'Family Ties': What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series

"Family Ties" was a well-loved sitcom that aired from 1982 to 1989 for seven seasons. After the show, its stars went in a myriad of different directions, from being jailed and changing sexual orientation after three marriages to almost ruining their life. Despite this, some went on to have successful show business careers.

The American sitcom "Family Ties" revolved around the lives of ex-hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton and their children Alex, Mallory, Jennifer, and Andrew as they navigate their lives in a traditional suburban family despite opposing personalities.

Like many other successful sitcoms, "Family Ties" was pivotal in the careers of its cast. It launched some of its actors to greater heights while causing others to quit the industry and even go on a downward spiral. More than 30 years since the show went off the air, here's what's happened in the lives of its stars:

1. Justine Bateman as Mallory Keaton

Justine Bateman acted on several projects after the end of "Family Ties." However, she also ventured into directing and writing. She decided to pursue a degree in Digital Marketing Management and Computer Science at the University of California Los Angeles when she was in her 40s.

Bateman directed her first feature film, "Violet," in 2021 and published a book about growing up famous, which was labeled by others as "shockingly frank."

Bateman has been slammed for looking old but quickly responded to fans who didn't think she looked good. The actress, who was only in her early 40s when she was criticized, said she looked at the pictures that accompanied the criticisms and couldn't see what people were talking about.

Bateman felt that her face represented who she was, and she said she didn't care what people were saying about her because she felt beautiful in her skin.

2. Michael Gross as Steven Keaton

Michael Gross, who continued acting after his role on "Family Ties," is an avid model train enthusiast. Fans may also recognize him for the roles he played in the hit shows "Law & Order," "How I Met Your Mother," and "The Young and the Restless."

Gross also has a wife he often calls his "girlfriend" on his social media pages. However, her Instagram page confirms that she is, in fact, married to the actor. The actor often posts photos of the couple together on his social media accounts.

3. Meredith Baxter as Elyse Keaton

After "Family Ties" ended, Meredith Baxter had a lot going on in her life and career. She starred in 13 TV movies and a big-screen film in the 1990s and had three marriages and five children before finally coming out as a lesbian and dating a younger partner.

In more recent years, Baxter wrote a memoir referencing her time on the sitcom, titled "Untied: A Memoir of Family, Fame, and Floundering." Another significant event in her life was marrying her longtime partner, Nancy Lock, in an intimate celebration in 2013.

4. Michael J. Fox as Alex P. Keaton

Michael J. Fox doesn't just credit "Family Ties" for putting him in the spotlight but for bringing him romance. He began dating Tracy Pollan, who played the role of Ellen Reed in the sitcom, and they became lifelong lovers after meeting on set.

In 1998, Fox revealed to his fans that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Because of the diagnosis, he poured much of his time and effort into the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support Parkinson's disease research and education.

Thanks to his dedication, Fox was recently honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2022 Oscar Awards. He remains devoted and happily married to Pollan, and together they share four children.

5. Tina Yothers as Jennifer Keaton

After "Family Ties," Tina Yothers decided to shift her focus to music. She formed a band with her brother Cory called "Jaded," and it kept her busy in the late 1990s.

In 2008, fans got a glimpse of Yothers again when she joined season 6 of "Celebrity Fit Club." She joined the show in hopes of losing weight after giving birth to her children, Lillian Grace and Robert Jake, in 2005 and 2007, respectively.

It would be four years until fans would see her again when she and her husband, Robert Kaiser, featured in an episode of the reality series, "Celebrity Wife Swap."

6. Tracy Pollan as Ellen Reed

Tracy Pollan is a mom to four kids with Michael J. Fox, whom they welcomed after tying the knot in July 1988. They are proud parents to Sam, Esmé, and twins Aquinna and Schuyler, who celebrated their 28th birthday in February 2023.

7. Scott Valentine as Nick Moore

Scott Valentine left the entertainment industry to focus on his business. He is the managing director of Exelcior Capital Partners, a boutique investment firm focusing on renewable and sustainable energy.

8. Brian Bonsall as Andy Keaton

Brian Bonsall struggled greatly after "Family Ties." He was arrested multiple times in Colorado, constantly on assault charges and one drunk driving charge.

However, the actor managed to turn his life around when he married his girlfriend Courtney in 2017. They welcomed their first child, Oliver, in 2019, and his son ultimately changed the way the troubled child star lived. The young boy is the actor's spitting image.

9. Marc Price as Irwin "Skippy" Handelman

Marc Price chose to pursue a career behind the camera after "Family Ties," focusing greatly on being a writer and producer for several TV shows. When he's not busy writing, he's also a stand-up comedian.

10. Courteney Cox as Lauren Miller

Courteney Cox went on to become one of the most successful actors in the "Family Ties" cast, with an estimated net worth of $150 million, thanks to her cult-favorite "Friends" TV series. Despite being a multi-millionaire, she is a proud homemaker who loves to cook for her family and friends whenever given the chance.

11. Geena Davis as Karen Nicholson

Geena Davis played the goofy housekeeper on "Family Ties." She continued acting for years until 2004, when she decided to put up the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, which aims to create more roles for women in Hollywood.

Although Davis now has three children, she once admitted that she was "really grateful" she didn't become a mother until she was in her forties. The actress knew if she had children later, she would be able to be more involved in their lives, which is exactly how it turned out for her.

12. Tom Hanks as Ned Donnelly

Tom Hanks, who played Elyse Keaton's younger brother in the first two seasons, went on to star in over 80 feature films during his four decades in Hollywood. Despite this, the A-list actor has no plans of retiring from the industry anytime soon.

Hanks has been married to his wife, Rita Wilson, for over 34 years, and they share four kids: Colin, Truman, Chet, and Elizabeth Ann. They are also proud grandparents to a biracial granddaughter named Machaiah.

Fans of "Family Ties" have closely been monitoring their favorite stars through the years. With social media easily accessible nowadays, they can stay updated with their favorite actors' lives thanks to the posts they openly share with the public every so often.