Move Back
!['thirtysomething' Then]()
Baby boomers loved this drama about a group of pals dealing with everyday angst as “thirtysomethings.” The show's title spawned a new pop-culture phrase, and the series became a national favorite. The show ran from 1987 to 1991 and won numerous Emmy Awards and nominations as well as two Golden Globes. Where are the stars of 'thirtysomething' (yes, it's lowercase) now? Click on to find out... (ABC)!['thirtysomething' Now]()
The cast of 'thirtysomething' reunites on ‘Good Morning America.’ From left, Peter Horton, Melanie Mayron, Ken Olin, Mel Harris, Polly Draper, Patricia Wettig and Timothy Busfield pose for a group photo on August 25, 2009. For the nostalgic among us, 'thirtysomething' is now available on DVD. (ABC)![Ken_Olin_Then_kjoi]()
Olin was the center of the show as Michael Steadman, a former anti-war protester who works in advertising. Before ‘thirtysomething,’ Olin was a TV regular, appearing on shows like ‘Bay City Blues,’ ‘Falcon Crest,’ and ‘Hill Street Blues.’ (ABC)![Ken_Olin_Now]()
Since ‘thirtysomething,’ the actor has worked steadily on shows like ‘EZ Streets,’ ‘L.A. Doctors’ and ‘Alias’ (which he also produced and directed). Olin has had a recurring role on TV drama ‘Brothers and Sisters’ since 2007. Olin, 55, has been married to Patricia Wettig (his former ‘thirtysomething’ costar) since 1982. The couple have a son Clifford, and a daughter Roxy, who appears on MTV reality series ‘The City.’ (ABC)![Mel_Harris_Then_we]()
Harris played the central female role, that of Hope Murdoch Steadman – writer and stay-at-home mom. Before ‘thirtysomething,’ Harris appeared in the horror film ‘Cameron’s Closet’ and on the game show ‘$20,000 Pyramid.’![Mel_Harris_Now]()
After ‘thirtysomething,’ Harris starred on the NBC sitcom ‘Something So Right.’ Additionally, she’s appeared on TV shows like ‘Touched by an Angel,’ ‘House,’ ‘Saints and Sinners,’ and ‘Dawson’s Creek.’ Recent films include ‘The Lodger’ and ‘Imagine That.’ Now 53, Harris has been divorced five times and has two children. (AP)![Timothy_Busfield_Then_kljl]()
Busfield began his Hollywood career with a small part in the Bill Murray film ‘Stripes.’ His first major role was ‘Revenge of the Nerds’’ Arnold Poindexter. TV shows like ‘Trapper John M.D.’ followed, and Busfield was eventually cast as memorable ‘thirtysomething’ character Elliot Weston, Michael’s co-worker and friend. (AP)![Timothy_Busfield_Now_kjo]()
Busfield is now known for his portrayal of Danny Concannon on ‘The West Wing’ as well as his Emmy-winning ‘thirtysomething’ role. In 2006, the actor was a regular on ‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.’ Film roles include ‘Little Big League,’ ‘Sneakers,’ and ‘Field of Dreams.’ The actor, now 52, dabbles in TV directing and occasionally appears on Broadway. He co-founded Sacramentos’ The B Street Theatre, as well as childrens’ theater troupe Fantasy Theatre with his brother, Buck Busfield. (NBC)![Patricia_Wettig_Then_w]()
Before Wettig portrayed artist and stay-at-home mom Nancy Weston, she appeared in ‘St. Elsewhere’ as well as shows like ‘Remington Steele’ and ‘Hill Street Blues.’ Wettig also appeared in films like ‘City Slickers.’ Her character Nancy battled ovarian cancer in the last two seasons of ‘thirtysomething.’ (AP)![Pattricia_Wettig_Now]()
Now 58, Wettig is a cast member on ABC series ‘Brothers & Sisters.’ Her husband Ken Olin also appears on the drama. Wettig and Olin have been married since 1982 and have two children. Before ‘Brothers & Sisters,’ the actress was a series regular on ‘Prison Break’ and ‘Alias.’ (ABC)![Melanie_Mayron_Then_kjo]()
Mayron played Melissa Steadman, Michael’s photographer cousin and Gary’s ex girlfriend. Before ‘thirtysomething,’ the actress had appeared on shows like ‘The Twilight Zone’ and ‘Rhoda’ and movies like ‘Harry and Tonto’ and ‘Car Wash.’ (ABC)![Melanie Mayron Now]()
Since ‘thirtysomething,’ Mayron has guested on quite a few shows, including ‘Mad About You,’ ‘Lipstick Jungle,’ and ‘Naked Brothers Band.’ In 1995 she directed the movie ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ and also directed ‘Toothless’ and ‘Slap Her… She’s French.’ (She got her first shot directing on ‘thirtysomething.’) Now 57 and the mother of twins, Mayron and her chemist father created a line of skin care products called Mayron’s Good Baby. (Photo courtesy of Melanie Mayron.)![Peter_Horton_Then_kjoi]()
Horton was Gary Shepherd, an English professor and Michael’s old college roommate. Everyone cried in the final season when Gary died tragically in a car accident. Before the show, Horton was married to Michelle Pfeiffer and appeared in shows like ‘St. Elsewhere’ and ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.' (ABC)![Peter_Horton_Now_lkjoi]()
Horton, 56, is currently an executive producer and director of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and produces and directs ‘The Philanthropist.’ He starred in TV movie ‘Into Thin Air: Death on Everest’ in 1997. Married to his second wife since 1995, the couple has two children. (NBC)![Polly_Draper_Then_kjoi]()
Films like ‘Ryan’s Hope’ preceded Draper’s role as Ellyn Warren, Hope’s childhood friend who works at city hall. (ABC)![Polly_Draper_Now_kjo]()
The actress has two sons with her second husband, Jazz musician Michael Wolff. Now 54, Draper directs her sons Nat and Alex Wolff in Nickelodeon’s ‘Naked Brothers Band.’ She created the successful kids’ show, and also produces it. Draper made her screenwriting debut with the 2000 film ‘The Tic Code,’ inspired by her husband, who has Tourette’s Syndrome. She also starred in the film. (AP)Then/Now: The Cast of 'thirtysomething'
Everyone's favorite late 80s yuppies are now fiftysomethings. Find out who spawned the Naked Brothers Band, and who was married to Michelle Pfeiffer!
Move Forward
- Then/Now: The Cast of 'thirtysomething'
