See What Your Favorite ’80s Sitcom Actresses Are Up To Today!
If you’ve been wondering what your favorite ’80s sitcom actresses are up to today, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of the women we loved, hated, or crushed on back in the day and you won’t believe some of their stories!
Tempestt Bledsoe – Then
Tempestt Bledsoe is best known for the role she landed when she was just 11 years old in 1984 on the NBC sitcom The Cosby Show as Vanessa Huxtable, the fourth child of Cliff and Clair Huxtable. Bedsoe stayed on The Cosby Show, appearing on a regular basis until its final season in 1992. She was also featured as her original character Vanessa in A Different World, a spin-off of The Cosby Show, which ran from September 1987 until July 1993.
Tempestt Bledsoe – Now
Starting in the mid 1990s, Tempestt Bledsoe hosted her own daytime talk show called The Tempestt Bledsoe Show. She has appeared in Oxygen’s Husband for Hire, Disney Channel’s animated series, The Replacements, and VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club. The Style Nework reached out to Bledsoe in 2010 and she became the new host of Clean House. Bledsoe holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from New York University and is currently in a relationship with Darryl M. Bell who co-starred on A Different World.
Priscilla Barnes – Then
Priscilla Barnes got her big break after Bob Hope spotted her at a local fashion show in 1973. Soon after, she moved to Los Angeles and began taking small parts in films such as The New Original Wonder Woman, The Seniors, and Delta Fox. In 1981, Barnes was cast as Terri Alden, the permanent replacement for Suzanne Somers, on Three’s Company. While she had previously struggled to break through into big roles, Barnes became instantly recognizable when she joined Three’s Company.
Priscilla Barnes – Now
In 1998, Priscilla Barnes was featured on E! True Hollywood Story, where she revealed that her time on Three’s Company was the “three worst years” of her life, that she constantly felt “uncomfortable” on the set, and that she even asked to be released from her contract, a request which was denied. While Terri Alden will always be Barnes’ most prominent role, she has certainly had her fair share of success, with consistent supporting roles in both television and film.
Lisa Whelchel – Now
As soon as the ’80s were over, Whelchel’s acting career also took a long-running hiatus. This seemed to coincide with her marriage to Steven Cauble, who she had three kids with but ultimately separated from in 2012. Interestingly enough, it was this very same year that Whelchel competed on the hit competitive reality series Survivor: Philippines, where she finished in second place. She also received $100,000 after being voted the fan favorite. These days, Whelchel does a lot of work as a motivational speaker.
Sara Gilbert – Then
Sara Gilbert first burst onto the TV scene through her role as Darlene in the hit series Roseanne. She plays the daughter of Dan and the titular character and developed a reputation for being an unconventional, tomboyish, young female sitcom character. Apparently, producers nearly didn’t cast Gilbert because they thought she wasn’t cute enough. There is no denying that it was the right call though as Gilbert brought a level of gravitas to the role that most child actors probably couldn’t.
Sara Gilbert – Now
Throughout the years, Sara Gilbert has stayed busy in the world of TV, appearing on shows such as 24, ER, and Twins, to name a few. Of course, the talented actress has won a completely new audience through her work as Leslie Winkle in the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, reuniting with her Roseanne co-star Johnny Galecki. She also reprised her role as Darlene for the spinoff series of Roseanne, The Conners, which has since received rave reviews.
Rhea Perlman – Then
There is no denying that Rhea Perlman is best known for her memorable role as Carla Tortelli in the iconic ’80s sitcom Cheers. Carla seems to be mean and looks down upon the others around her. But through the 271 episodes that she was a part of, Carla evolves and becomes one of the most beloved characters on the show. Along with the likes of Norm Peterson and Sam Malone, Carla is one of just three characters who was in every single episode.
Rhea Perlman – Now
While her role as Carla is certainly her claim to fame, this hasn’t stopped Rhea Perlman from working elsewhere in the entertainment industry. Since the turn of the century, she has appeared in movies such as Beethoven’s Big Break and The Christmas Choir, to name a few. She also appeared in the West End production Boeing Boeing. Over the years, Perlman has had a complicated relationship with Danny DeVito. Although they are separated, they are still technically married.
Telma Hopkins – Then
There were plenty of unforgettable characters in Family Matters and Rachel Baines Crawford was certainly one of them. The younger sister of Harriette, Rachel is a real go-getter, despite having plenty of pain after the loss of her husband. She is an entrepreneur and is virtually a mainstay during the show’s first four seasons. Hopkins left the show for a year because she was working on the failed sitcom Getting By, but she did come back for future seasons.
