That is the question.

Tony Randall was married twice. He and his first wife could not have children, they were married for decades and she died.

Randall married another woman who was over 40 years younger than him and they had two children when Tony was something like 80 years old. Tony decided to concieve because having a child was something he wanted in life, but loved his first wife.

Tony died when his kids were in pre-school, and wonder whatever happened to that family, did the second wife remarry and have more children? Considering how wealthy Tony Randall probably was, she was probably in a strange position of finding someone who would not mind raising two children and for her to find someone to love her for her and not a wealthy widow.

Heather Harlan. About 4 years ago I read an article about her that said she didn't have any interest in being a professional widow and that she spent her time doing charity work and supporting the theatre. Personally, I'm glad she has kept a low profile and hasn't ruin Tony's legacy.

Heather and Tony's son in 2010:
http://www.contactmusic.com/photo/mancolorarrivalsjm11_wenn5574265

Heather Harlan. About 4 years ago I read an article about her that said she didn't have any interest in being a professional widow and that she spent her time doing charity work and supporting the theatre. Personally, I'm glad she has kept a low profile and hasn't ruin Tony's legacy.

Heather and Tony's son in 2010:
http://www.contactmusic.com/photo/mancolorarrivalsjm11_wenn5574265

I agree, it is probbably better that we don't hear a lot from her.

I think that they actually loved and cared about each other. It is also something to ask a woman to bear children for a man who KNOWS that he is not going to live to see his children graduate primary school, much less high school.

She knew going into this that this would happen, which makes me question the ethics of an elderly man having children. James Doohan, Mr. Scott (my favorite TOS character) did about the same thing, although Doohan I believe already had adult children. Should Mr. Randall denied himself offspring because of his situation, being in a loving marriage with a wife who could not bear children who died. The children are going to feel some resentment about that. Not to mention having no grandparents with cousins old enough to be his grandfather.

He was 75, she was 25.

Some observations about Randall.....

He did not look like a "Tony". More like a Winthrop, a William or a Thomas. Tony is an ethnic name, mostly Italian and Latin. He was born in the 1920's, how did he get the name "Tony"? (Sort of answered my own question, it is a stage name, his real name is Albert.)

He was the original "metrosexual". He was gay except for his sexual preference. A modern example is the actor who played Fez on "That 70's Show", Wilmer Valderrama.

Guess where he was born? New York City? Chicago? Boston? Try TULSA, Oklahoma. Not a Boomer Sooner unfortunately, went to Northwestern in Chicago for a year before travelling to New York City and fame.

His first grandchild will not be born much before 2020, when Randall would have been 100 years old to more like 2030 when he would have been 110.

I think that they actually loved and cared about each other. It is also something to ask a woman to bear children for a man who KNOWS that he is not going to live to see his children graduate primary school, much less high school.

She knew going into this that this would happen, which makes me question the ethics of an elderly man having children. James Doohan, Mr. Scott (my favorite TOS character) did about the same thing, although Doohan I believe already had adult children. Should Mr. Randall denied himself offspring because of his situation, being in a loving marriage with a wife who could not bear children who died. The children are going to feel some resentment about that. Not to mention having no grandparents with cousins old enough to be his grandfather.


There are some caveats about having children later in life; one's own mortalitly does factor into it. However, a nineteen year old parent could get hit by a bus...

I doubt they went into this haphazardly, and the late Mr. Randall was more than capable of establishing an estate that would ensure his children wouldn't do without. If you can do this, and have a partner whose ideals and values you respect, your children will be better off than most.

There are some caveats about having children later in life; one's own mortalitly does factor into it. However, a nineteen year old parent could get hit by a bus...

I doubt they went into this haphazardly, and the late Mr. Randall was more than capable of establishing an estate that would ensure his children wouldn't do without. If you can do this, and have a partner whose ideals and values you respect, your children will be better off than most.


He seemed like a spry older gentleman at the time.. Very active..

I think it was very conceivable that he thought he could live well into his nineties..

He didnt.. It is amazing to most people that he was outlived by Jack Klugman by a decade!!

It is amazing to most people that he was outlived by Jack Klugman by a decade!!

Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=307079#ixzz2NUmufI00
__________________________________________

That sort of amazed me too. Randall was very meticulous about his health and he HATED smoking and would not allow anyone to smoke anywhere around him, and remember, the bulk of his career was between the 1950's-1980's when most men smoked and smoked everywhere and anywhere. He was also very fit and slim. For a 75-80 year old man to have sex with a 25 year old girl and make TWO kids means he was healthy until he died, which it should be.

Jack Klugman on the other hand was at least a pack a day smoker until he got cancer of the voicebox (or a throat like cancer). I do not know Mr. Klugman, but he seems to be a guy who probably engaged in more drinking than Randall and probably not as meticulous about his diet (however, this is speculation on my part.). Klugman was not fat, but Randall basically stayed the same size his whole life.

I think life is mostly luck, and the guy who is more guarded about his health is the one who dies, and the guy who drinks scotch and martinis in a haze of blue cigarette smoke lives a decade longer scoffing the doctors. Just luck.

DOUBLE POST!:mad:

It is amazing to most people that he was outlived by Jack Klugman by a decade!!

Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=307079#ixzz2NUmufI00
__________________________________________

That sort of amazed me too. Randall was very meticulous about his health and he HATED smoking and would not allow anyone to smoke anywhere around him, and remember, the bulk of his career was between the 1950's-1980's when most men smoked and smoked everywhere and anywhere. He was also very fit and slim. For a 75-80 year old man to have sex with a 25 year old girl and make TWO kids means he was healthy until he died, which it should be.

Jack Klugman on the other hand was at least a pack a day smoker until he got cancer of the voicebox (or a throat like cancer). I do not know Mr. Klugman, but he seems to be a guy who probably engaged in more drinking than Randall and probably not as meticulous about his diet (however, this is speculation on my part.). Klugman was not fat, but Randall basically stayed the same size his whole life.

I think life is mostly luck, and the guy who is more guarded about his health is the one who dies, and the guy who drinks scotch and martinis in a haze of blue cigarette smoke lives a decade longer scoffing the doctors. Just luck.

It is amazing to most people that he was outlived by Jack Klugman by a decade!!

I think life is mostly luck, and the guy who is more guarded about his health is the one who dies, and the guy who drinks scotch and martinis in a haze of blue cigarette smoke lives a decade longer scoffing the doctors. Just luck.

Hmm. I can't think of a person who was more careful about living a healthy lifestyle than Jack LaLanne, and he lived to 96.

There are some caveats about having children later in life; one's own mortalitly does factor into it. However, a nineteen year old parent could get hit by a bus...

I doubt they went into this haphazardly, and the late Mr. Randall was more than capable of establishing an estate that would ensure his children wouldn't do without. If you can do this, and have a partner whose ideals and values you respect, your children will be better off than most.
The first thought, yes one could get hit by a car at 35 and have a ten year old child. But being 10 years old with a 35 year old dad, you can say he can live to 85. You have a good 60 years with Dad. You really can't plan on seeing dad if you are 10 and he is 75.

As for Heather I expect she will remarry . I always wonder about young widows. MUst be lonely all alone.

The first thought, yes one could get hit by a car at 35 and have a ten year old child. But being 10 years old with a 35 year old dad, you can say he can live to 85. You have a good 60 years with Dad. You really can't plan on seeing dad if you are 10 and he is 75.


You have to factor in quality of time too.

Mr. Randall's given name was Arthur Leonard Rosenburg but he answered to Tony Randall for a long time. That was his name and that's what he went by.

The Randall children do have cousins, in fact two of them each 8 years older than the Randall children.

Heather's not lonely or alone.

There was nothing gay about Tony.