Photography: Charles William Bush
Three time Emmy-nominated actress and women’s rights activist Meredith
Baxter has carved a remarkable and diverse career in the entertainment
business. Her television and film roles are proof that she creates courageous
and controversial characters—drawing on parallels from her own life—who always
meet challenges head-on.
Growing up in a show business family, her mother was an actor and her step-father
an agent. Meredith developed a respect for the training and commitment necessary to
achieve her goals as an actor. In preparing for her professional life she definitely did
her homework. She began acting in the drama department of Hollywood High
School and took classes with Frank Silvera. Even after her early success she continued
to study the basics and details of her craft.
In 1970 when Baxter was looking for work, she was hired to audition young men
in their screen tests at Screen Gems for “Butterflies Are Free.” In a right-place, righttime
scenario, she landed the part without even testing for it; after performing in
countless auditions for directors seeking male leads, they eventually saw the talented
Baxter for the first time. She was then cast in the television series “Bridget Loves
Bernie.” Her work on that series and the critically acclaimed drama “Family,” for
which she received her first Emmy nomination, showed her finesse before the small
screen cameras. It eventually led to the long-running and much loved show “Family
Ties” with Michael J. Fox. Simultaneously, Baxter refined her image as a comedic and
dramatic actor and continued to accept roles in both disciplines.
As a single mother of five children including 16-year old twins, Baxter, who is often
working and out of town, has mastered the balance of career and family. Her notable
on-screen roles as a wife and mother include “A Woman Scorned: The Betty
Broderick Story,” for which she won an Emmy nomination, followed by “Her Final
Fury: Betty Broderick, The Last Chapter.” She won a second Emmy nomination for
her work in the provocative CBS “School Break Special, Other Mothers,” vividly portraying
a teenager’s lesbian mother. She also received an Emmy nomination for the
drama “Family.” In keeping with her championing of women’s struggles, she breathed
life into another extraordinary character in “Winnie,” a story about a retarded woman
who carves a place for herself in the world. In the true account, “Darkness Before
Dawn,” she played a nurse who worked in a methadone clinic struggling with drug
and alcohol addiction.
Baxter’s work continues to resonate and
influence audiences. Her film on bulimia,
“Kate’s Secret,” is still shown in school health
classes all over the country. She was equally
indelible in “My Breast,” a black comedy and
true story about journalist Joyce Wadler’s
triumph over breast cancer. Such portrayals
awakened her to the seriousness of that
impinging illness and moved her to action in
this area; she received a special award for
public awareness from the National Breast
Cancer Coalition. Additionally, she staunchly
supports Planned Parenthood, NARAL and,
as a member of the Board of the Center to
Prevent Handgun Violence, she lobbied on
behalf of the Brady Bill, the National Crime
Bill and other gun control measures.
Equally facile on the stage, Baxter’s credits
include “Spine,” “Butterflies are Free,” “Guys
and Dolls,” “Talley’s Folly” and numerous
performances of “Love Letters” in theatres
throughout the country. As artist-inresidence
at Dartmouth College, she starred
in “The Country Wife “and appeared in and
co-produced “The Diaries of Adam and Eve”
that was ultimately taped for PBS.
She recently completed filming “Crash
Course,” based on the true story of a
19-year-old boy hit by a drunk driver who
suffers severe brain damage; as a mother she
steadfastly helps him heal and move out of
the role of victim, enabling him to return to
college. Shortly she will begin her 42nd
movie for television, “Aftermath,” that
depicts the impact on a family one year after
incest has been discovered.
The industrious actor has also developed a
line of skin care products, “Signature
Collection,” which was originally created to
address her own dry skin problems. Tested on
the Home Shopping Network, her 20 products
can now be found in gift and beauty shops,
selected speciality boutiques and online at
www.meredithbaxterproducts.com.
In keeping with her character and remarkable
commitment to women’s issues, Baxter
has found a way to “give back.” She formed
the Meredith Baxter Foundation for Breast
Cancer Research to which a portion of the
proceeds from her skin care line is donated.
Funds will go toward prevention and
research and provide free mammograms for
low-income women.
Everyone I have spoken to about
Meredith Baxter over the past six weeks was
not only familiar with her work but related
to her as the character in one or more of her
signature roles. Whether Betty Broderick,
Kate, Winnie or the other challenging women she has portrayed, Baxter has become
that person in the minds and memory of millions
of individuals. One of her associates
described her talent to assimilate the complex
personalities of the characters she portrays as
follows, “Meredith leaves her own silhouette
at the door when she takes on a role.”
TH: Meredith, with 42 movies, three television
series and numerous stage plays to
your credit over the past 30 years are you still
excited by each new career opportunity?
MB: I love acting. Originally it was like
going into the family business. However, it
has been a great career. I have been very fortunate
to portray a number of characters who
have been confronted by serious social, family
and health issues. These are people who
struggle to deal with and overcome their circumstances
have created a broader awareness,
support and inspiration for other individuals,
families and communities being confronted
by similar situations. On the other hand, 10
years after the seven-year run of “Family
Ties” ended, individuals still tell me, “I
always wanted to be your mom.”
Whether drama, sitcom or stage play I am
still excited about being active in the entertainment
industry and look forward to challenging
opportunities for quite a while to
come.
TH: With an active film career and shepherding
the growth of your own line of bath
and beauty products, how do you manage to
be a hands on mom to your 16-year-old twins?
MB: Family is my first priority. The twins
are still at home and we maintain a pretty
normal lifestyle. In the summer I adjust my
schedule so we can spend more quality time
together. During the school year I enjoy
attending as many activities as possible. We
have regular contact with the three older children.
And even though it is hard to get used
to, that I am a grandmother is absolutely a
wonderful experience.
TH: What do you think about healthy
lifestyle commitment, diet, exercise, meditation,
nutritional supplementation?
MB: I am concerned about diet both for
my nutritional needs and in order to maintain
my weight. I don’t believe in fad diets, don’t eat
meat and avoid caffeine. My diet is healthy,
however if I am not hungry I don’t eat.
I take a daily multivitamin which supplies
the basic vitamins and mineral needs and
a few other supplements which I feel are
beneficial.
I speed walk four times a week, have
recently discovered yoga and acupuncture.
TH: Please tell us about your Signature
Collection of skin care products.
MB: The skin care products were originally
formulated to address my own dry skin
problems. However the business has now
taken on a life of its own. The difference is
that my products really work. I bring it on
the set for hair and makeup staff to use and
everyone likes it. I use it all the time because
I have found nothing better. Although I am
very much part of the process, I have a
business partner who takes care of operations.
Every year in January and June I do
trade shows and it’s harder than acting.
Glycerin is the premier moisturizer and
aloe vera, the natural, soothing conditioner
blend with vitamins A, C, D and E and
14 natural botanical extracts to create the
fragrant and the fragrance-free products. Dry
skin that is irritating and causes aging is not
a gender specific problem. Both men and
women suffer from eczema and psoriasis,
diabetic dehydration and the side effects of
chemotherapy and radiation. Signature
Collection offers men, as well as women, a
creamy facial moisturizer, body lotion and
hand treatment to relieve this discomfort.
Nourishing the skin with the essential ingredients
in the Signature Collection products
has a healing effect and gives the skin a fresh,
rejuvenated look that defies aging.
Another motivating factor to purchase
the Signature Collection’s head-to-toe
products (SPF 15 Facial Moisturizer, Hand
Therapy, SPF 15 Hand Therapy, Foot
Cream, Bath/Shower Gel, Body Lotion,
Eye Cream, Anti-Aging Eye Cream and
Meredith Night Therapy) is that a portion
of the profits from the sales goes to the
Meredith Baxter Foundation for Breast
Cancer Research. Through my foundation
we are actively working with the concerned
community to help fund projects that will
hopefully find a cure for this ravaging
disease. All our packaging and promotional
material features the breast cancer ribbon.
Customers can be assured they are not only
buying a wonderful product but their purchase
helps contribute to this incredibly
worthy cause.
TH: Meredith, your hands-on involvement
with your family, film and television,
women’s rights, women’s health issues and
your own company is an inspiration. In
many ways the qualities of passion, independence
and intelligence in the characters
you portray reflect those in your personal
life. Thank you for sharing your time with
totalhealth magazine.
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