Richard Dean Anderson Turns 73: 'MacGyver' star left all his playboy days behind to raise daughter
MALIBU, CALIFORNIA: Hollywood veteran Richard Dean Anderson turned 73 on Monday, January 23. The acclaimed thespian, who once dominated headlines for his portrayal of Angus "Mac" MacGyver in ABC’s ‘MacGyver’, has been enjoying an ordinary life on his farm in Malibu since quitting the show for his only daughter, who brought a new meaning to his life.
The 1980’s heartthrob landed his first acting gig in 1976 when he played Jeff Webber in the renowned American TV series, ‘General Hospital.’ The star watched his career take off to new heights after appearing in the TV original ‘MacGyver’ as the main character from 1985-1992. He then went on to pursue roles in movies and starred in blockbusters including 'Through the Eyes of a Killer', 'Pandora's Clock', and 'Beyond Betrayal'. But Anderson ditched all his vices and started a new life after he welcomed his only daughter Wylie Quinn Annarose. The star welcomed Wylie in 1998 with his ex-lover Apryl Prose.
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How Richard Dean Anderson met his daughter’s mother Apryl Prose
Once described as the "Hollywood's busiest bachelor”, Anderson famously dated a number of beauties including Katarina Witt, Sela Ward, Marlee Matlin, Lara Flynn Boyle, and Teri Hatcher. But his heart stopped at Apryl Prose. The actor first met Prose in the spring of 1996 when they went out together for lunch in New York. The meeting was set up by Prose's friend Michael Greenburg, who was also Richard's business partner. The duo felt the spark and became good friends by the end of the week. Prose, a former prop and wardrobe stylist for Los Angeles' television and print adverts, found the star sweet and generous but continued to have her doubts about him as she believed he would always want to be a playboy.
A few days after their meeting, Prose called her mother and told her about the man she wanted to grow with. As per Amomoma, the fashion stylist urged her mother to not tell anyone about their relationship because the star had a ‘bad reputation’ at that time. Talking about their spark, Anderson once revealed that he found Prose "extremely beautiful" and "adored" her sense of humor when he first met her.
Within one year of their relationship, Prose got pregnant with their first daughter. The stylist once told People that she thought Anderson will freak out after learning about the pregnancy but he left shocked her and said it would be great, as he'd always wanted to be a father. Prose also revealed that Anderson started crying when she told him about their baby. The couple welcomed Wylie on August 2, 1998, when Richard was 48.
According to Amomoma, the ‘Children God’s star once described Wylie’s birth as "the most overwhelming experience" of his whole life. “The star [Richard Dean Anderson] noted how the moment was one that he'd cherish and declared the day as one that he took pride in,” his website says.
Richard Dean Anderson left his vice for his loving daughter
The birth of Wylie undoubtedly turned Richard’s life upside down. The actor, who was known as the playboy of the industry, surprisingly turned into a doting father, who loved to nurse, feed, and adore his daughter. But his happiness didn’t last long as his relationship with Prose came to a sad end in 2003. Moving on from the heartbreak, Richard decided to take custody of his daughter and retired from his marvelous acting career.
Anderson started living a quiet and ordinary life on a farm with his two dogs and his daughter, whom he took to school in the morning and picked up later. He has been away from the spotlight for a long time now but he never let's go of a chance to show off his daughter’s cherishing achievements. In June 2012, Anderson shared another proud moment when he shared a picture of Wylie on Twitter and revealed she has graduated from middle school. Most recently, he shared a lovely Facebook picture of him and his daughter posing together.