Strange age differences, parent vs. child - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

James · 10-19-2003, 02:31 AM

While on the subject of age differences, here are some that strike me weird:

The Waltons: Olivia Walton (played by Michael Learned, born 4/9/1939), mother to John Boy Walton (played by Richard Thomas, born 6/13/1951) - 12-year difference

Leave It To Beaver: ISTR reading that the actress who played Gwendolyn Rutherford* was born in 1939, while Lumpy Rutherford, her son, was played by Frank Bank, born 4/12/1942. Just three years older!

Any other such microscopic differences?

* - I could be wrong on Gwendolyn; the actress who played Violet, his younger sister, could have been the one born in 1939.

PZelda · 10-19-2003, 03:34 AM

Yep.

Vicki Lawrence (March 26, 1949) played 65-year-old Thelma "Mama" Harper on "Mama's Family", starting in January 1983, when she was only 33. Her son, Vinton (Ken Berry, November 3, 1933), daughter in law, Naomi (Dorothy Lyman, April 18, 1947), sister Fran (Rue McClanahan, February 21, 1934), first daughter, Ellen (Betty White, January 17, 1922), and second daughter, Eunice (Carol Burnett, April 25, 1933) were ALL OLDER THAN VICKI LAWRENCE! Yet they all played her kids. Go figure.

Betty White was in her 60's when she was on "Mama's Family", go figure.

EDIT: So sorry...My fault...It was REALLY late in the morning when I originally made this post. Thanks to Christopher for pointing out my mistake.

Pitooey · 10-19-2003, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PZelda: VICKI!!
Yep.

Vicki Lawrence (March 26, 1949) played 65-year-old Thelma "Mama" Harper on "Mama's Family", starting in January 1983, when she was only 33. Her son, Vinton (Ken Berry, November 3, 1933), daughter in law, Naomi (Dorothy Lyman, April 18, 1947), first daughter Fran (Rue McClanahan, February 21, 1934), second daughter, Ellen (Betty White, January 17, 1922), and third daughter, Eunice (Carol Burnett, April 25, 1933) were ALL OLDER THAN VICKI LAWRENCE! Yet they all played her kids. Go figure. Betty White was in her 60's when she was on "Mama's Family", go figure.

Especially Betty White!

Christopher · 10-19-2003, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PZelda: VICKI!!
Yep.

Vicki Lawrence (March 26, 1949) played 65-year-old Thelma "Mama" Harper on "Mama's Family", starting in January 1983, when she was only 33. Her son, Vinton (Ken Berry, November 3, 1933), daughter in law, Naomi (Dorothy Lyman, April 18, 1947), first daughter Fran (Rue McClanahan, February 21, 1934), second daughter, Ellen (Betty White, January 17, 1922), and third daughter, Eunice (Carol Burnett, April 25, 1933) were ALL OLDER THAN VICKI LAWRENCE! Yet they all played her kids. Go figure. Betty White was in her 60's when she was on "Mama's Family", go figure.

Fran was Mama's sister, not her daughter.

Sitcomwriter · 10-19-2003, 01:15 PM

Jaene Harafalo played Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser's daughter. Yes, it was their daughter all grown up but yeah LOL.

Ben Stiller played Jerry Stiller's father in a "King Of Queens" flashback but yeah, that's the same thing LOL.

PZelda · 10-19-2003, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Christopher
Fran was Mama's sister, not her daughter.

It was 2:30 in the morning when I was typing that post.

I knew something was amiss when I made that post....Just couldn't figure out what....

71dude · 10-19-2003, 03:49 PM

One Tree Hill - Moira Kelly was born on March 6, 1968. Her TV son, Chad Michael Murray, was born on August 24, 1981, when she was 13!

dpops · 11-26-2003, 08:11 AM

John Amos, who played James Evans Sr.,was born on December 27, 1939

Jimmie Walker, who played James Evans Jr., was born on June 25, 1947

That's a seven and a half year difference.

James · 11-29-2003, 01:56 AM

From The Wonder Years:

Dan Lauria, who played Jack Arnold (the father) was born 4/12/1947. David Huddleston, who played John Arnold (the paternal grandfather) was born 9/17/1930. That's less than seventeen years!

FWIW, Olivia d'Abo, who played Karen Arnold (the eldest Arnold child), was born 1/22/1967, while Dan was 19 and David was 36. A 36-year old grandfather!

James · 11-30-2003, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by James
David Huddleston, who played John Arnold

Oops, John Arnold was the grandfather's way of calling Jack. The grandfather was really named Albert!

Dean Winchester · 12-02-2003, 06:24 AM

not great with exact dates, but I'll use ages

Phylicia Rashad was born in 1948, Sabrina LeBeauf (who played her daughter Sondra on Cosby Show) was born in 1958. Phylicia was only 9 1/2 years older

John Mahoney on Frasier was born in 1940, Kelsey Grammer was born in 1955. Meaning John would've been 14-15 when Kelsey was born

Frances Conroy (Ruth Fisher on Six Feet Under) was born in 1953, Peter Krause who plays her son Nate, was born in 1965.

vze3t9q9 · 12-05-2003, 11:08 PM

I bet the actors gets a warmer feeling with a closer age actor. You may have more friend feeling vervus a parent feeling. There are some actors who look old and really they are younger than you think. I suppose it could go the other way. have some old man play your dad and you are only 18 and he's 65

db108108 · 12-06-2003, 04:41 PM

One The Golden Girls, Estelle Getty was born in 1924 while daughter Bea Arthur was born in 1923! Wow, The Golden Girls are are getting so old! With the exception of Rue, they're all at or approaching 80.

One Roseanne, daughter Estelle Parsons was born in 1927, mother Shelley Winters was born in 1922.

vze3t9q9 · 12-07-2003, 06:53 PM

Yes I remember reading that Shelly Winters and Estelle Parsons played on Roseanne. I never watched the show. Any way how old was Roseanne's character. She must either be young or have an old grandma. I thought having a grandma on the show was a bit much.

James · 12-07-2003, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vze3t9q9
Yes I remember reading that Shelly Winters and Estelle Parsons played on Roseanne. I never watched the show. Any way how was Roseanne's character. She must either be young or have an old grandma. I thought having a grandma on the show was a bit much.

That reminds me: Episode #94 of The Brady Bunch, "You're Never Too Old," featured Carol's grandmother and Mike's grandfather (with Florence Henderson and Robert Reed playing dual roles!). That episode came out of the 1972-73 season, and Robert was 40 and Florence 39. Who would have imagined them being so athletic? The grandparents had to be close to 100!

10-19-2003, 02:31 AM	#1
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	Strange age differences, parent vs. child While on the subject of age differences, here are some that strike me weird: The Waltons: Olivia Walton (played by Michael Learned, born 4/9/1939), mother to John Boy Walton (played by Richard Thomas, born 6/13/1951) - 12-year difference Leave It To Beaver: ISTR reading that the actress who played Gwendolyn Rutherford* was born in 1939, while Lumpy Rutherford, her son, was played by Frank Bank, born 4/12/1942. Just three years older! Any other such microscopic differences? * - I could be wrong on Gwendolyn; the actress who played Violet, his younger sister, could have been the one born in 1939.

10-19-2003, 03:34 AM	#2
PZelda Two Valeries! <3 Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Location: I'm STILL missing NYC. :( Posts: 78,223	Yep. Vicki Lawrence (March 26, 1949) played 65-year-old Thelma "Mama" Harper on "Mama's Family", starting in January 1983, when she was only 33. Her son, Vinton (Ken Berry, November 3, 1933), daughter in law, Naomi (Dorothy Lyman, April 18, 1947), sister Fran (Rue McClanahan, February 21, 1934), first daughter, Ellen (Betty White, January 17, 1922), and second daughter, Eunice (Carol Burnett, April 25, 1933) were ALL OLDER THAN VICKI LAWRENCE! Yet they all played her kids. Go figure. Betty White was in her 60's when she was on "Mama's Family", go figure. EDIT: So sorry...My fault...It was REALLY late in the morning when I originally made this post. Thanks to Christopher for pointing out my mistake.
	__________________ Cheers behind the couch! Last edited by PZelda; 10-19-2003 at 03:10 PM.

12-07-2003, 06:53 PM	#14
vze3t9q9 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 31, 2003 Location: ROCKCOVE Posts: 548	Yes I remember reading that Shelly Winters and Estelle Parsons played on Roseanne. I never watched the show. Any way how old was Roseanne's character. She must either be young or have an old grandma. I thought having a grandma on the show was a bit much.
	Last edited by vze3t9q9; 12-10-2003 at 08:59 PM.

10-19-2003, 01:15 PM	#5
Sitcomwriter Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 27, 2001 Posts: 7,354	Jaene Harafalo played Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser's daughter. Yes, it was their daughter all grown up but yeah LOL. Ben Stiller played Jerry Stiller's father in a "King Of Queens" flashback but yeah, that's the same thing LOL.

10-19-2003, 03:49 PM	#7
71dude Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2003 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 116	One Tree Hill - Moira Kelly was born on March 6, 1968. Her TV son, Chad Michael Murray, was born on August 24, 1981, when she was 13!

11-26-2003, 08:11 AM	#8
dpops Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 25, 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 52	John Amos, who played James Evans Sr.,was born on December 27, 1939 Jimmie Walker, who played James Evans Jr., was born on June 25, 1947 That's a seven and a half year difference.

11-29-2003, 01:56 AM	#9
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	From The Wonder Years: Dan Lauria, who played Jack Arnold (the father) was born 4/12/1947. David Huddleston, who played John Arnold (the paternal grandfather) was born 9/17/1930. That's less than seventeen years! FWIW, Olivia d'Abo, who played Karen Arnold (the eldest Arnold child), was born 1/22/1967, while Dan was 19 and David was 36. A 36-year old grandfather!

12-02-2003, 06:24 AM	#11
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	not great with exact dates, but I'll use ages Phylicia Rashad was born in 1948, Sabrina LeBeauf (who played her daughter Sondra on Cosby Show) was born in 1958. Phylicia was only 9 1/2 years older John Mahoney on Frasier was born in 1940, Kelsey Grammer was born in 1955. Meaning John would've been 14-15 when Kelsey was born Frances Conroy (Ruth Fisher on Six Feet Under) was born in 1953, Peter Krause who plays her son Nate, was born in 1965.

12-05-2003, 11:08 PM	#12
vze3t9q9 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 31, 2003 Location: ROCKCOVE Posts: 548	I bet the actors gets a warmer feeling with a closer age actor. You may have more friend feeling vervus a parent feeling. There are some actors who look old and really they are younger than you think. I suppose it could go the other way. have some old man play your dad and you are only 18 and he's 65

12-06-2003, 04:41 PM	#13
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	One The Golden Girls, Estelle Getty was born in 1924 while daughter Bea Arthur was born in 1923! Wow, The Golden Girls are are getting so old! With the exception of Rue, they're all at or approaching 80. One Roseanne, daughter Estelle Parsons was born in 1927, mother Shelley Winters was born in 1922.