Actors/Actresses who played TV parents that weren't much older than TV children - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Heidi Dawn · 01-05-2017, 09:21 PM

What's so funny is that many actors/actresses are cast in roles playing parents, but the actors/actresses playing sons/daughters are not much younger in real life. You can include one-time appearances if a main character's parent (the actor or actress isn't much older in real life than the main character actor). Basically, anyone under 18 years of age.

Growing Pains - In real life, Joanna Kerns is 16 years, 3 months, and 4 days older than Tracey Gold. Joanna is 17 years and 8 months older than Kirk Cameron.

The Cosby Show - In real life, Phylicia Rashad is only 9 years, 9 months and 2 days older than Sabrina LeBeauf.

Family Ties - In real life, both Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross are 13 years, 11 months, and 18 days older than Michael J. Fox.

The Jeffersons - In real life, Sherman Hemsley is 11 years, 9 months, and 2 days older than Mike Evans, and 11 years, 9 months, and 23 days older than Damon Evans.

Amen - In real life, Sherman Hemsley is 10 years, 1 month, and 5 days older than Anna Maria Horsford.

Good Times - In real life, John Amos is 7 years, 5 months, and 28 days older than Jimmie Walker.

Three's Company - In real life, Paula Shaw is 7 years, 9 months, and 6 days older than Joyce DeWitt. Paula made a one-time appearance as Janet's mom, Ruth Wood.

Who's The Boss - In real life, Marian Seldes is 10 months, and 7 days older than Katherine Helmond. Marian made a one-time appearance as Mona's mom, Mrs. Reynolds.

Mr. Belvedere - In real life, Ilene Graff is 13 years, 7 months, and 24 days older than Rob Stone.

PhoenixAcres · 01-05-2017, 09:55 PM

Green Acres - Eleanor Audley (mother) was only 5 months older than Eddie Albert (son)

Bonanza - Lorne Green (father) was 13 years older than Pernell Roberts (son)

DJM77 · 01-05-2017, 10:52 PM

The Golden Girls - Estelle Getty (mother) was 1 year, 2 months and 12 days younger than Bea Arthur (daughter).

Mama's Family - Vicki Lawrence (mother) is over 15 years younger than Ken Berry (son) and Carol Burnett (daughter) and she is over 27 years younger than Betty White (daughter).

zypherix · 01-06-2017, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

The Golden Girls - Estelle Getty (mother) is 1 year, 2 months and 12 days older than Bea Arthur (daughter)

Estelle Getty was *younger* than Bea Arthur.

DJM77 · 01-06-2017, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zypherix

Estelle Getty was *younger* than Bea Arthur.

You're right. Looks like I got it backwards. I just fixed it.

KatieAnn · 01-06-2017, 11:48 AM

On Bonanza Lorne Greene played the father of Pernell Roberts and Dan Blocker when he was only 13 years older than they were. He was old enough to be Michael Landon's father - there was a 21 year difference.

Lorne was only 44 years old at the start of Bonanza but I think the gray hair really aged him because you don't look at him and think he looks too young to be the father of a 30 year old man.

zypherix · 01-06-2017, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

You're right. Looks like I got it backwards. I just fixed it.

Ah.. thought it was a typo but wasnt sure ^^

installLSC · 01-06-2017, 10:09 PM

On "Eight is Enough", Diana Hyland played Laurie Walters' biological mother. Hyland was born January 1936, Walters January 1947. Hyland died and Betty Buckley was cast as the stepmother--even though she's six months younger than Walters.
On a less extreme note, Bonnie Franklin (born January 1944) played the mother of Mackenzie Phillips (born December 1959). Youngish, but not totally implausible.

Coffeecup · 01-07-2017, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by installLSC

On "Eight is Enough", Diana Hyland played Laurie Walters' biological mother. Hyland was born January 1936, Walters January 1947. Hyland died and Betty Buckley was cast as the stepmother--even though she's six months younger than Walters.
On a less extreme note, Bonnie Franklin (born January 1944) played the mother of Mackenzie Phillips (born December 1959). Youngish, but not totally implausible.

How old was Lani OGrady? Wasn't she the oldest daughter. How about Grant Goodeve the eldest son.?

installLSC · 01-08-2017, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeecup

How old was Lani OGrady? Wasn't she the oldest daughter. How about Grant Goodeve the eldest son.?

Lani O'Grady was born in 1954, Goodeve in 1952. So not that much that younger than Hyland either.

jehobden · 01-09-2017, 04:15 PM

The Mothers-in-Law: Roger C. Carmel was only 3 years, 4 months older than his tv "son", Jerry Fogel. Richard Deacon, who took over Carmel's role in the 2nd & final season, was just 14 years, 8 months older than Fogel. Kaye Ballard, who played Fogel's character's mother, is 10 years, 2 months older than Fogel.

um · 01-14-2017, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by installLSC

On "Eight is Enough", Diana Hyland played Laurie Walters' biological mother. Hyland was born January 1936, Walters January 1947. Hyland died and Betty Buckley was cast as the stepmother--even though she's six months younger than Walters.
On a less extreme note, Bonnie Franklin (born January 1944) played the mother of Mackenzie Phillips (born December 1959). Youngish, but not totally implausible.

Shirley Jones is only 16 years older than her step-son David Cassidy.
She played his mother in The Partridge Family; and I think that the character "Shirley Partridge" is supposed to be at least 20 years older than her oldest child, her son "Keith."
If "Shirley Partridge" was supposed to be only 16 years older than her eldest child, then that is also "Youngish but not totally implausible" just like the example you gave with Bonnie Franklin's character and MacKenzie Phillip's character. (I'm not sure if anyone mentioned this already).

Heidi Dawn · 01-27-2017, 11:46 AM

It's Your Move - In real life, Caren Kaye is 15 years, 8 months, and 4 days older than Tricia Cast. Caren Kaye played the mom of Tricia Cast and Jason Bateman's characters.

Dr. Thong · 01-28-2017, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM77

Mama's Family - Vicki Lawrence (mother) is over 15 years younger than Ken Berry (son) and Carol Burnett (daughter) and she is over 27 years younger than Betty White (daughter).

Yes, but this is an an exception, as Vicki was playing an old lady, down to wearing an old lady wig and frumpy grandma clothes.

I don't think anyone was holding her accountable for her age.

01-05-2017, 09:21 PM	#1
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	Actors/Actresses who played TV parents that weren't much older than TV children What's so funny is that many actors/actresses are cast in roles playing parents, but the actors/actresses playing sons/daughters are not much younger in real life. You can include one-time appearances if a main character's parent (the actor or actress isn't much older in real life than the main character actor). Basically, anyone under 18 years of age. Growing Pains - In real life, Joanna Kerns is 16 years, 3 months, and 4 days older than Tracey Gold. Joanna is 17 years and 8 months older than Kirk Cameron. The Cosby Show - In real life, Phylicia Rashad is only 9 years, 9 months and 2 days older than Sabrina LeBeauf. Family Ties - In real life, both Meredith Baxter and Michael Gross are 13 years, 11 months, and 18 days older than Michael J. Fox. The Jeffersons - In real life, Sherman Hemsley is 11 years, 9 months, and 2 days older than Mike Evans, and 11 years, 9 months, and 23 days older than Damon Evans. Amen - In real life, Sherman Hemsley is 10 years, 1 month, and 5 days older than Anna Maria Horsford. Good Times - In real life, John Amos is 7 years, 5 months, and 28 days older than Jimmie Walker. Three's Company - In real life, Paula Shaw is 7 years, 9 months, and 6 days older than Joyce DeWitt. Paula made a one-time appearance as Janet's mom, Ruth Wood. Who's The Boss - In real life, Marian Seldes is 10 months, and 7 days older than Katherine Helmond. Marian made a one-time appearance as Mona's mom, Mrs. Reynolds. Mr. Belvedere - In real life, Ilene Graff is 13 years, 7 months, and 24 days older than Rob Stone.
	__________________ Complete Series Box Sets I own: MASH, Three's Company, Gilligan's Island, The Dukes Of Hazzard, The Golden Girls, The Monkees, The Brady Bunch, Full House, I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched, Taxi, Gimme A Break, Dallas, Charlie's Angels, Joanie Loves Chachi, Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, The Cosby Show, The Facts of Life, Family Ties, Diff'rent Strokes, Green Acres. Last edited by Heidi Dawn; 01-06-2017 at 08:57 PM.

01-05-2017, 10:52 PM	#3
DJM77 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Missouri Posts: 5,560	The Golden Girls - Estelle Getty (mother) was 1 year, 2 months and 12 days younger than Bea Arthur (daughter). Mama's Family - Vicki Lawrence (mother) is over 15 years younger than Ken Berry (son) and Carol Burnett (daughter) and she is over 27 years younger than Betty White (daughter).
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01-05-2017, 09:55 PM	#2
PhoenixAcres Member Moderator Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 26, 2016 Location: United States Posts: 6,824	Green Acres - Eleanor Audley (mother) was only 5 months older than Eddie Albert (son) Bonanza - Lorne Green (father) was 13 years older than Pernell Roberts (son)

01-06-2017, 11:48 AM	#6
KatieAnn Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 15, 2011 Posts: 520	On Bonanza Lorne Greene played the father of Pernell Roberts and Dan Blocker when he was only 13 years older than they were. He was old enough to be Michael Landon's father - there was a 21 year difference. Lorne was only 44 years old at the start of Bonanza but I think the gray hair really aged him because you don't look at him and think he looks too young to be the father of a 30 year old man.

01-06-2017, 10:09 PM	#8
installLSC Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2013 Location: United States Posts: 271	On "Eight is Enough", Diana Hyland played Laurie Walters' biological mother. Hyland was born January 1936, Walters January 1947. Hyland died and Betty Buckley was cast as the stepmother--even though she's six months younger than Walters. On a less extreme note, Bonnie Franklin (born January 1944) played the mother of Mackenzie Phillips (born December 1959). Youngish, but not totally implausible.

01-09-2017, 04:15 PM	#11
jehobden Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2002 Location: DFW Area, TX Posts: 2,004	The Mothers-in-Law: Roger C. Carmel was only 3 years, 4 months older than his tv "son", Jerry Fogel. Richard Deacon, who took over Carmel's role in the 2nd & final season, was just 14 years, 8 months older than Fogel. Kaye Ballard, who played Fogel's character's mother, is 10 years, 2 months older than Fogel.

01-27-2017, 11:46 AM	#13
Heidi Dawn Muppets Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 883	It's Your Move - In real life, Caren Kaye is 15 years, 8 months, and 4 days older than Tricia Cast. Caren Kaye played the mom of Tricia Cast and Jason Bateman's characters.