, unless you get a lift, you are only going to be able to work with other women who have not had a lift," she was told. Ultimately, Baxter stood her ground and refused to have anything done.