Meredith Baxter Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts

Meredith Baxter Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Meredith Baxter is an acclaimed American actress and producer, widely known for her role as Elyse Keaton on the hit sitcom Family Ties, who has built a multi-decade career in television and turned a mid-life personal transformation into an inspiring story of authenticity.

Introduction

Meredith Baxter (born June 21, 1947) emerged as a beloved television figure in the 1970s and 1980s, establishing herself as one of America’s most familiar TV moms. Her estimated net worth is approximately $7 million, a reflection of decades of acting, producing and personal branding.  She is married to her longtime partner Nancy Locke, whom she wed in December and with whom she shares a life built on authenticity, advocacy and personal reinvention. Her birthday—June 21—is celebrated by fans each year as a nod to the woman who made “America’s mom” into its own archetype.

Quick Facts

From Southern California Roots to the Spotlight

Growing up in South Pasadena, California, Meredith Baxter’s early starting point was influenced by a creative mother, Whitney Blake, an actress-producer, and a radio-announcer father, Tom Baxter. The trajectory from a local upbringing to national television star wasn’t overnight—it was built on years of ambition, perseverance and navigating the unique demands of Hollywood in the 1970s.

Her early credits included guest television appearances, but her breakthrough came with the CBS sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie (1972-73), where she starred opposite David Birney.  That partnership morphed into a marriage and formed the springboard toward her defining role as Nancy Lawrence in the ABC drama Family (1976-80). 

Defining moments in Meredith Baxter’s journey include:

• Landing her first major regular role in Bridget Loves Bernie and gaining early TV momentum.

• Portraying Nancy Lawrence in Family, earning two Emmy nominations and cementing her reputation as a serious actress. 

• Achieving iconic status with her role as Elyse Keaton in Family Ties (1982-89), which put her in living rooms across America and made her a pop-culture touchstone. 

• Transitioning into film, television movies, producing and later using her platform for personal advocacy—including a memoir that revealed her journey of self-discovery and coming out. 

The Core Pillars of Meredith Baxter’s Wealth

The core pillars of Meredith Baxter’s wealth include:

• Television acting: Major roles on long-running network series (e.g., Family Ties) and steady guest or recurring work thereafter.

• Producing and authoring: Work behind the camera and her memoir added diversification to her income stream.

• Real estate transactions: Her Santa Monica home sale (discussed in the lifestyle section) contributed meaningfully to her asset base.

• Brand-linkage & licensing: While less publicised, her decades-long presence in TV and commercials have sustained her positioning.

Relationships & Family Life

Meredith Baxter’s personal life has been as publicly transformative as her career. She has been married four times and is the mother of five children.  Prior to her current marriage to Nancy Locke, Baxter’s previous relationships included marriages to Robert Lewis Bush (1966-69) and actor David Birney (1974-89). With Birney she shared three children; that partnership ended amid serious abuse allegations made later by Baxter. 

In December of 2013, Baxter married Nancy Locke, a general contractor and musician, in an intimate ceremony in Los Angeles after years of partnership.  The relationship offered Baxter a new sense of authenticity and voice. She came out publicly as a lesbian in December 2009.

Key insights into Meredith Baxter’s relationships and personal life:

• Her earlier marriages and subsequent divorce reflect a personal journey from public performer to private self-discovery.

• The allegations of abuse in her marriage to Birney deeply influenced her memoir and advocacy around domestic violence. 

• Her coming-out announcement in 2009 marked a significant personal milestone and made an impact in the LGBTQ community.

• Her marriage to Nancy Locke is characterised by partnership, creativity and mutual support, reflecting the next chapter of her personal life.

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond career success, Meredith Baxter leads a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

• Real estate: In March 2017, she sold her long-time Santa Monica home for approximately $4.589 million.  The property featured five bedrooms, four baths and a guesthouse on about a third of an acre.

• Advocacy and health-journey: She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 and underwent treatment—later using her experience as part of her public narrative. 

• Creative interests and public engagement: Baxter’s work has included mentoring, producing and speaking engagements around issues like ageism in Hollywood and LGBTQ visibility. 

• Philanthropy: Though not as high-profile in celebrity philanthropy circles, Baxter has used her voice and memoir to shed light on topics such as domestic abuse, coming-out later in life and Hollywood’s treatment of women over time.

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

The evaluation of Meredith Baxter’s net worth is informed by industry-analyst estimates and her asset transactions.

Analysis: The figure of ~$7 million is consistent across multiple profiles. Her long-running television earnings form the bulk of her wealth, while the real-estate sale added a one-time boost. Given fluctuations in the entertainment industry and age-related factors (which Baxter herself has publicly discussed in terms of career opportunity), her net worth appears stable albeit modest compared to some peers.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

Meredith Baxter’s public image is anchored in the idea of transition—of the woman viewers invited into their homes each week evolving visibly, candidly and meaningfully in public life. As Elyse Keaton, she represented the reconciliation of 1960s idealism with 1980s practicality—an archetype that resonated with a wide audience. Over time, Baxter turned that archetype inward, writing frankly about her struggles with marriage, abuse, sobriety, cancer and identity. 

She has also been outspoken about ageism in Hollywood, noting the lack of roles for mature women and championing visibility for older LGBTQ individuals — a less widely covered but meaningful area of influence.  Her legacy is not just the friendly mom on television, but the woman who said: “Here’s the truth about me now.”

Conclusion

From the early promise of a young Southern California actress to the cultural touchstone of America’s TV mom, Meredith Baxter’s journey is one of resilience, reinvention and realignment. Born June 21, 1947, she built a career that millions watched, and then pivoted into a personal life defined by honesty, partnership and purpose. With an estimated net worth of around $7 million, a long-term marriage to Nancy Locke and a public narrative that bridges success and struggle, her story stands out in an industry that often resists transformation. In a world of fleeting recognition, her enduring presence speaks to more than talent — it speaks to authenticity.