20 Years Ago Today: A Beloved Family Member Returned to 'Growing Pains'

[Brian Damage]

February 24th, 1992 - Tracey Gold began working on the set of "Growing Pains" again. She had left the show due to anorexia.

[Mr. Television]

It's hard to believe it's been 20 years already. I remember when she came back. She wanted to get back before the show ended. ABC aired the final on the same night as the finals of WTB and MacGyver. And with that one era had ended.

[catlover79]

I remember that so well. I remember in her signoff episode before returning for the finale, there was a message on the screen before going to the credits: "WE MISS YOU, CAROL", which faded into "WE MISS YOU, TRACEY". When she came back, it was obvious that her health was still touch and go. I know I'm one of the many, many people who is happy she is still with us.

[Schmoopie]

Originally Posted by catlover79

I remember that so well. I remember in her signoff episode before returning for the finale, there was a message on the screen before going to the credits: "WE MISS YOU, CAROL", which faded into "WE MISS YOU, TRACEY". When she came back, it was obvious that her health was still touch and go. I know I'm one of the many, many people who is happy she is still with us.

I'm glad that she's still with us, too Monika. That had to have been such a terrible ordeal she went through. Luckily she had such a loving TV family to support her.

[Family Ties Forever!]

It's sad that Tracey suffered from anorexia. She returned for the series finale, but you could tell that she was still rather thin. She did an interview a few years ago where she mentioned that if you watch closely she doesn't actually eat the pizza. She pushes it around her plate. When she finally does pick up a piece of pizza she mentioned that she pretended to chew it and eat it. What a terrible eating disorder to suffer from. It's great that so many years afterward she is doing much better.

Both she and Justine Batmean [Family Ties] suffered from eating disorders.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Family Ties Forever!

It's sad that Tracey suffered from anorexia. She returned for the series finale, but you could tell that she was still rather thin. She did an interview a few years ago where she mentioned that if you watch closely she doesn't actually eat the pizza. She pushes it around her plate. When she finally does pick up a piece of pizza she mentioned that she pretended to chew it and eat it. What a terrible eating disorder to suffer from. It's great that so many years afterward she is doing much better.

Both she and Justine Batmean [Family Ties] suffered from eating disorders.

It just reminded me how sick Tracey Gold was at the time. I know that she had to miss some episodes during the last season in order to get treatment for her eating disorder (the explanation for Carol's absence was that she was off in London). The most telling sign I think is her arms, which literally look like Olive Oil's. Plus, you can tell in her face that she looks haggard and gaunt-like.