Meredith Baxter Net Worth

Meredith Baxter net worth is estimated at $7 million, reflecting her decades-long career as a celebrated television and film actress, producer, and advocate. Known for her iconic roles and critically acclaimed performances, Baxter has remained a prominent figure in Hollywood since the 1970s.

Early Life

Meredith Baxter was born on June 21, 1947, in South Pasadena, California. She is the daughter of radio announcer Tom Baxter and actress/producer/director Whitney Blake. Meredith grew up with two older brothers, Richard and Brian, and was raised primarily by her mother following her parents’ divorce in 1953. She attended James Monroe High School before transferring to Hollywood High School and briefly studied at the Interlochen Center for the Arts during her senior year.

Career Beginnings

Baxter made her television debut in 1971 with guest appearances on The Young Lawyers, The Doris Day Show, and The Partridge Family. She landed her first breakthrough role on the CBS sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie (1972–1973), playing Bridget Fitzgerald, where she met her future husband David Birney.

Throughout the 1970s, Baxter appeared in TV films such as The Invasion of Carol Enders and The Cat Creature, along with episodes of series like Doc Elliot, Barnaby Jones, and Medical Center. Her biggest early success came with the role of Nancy Lawrence Maitland on the ABC drama series Family (1976–1980), which earned her two Emmy nominations.

Rise to Fame

In 1982, Baxter achieved her most famous role as Elyse Keaton, the liberal matriarch on NBC’s hit sitcom Family Ties. Playing the former hippie mother to Michael J. Fox’s conservative Alex P. Keaton, Baxter became one of America’s most beloved TV moms. The series ran for seven seasons and cemented her status as a television icon.

During her Family Ties years, Baxter also starred in notable TV films, including The Rape of Richard Beck, Kate’s Secret, The Long Journey Home, The Diaries of Adam and Eve, and Winnie, showcasing her versatility across both comedy and serious drama.

Television

After Family Ties, Baxter remained a prolific presence on television, appearing in films and series tackling social issues. Some of her acclaimed TV movies include:

• A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story (1992) – Emmy nomination
• My Breast (1994)
• A Christmas Visitor (2002)

She also appeared in guest roles on shows like Cold Case, Finding Carter, and The Young and the Restless. Baxter occasionally returned to the big screen, debuting in Stand Up and Be Counted (1972) and appearing in Ben, All the President’s Men (1976), Bittersweet Love (1976), and later films like Paradise Texas (2005), The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green (2005), The Onion Movie, Airline Disaster, and Undateable John.

Personal Life

Meredith Baxter has been married multiple times. Her first marriage (1966–1969) to Robert Lewis Bush produced two children. In 1974, she married David Birney, with whom she had three children: Kathleen and twins Mollie and Peter. The couple divorced in 1989. She later married Michael Blodgett (1995–2000).

In 2009, Baxter publicly came out as lesbian and married Nancy Locke in 2013. She has also spoken openly about past abuse in her first marriage to Birney, bringing awareness to personal struggles while maintaining her public career.

Real Estate

In 2016, Baxter listed her Santa Monica, California home for $6 million, ultimately selling it for $4.6 million in 2017. Today, the property is estimated to be worth around $8 million, reflecting the growth of the Southern California real estate market.

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