Where are These Beloved Sitcom Moms Today?

#15: Meredith Baxter as Elyse Keaton, Family Ties

In the ’80s, Elyse Keaton was the mom every cool kid wished they had. On Family Ties, she balanced her free-spirited past with her role as a working architect and mother of three — including an overachieving young conservative named Alex P. Keaton. She handled family debates with calm, humor, and heart.

Meredith Baxter brought authenticity to Elyse, grounding the show’s comedy in something real. She wasn’t playing a caricature of motherhood — she was portraying a woman juggling ideals, family, and work with grace. Baxter’s Elyse wasn’t flashy; she was steady, smart, and completely believable.