Renowned American actor Patrick Duffy is widely recognized for his exceptional portrayal of Bobby Ewing in the soap opera Dallas. Once again making headlines, the 72-year-old actor has discovered love once more.
Dallas leading man Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy, born on March 17, 1949, is intricately linked with the primetime CBS soap opera Dallas. He portrayed the character of Bobby Ewing in the aforementioned drama from 1978 to 1991 (with a one-year hiatus in 1985-86). He reprised his role recently from 2012 to 2014.
Furthermore, he has also taken on other notable roles for which he has garnered acclaim. The actor has had an illustrious career showcasing remarkable acting prowess. Additionally, he has delved into directing and has helmed various projects. He also happens to be the uncle of former Major League Baseball player and pitcher, Barry Zito.
Early Years
Patrick Duffy, born to Marie Duffy and Terence Duffy, entered the world in Townsend, Montana, to parents who owned a tavern. He attended high school in Washington and actively participated in the drama club during his school years. He graduated in 1971 with a major in drama.
Over the years, Patrick Duffy has undertaken a myriad of roles, serving as an actor-in-residence, interpreter for opera and orchestra companies while in Washington, and even as a teacher, instructing movement classes and mime.
Beyond the Camera
In 1974, he tied the knot with Carlyn Rosser, who was ten years his senior and a dancer associated with the First Chamber Dance Company. The couple was blessed with two sons, Padraic and Conor.
He and his family are followers of the Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai International. It was through Carlyn’s introduction that Patrick Duffy was introduced to Buddhism, and he subsequently embraced the faith, also embarking on chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo.
Tragically, Patrick Duffy’s wife Carlyn passed away in 2017. Three years later, in 2020, it was revealed that Patrick Duffy had found love again with Linda Purl, the actress from Happy Days.
Murder of Patrick Duffy’s Parents
Patrick Duffy’s parents owned a tavern and were shot and killed during a robbery in Boulder, Montana. The perpetrators of this crime were Kenneth Miller and Sean Wentz.
At the time of the incident in November 1986, both convicted murderers were teenagers and were subsequently tried and sentenced to 75 years in prison. It wasn’t until 2001, after 15 years, that Sean Wentz confessed to being the sole gunman and recanted his earlier statement. This revelation came to light when Kenneth Miller stepped forward during a parole board hearing in Montana.
In 2001, Miller’s parole was denied, and it wasn’t until 2007, six years later, that he was granted parole. Similarly, Sean Wentz, the confessed gunman, was paroled in 2015, 29 years after being sentenced.
A Return to Love
Patrick Duffy was married to Carlyn Rosser for 43 years until her passing in 2017. It took him three years to find love again with Linda Purl, marking a new chapter in his life.
Their account of rekindling their romance was recounted in a recent interview on This Morning.
The Interview and Insights into their Relationship
At 72 and 66 years old respectively, Patrick and Linda spoke candidly about their relationship in this interview. Their journey began when they became acquainted in a group chat in 2020.
Their ‘modern’ love story unfolded through video calls, engaging in nightly FaceTime sessions that lasted two to three hours on Zoom, creating a deep bond.
Attributed to the challenges imposed by the pandemic, Patrick Duffy humorously dubbed their love story a “Covid romance”.
Expanding on their connection, Patrick stated, “We didn’t sit in the same room for almost four months, but we spoke to each other every day. We kept texting, and texting turned into FaceTime, and for over two and a half months, we Zoomed every night for two or three hours.”
The Pandemic Romance and Late-in-Life Love
The couple characterized their romance as mature and unassuming, devoid of formalities typically associated with first dates or introductions to each other’s homes.
Linda recounted, “As we were about to end the call, Patrick said, ‘see you tomorrow, love you.'”
This marked the beginning of uninterrupted conversations, which culminated in Patrick driving 23 hours to reach Linda’s place. Since then, they have been inseparable.
Linda acknowledged that this level of connection was made possible due to the pandemic, highlighting how extensive video calls laid a strong foundation for their relationship.
Patrick regards Linda as “the most beautiful thing in the world” and acknowledges that he wasn’t actively seeking love after his first wife’s passing, but rather, love found its way to him.
As of the writing of this article, Linda shared a snippet of the interview on her Instagram the day before, featuring the couple seated opposite hosts Rochelle Humes and Phillip Schofield on the This Morning show.
The Path Forward
The couple is joyously and affectionately in love, evident from their interview and mutual adoration for each other.
The Dallas star and Happy Days actress are poised to star in “Catch Me If You Can,” a Broadway thriller and new production. The classic play and its touring production are scheduled to commence nationwide next month. Undoubtedly, their portrayal promises genuine chemistry on stage.
