Sunday, May 12, 2013

Out Spotlight

Today's Out Spotlight is an American actress and producer.  As successful actress she is known for her acting roles including become an iconic TV mom.  After several marriages, she came out  as a lesbian in 2009, at the age of  58.  Today's Out Spotlight is Meridith Baxter.

 Meredith Ann Baxter, also known for some years as Meredith Baxter-Birney, was born in South Pasadena, California, on June 21, 1947. The daughter of actress turned director/producer Whitney Blake and Tom Baxter, a radio announcer, she was raised in Pasadena, with her two brothers, Richard and Brian. Her second stepfather was situation-comedy writer Allan Manings.

After guest appearances on such shows as The Young Lawyers,The Doris Day Show, and The Partridge Family she got her first big break on television in 1972 as one of the stars of Bridget Loves Bernie, a CBS television-network situation comedy. The series was canceled after one season, but her co-star, David Birney became her second husband in 1974. Following their marriage and until their divorce in 1989, she was credited as Meredith Baxter-Birney, under which name she became widely known several years later on the television show Family. She played the role of Nancy Lawrence Maitland and received two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1977 and 1978).

After Family ended, she starred with Annette O'Toole and Shelley Hack in Vanities (1981), a television production of the comedy-drama stage play about the lives, loves and friendship of three Texas cheerleaders starting from high school to post-college graduation; it aired as a part of Standing Room Only, a series on the premium-television channel HBO.

Her next series was Family Ties, on which she played an ex-flower child mother, Elyse Keaton from 1982 to 1989.  She joined the select club of iconic television mom from her role as mom to Alex, Mallory, Jennifer and Andy, but in reality, she is only fourteen years older than Michael J. Fox, who played her son Alex. Coincidentally, her co-star Michael Gross (who played her husband Steven Keaton) shares the same birthday, June 21, 1947.

In 1986, during her time on Family Ties, Baxter garnered critical acclaim for her dramatic performance as Kate Stark in the well-known NBC television movie Kate's Secret, about a seemingly "perfect" suburban housewife and mother who is secretly suffering from bulimia nervosa. Following Family Ties, Baxter (whose marriage to Birney ended in 1989) produced and starred in several made for television movies.  She portrayed a psychopathic kidnapper in The Kissing Place (1990) and was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special for her work in A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story (1992), based on the true story of a divorcée who was convicted of murder in the shooting of her ex-husband and his young wife. In 1994, she won a Daytime Emmy Award for her role as a lesbian mother raising a young son, in Other Mothers (1993), a CBS Schoolbreak Special. For her work on the television film My Breast (1994), she received a special award for public awareness from the National Breast Cancer Coalition.

In 1997, Baxter once again played the mother of a character played by Michael J. Fox, this time in 2 episodes of Spin City.

In 1999 she played in the lifetime movie, "Miracle in the Woods". Here she co starred alongside actress Patricia Heaton, where they are two estranged sisters, and actress Della Reese.

In 2005, she began appearing in television commercials for Garden State Life Insurance Company. In 2006, she temporarily co-hosted — with Matt Lauer — Today, the NBC morning news and talk show.

In 2007, she made a guest appearance on What About Brian, an ABC drama series. That same year, she also made several appearances as the dying mother of Detective Lilly Rush on Cold Case, a CBS police-procedural series.

In recent years, Baxter created a skin-care line called Meredith Baxter Simple Works, which raises funds for Baxter's breast cancer research foundation. She is also a spokesperson for Consumer Cellular, a cell phone company advertised as providing a cheaper cell phone alternative for senior citizens. She currently co-stars in Dan Vs., a situation comedy on The Hub television-network.

In April 2013, it was announced that Baxter will be in the Season 4 finale episode of Glee, along with Patty Duke, as a mentor to Darren Criss's character Blaine Anderson and Chris Colfer's character Kurt Hummel.

Baxter has been married three times and has five children. In 1966, she married Robert Lewis Bush and they had two children — Theodore Justin ("Ted"; born 1967) and Eva Whitney (born August 6, 1969); the couple was divorced in 1971. In 1974, she married David Birney and had three children — Kathleen Jeanne ("Kate"; born December 5, 1974) and twins Mollie Elizabeth and Peter David Edwin (born October 2, 1984). She and Birney divorced in 1989. In 1995, she married actor and screenwriter Michael Blodgett; they were divorced in 2000.

In 1999, Baxter was diagnosed with breast cancer many of her projects now raise funds for breast cancer work.

On December 2, 2009,  Baxter came out as a lesbian during an interview with Matt Lauer on Today, and on the Frank DeCaro Show on Sirius-XM OutQ 102.

She’s happily settled with building contractor Nancy Locke, her partner of eight years.  Baxter said that she didn't realize she was gay, until she began her first same-sex relationship in 2002. She also said that finally coming to terms with her homosexuality really opened her eyes to the fact that for many years she knew something was different about her; and why all of her relationships with men never worked out.

 Baxter told People magazine she was totally open with her five kids about her new identity. “I’m a lesbian mom!” she proudly announced to the world. Her son Peter was thrilled: “I just couldn’t stop smiling because she finally figured it out.”

Happy Mother's Day!!

45 comments:

Facebook said...

Kevin Taft
48 minutes ago near Burbank, CA via mobile

So did anyone else spot Jake Gyllenhaal at the Abbey last night? Scruffy, wearing a hat. Positive it was him and he caught me and smiled as I did the double-take and recognized him.

Wonder why he was at a gay bar on Mother's Day?
Share
Alan Zumel likes this.

Mike Bray maybe he was smiling because he did a double-take when he recognized you from Just Seen It
43 minutes ago · 1

Lynn Egan Walters He was wondering the same about you
43 minutes ago via mobile · 1

Marc Loren Gay bar? Thought you said he was at the Abbey.
42 minutes ago via mobile · 2

Reginald Michael delusions? dreams?
25 minutes ago

Mike Wolfy McNeil i know whyyyyyyyy

The Abbey Food and Bar said...

The Abbey:


The Abbey Food and Bar
www.abbeyfoodandbar.com/
Known at the Best Gay Bar in the World, The Abbey Food and Bar offers ... Open 9am to 2am daily, The Abbey offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, generous and ...

The Abbey in We Ho

doppelgänger said...

And yet there he was getting into/out of a helicopter yesterday in NY. Pics around the web. Oh who to believe, who to believe.

Own the night said...

Jake used to be seen in West Hollywood at various gay bars prior to 2008. The Abbey (Club)is probably one of the original gay hangouts from the early nineties.

Time Travel said...

If you notice, it is obviously daytime in those staged (oh sorry) spontaneous "private" shots of Jake and his helicopter transport. Even if Jake was in NY yesterday, there is a three hour difference between the East and West Coast, the last time I checked. Let's say those photos were from 12 noon or even 3 p.m., it would only be 9 a.m./12 noon in LA. Plenty of time for Jake to fly to LA and get his Mojo Risin'. :-)

closeted ways said...

Oh who to believe, who to believe.

Certainly not Jake, or WME, that's for sure.

he's not in LA said...

Dream on.
There is photographic proof, on IHJ, of Jake and other people, 3 men and 1 woman, taking a helicopter yesterday from NY. They had lots of luggage. Clearly a group trip to a remote place: location scouting for "Mississippi Grind" or Cannes, where "Nightcrawler" is amongst the buzzed movies to be sold, according to Variety.

All of the above are documented facts, as opposed to hearsaying. Unfortunately for people here, he's not in LA, not in a gay bar.
Photos prove Jake is currently with an older group somewhere far away, where you take a helicopter to.
But nice try. Only you picked the wrong day to fabricate sightings. Try again when there aren't photos that prove otherwise.

Kevin Taft is a bad lier said...

So this Kevin Taft saw Jake yesterday 'scruffy, wearing a hat'? Jake sports a full grown unruly beard...with a very distinctive white patch in it. It catches everybody's eye. This guy supposedly saw the scruf, hat, smile, but NOT the bright white spot in his thick beard? Get better lies! Mold them to Jake's specific look.

the real m said...

The helicopter could have been going to JFK, where he caught a flight to LA. Helicopters do not usually travel extensive distances. Nor do actors go on scouting expeditions.

Producer said...

Just actor no,but Jake is also the producer of the movie

I thought ge was happily marrird, lol! said...

Closeted actors don't hang out in popular gay bars.Jake is listed as a producer of the Nightcrawler so yeah he would be scouting locations.

There is no reason for him to take a private helicopter to the airport, it's quicker to be driven there.

He can't be in two places at once, obviously a lookalike. I dont recall Jake sighting s at gay bars prior to 2008. Please link to the sightings.

I thought ge was happily marrird, lol! said...

Closeted actors don't hang out in popular gay bars.Jake is listed as a producer of the Nightcrawler so yeah he would be scouting locations.

There is no reason for him to take a private helicopter to the airport, it's quicker to be driven there.

He can't be in two places at once, obviously a lookalike. I dont recall Jake sighting s at gay bars prior to 2008. Please link to the sightings.

NY said...

The helicopter could have been going to JFK, where he caught a flight to LA.

Sorry but Don't make any sense

Producer said...

Jake is listed as a producer of Mississipi Grind too

Positive = certain, sure, absolute, affirmative said...

What does being producer of Mississippi Grind have to do with being sighted in L.A.?

The writer said:

Positive it was him

New Orleans said...

Jake is a producer for both Mississippi Grind and Nightcrawler. Misissippi Grind is shooting soon in New Orleans - he will scout locations.

Also with the grey spot in his beard he's easy recognizable nowadays - until he shaves he's like a beacon, impossible to hide in gay bars. So the closet speculations are going down the drain now that he has a unique facial trait.

Nice try I knew it was too quiet here said...

Yeah lm sure he was positive, lol! He was actually there we would have seen tweets and more fb sightings.

The Abbey is popular and touristy. No need to go to L.A. to hang out at a tourist gay club, there are tons in NY!

All the years of following Jake Gossip I dont ever recall gay bar sighting s. Provide a link to them if you saw them. It's not Jake's MO.

Reminds me when tweeters swore they saw him in TN then NY in 2008 the same tolime but he was in Italy, lol!

ubiquity said...

What does being producer of Mississippi Grind have to do with being sighted in L.A.?

nothing in fact I think is highly unlikely that Jake was in LA last night

Special K said...

The helicopter would take Jake to Teaneck, NJ, where there is a private airport that is very popular with celebrities and executives who use private charter service.

The has been talk buzzing that Jake did say at a recent event he would be back in Malibu. And that is not in Mississsippi.

fact checking said...

The has been talk buzzing that Jake did say at a recent event he would be back in Malibu. And that is not in Mississsippi.

was a fake Special

From FB: Chantal Lindsey

At this time on one of the biggest Actors world's largest is at the Event that find some place in Los Angeles. Actor Jake Gyllenhaal join the Childeren / s Burn Foundation, and this way he supports the Artist Jasmine Eberson.
Chantal Lindsey is fake.

Why? said...

The helicopter would take Jake to Teaneck, NJ,

Who knows?Looks highly unlikely

prairiegirl said...

He was actually there we would have seen tweets and more fb sightings.


You're really going to go there? Ye who takes one tweet or DM as gospel at the drop of a hat. Too funny.

And the grey blotch? That, too? That's even funnier. He's had that grey patch for the last several weeks. He was tweeted and Facebook'd multiple times at the Headstrong event and not one single person mentioned the grey patch of hair.

I don't think Jared Eng has mentioned it. I don't think America Ferrara was quoted talking about it when she hollered at him at the theater awards. I don't think E Online mentioned it.

That grey patch is not going to be a blinking beacon in a darkened club anyway, not to mention how that's really not going to be of utmost importance/interest by an interested party.

prairiegirl said...

Special, that "back in Malibu" quote wasn't from the Chantel Lindsey FB post. That came from an interview Jake did with someone at the Headstrong event.

I'll ask M&M where she remembers seeing it.

I don't believe that was where Jake said that.

Get real said...

Ohh please, if Jake had really been in a place like that, we would have been flooded with tweets and sightings

Hubby said...

and in all that Austin is in TX

prairiegirl said...

Get real said...

Ohh please, if Jake had really been in a place like that, we would have been flooded with tweets and sightings


No, you get real. There are numerous actors,professional athletes and singers who are members of the LGBT community.

Where do you think they go to be with others of their community? To meet people? To dance? Their local Walgreens or roller skating rink?

You don't really think John Travolta has only had sexual activity at the publicized incidents, do you? Those were the only ones?

What safer place than to be inside a gay bar while on a date or hang out? It's probably the best protected place.

MV said...

Jake ain't in L.A.

prairiegirl said...

Why, look how we are graced by the suffocating presence of Jake's Team.

Hello, Jake's Team.

Get real said...

What safer place than to be inside a gay bar while on a date or hang out? It's probably the best protected place.

Sorry prairiegirl not in today's world

double standards said...

"Ye who takes one tweet or DM as gospel at the drop of a hat. Too funny"

Really? Yet you believe that Kevin Taft sighting in LA. One mention and YOU take it as gospel?
You can't apply double standards: it's true when it serves YOUR likings, not true when it doesn't. Too funny indeed.

and austin is in tx! said...

Please stop spinning PG you are making yourself dizzy! You hate the fact that Jake lives in NY that you grasp on any fake sigjhting. Im sure that was someone that looks like him or else tgere would be other mentions.

Yeah he was in L A on mothers day at a highly popular gay club even though he was in NY at the same time.

Was he there looking for some action? Oh no what about the hubby and the kids, lol!

Closeted actors dont hang out at places like that just adk revolta!

prairiegirl said...

Martha's Vineyard would be fine as well.

I'm sure he's got a place to stay where he can hide those kids.

Time will tell.

Look at how PR is all over this today; they have been typing furiously all afternoon. All we have to do is sit and watch. Make adjustments.

Jake and Austin are the ones who have to constantly look over their shoulders and worry about who's seeing their children.

Not us.

?? said...

never heard of sightings of Jake in gay bars in LA or anywhere else

Shabby Abbey said...

Pg and sk would rather believe a fake sighting than belive he is happy and settling with rich friends that can afford trip s on their private hellicopyot. I wonder who those other people were with the shopping bags.

Special K said...

Actually Sunday night fits into Jake and Austin's pattern of behavior. It is a slow night at restaurants, bars and clubs, so the risk of being seen is less.

And why wouldn't there be a lot of tweets about it? There is a kind of implied code when you are in a gay bar. If you see someone you know or recognized in a gay bar who's not out publicly, you don't say that you saw them. And that's not just for celebrities that's common with anybody.

And the thing about Teaneck is very common for executives and celebrities. It is faster to chopper out of the city and you are right on the tarmac, no need to go through airports or security etc.

Special K said...

Toothy and Goose have been seen in clubs before Jake started bearding with Reese.

TX said...

Austin is in TX for a few days now including Sunday

tic-tac said...

no need to go through airports or security etc.

Jake flies all the time and with regular scheduled flights. everyone can see him and he has no problemtic-tac

prairiegirl said...

I wonder who those other people were with the shopping bags.

LOL - maybe share some insight as to why Jake was hugging these same people he is getting on the helicopter with?

Perhaps they just learned this was the pilot's first solo trip, huh? LOLLLLL

We don't know the logistics of the involved parties. But the tumbler which first publicized this outing, said this:

"They all drove together to meet up before getting on the helicopter."

lol. Now what does that mean exactly? They all drove together to meet up. It doesn't make sense. If they drove together, why is he hugging them before they all get on the helicopter?

My suspicion is that Jake met these people at the helicopter but that isn't what this person says.

Drive together or meet up, which is it?

prairiegirl said...

The fact that our paid visitor is frothing at the mouth on the blog, they are that excited, tells me that once again, there is something to this Facebook post. Their sole focus is to invalidate the gentleman's claim even though there is no way to know that he is lying.

I could spend 1000 words on the Austin in TX claim. Been there, done that, seen it 100 times before. The few TX tweet sightings that have been posted in the past couple of days are some of the lamest I have ever seen and they follow past behaviors witnessed too many times to be caught by surprise.

They're going to have to do alot better.

Special K said...

Well Jake has used the Teaneck private airport before. When? When flying into MV's in the summer.

Jake not being seen in airports is because he does fly private. You think the only time he flies he flies commercial? Yeah right.

He gets jet service as part of his package for his movies and even now that he's a producer too. It isn't always about moving around and not being seen. Sometimes it is just much easier to do that with his schedule because it fits his schedule, rather than him fitting his schedule around a flight. He may have to make a meeting or be somewhere just for a few hours and need to get back on set or home.

Inception style said...

What's funny is how the fake sighting of the 'gentleman' (LOL) is disproved with photos and reason,

and all OMG can do is cry: Jake's team! and resort to ridiculous comments (he took the helicopter to the airport??? public gay bars are the best protected place for closeted celebrities??? LOL)

In the face of evidence OMGers would still believe in the fake world created by their minds. Like Inception. They're trapped in their own disturbed fantasy.

prairiegirl said...

Here's the mention where Jake talked about returning to Malibu, although it's unclear when this would be.

It was on Facebook.

The Warrior Meditation Project TM / Save A Warrior PSA
May 8 near New York, NY via mobile

Nice chat tonight with Jake Gyllenhaal at Headstrong event.

He looks forward to visiting the Project in Malibu...

Like · · Share

31 people like this.

Malaforvets
Will we all be able to meet Mr. Jake Gyllenhaal?
Like · Reply · 1 · Yesterday at 10:08am

The Warrior Meditation Project TM / Save A Warrior PSA
Working on it bro...
Like · 6 hours ago

I'm not posting the link. If you have a FB account, you can search that name and find it.

prairiegirl said...

In the face of evidence OMGers would still believe in the fake world created by their minds. Like Inception. They're trapped in their own disturbed fantasy.


Man, look how worried they are. lol. This is awesome.

evil pr said...

Morw awesome is the fact that their is no babies or hubby!