Some television friendships continue long after the cameras stop rolling, and Family Ties stars Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter are a perfect example. Decades after playing spouses on one of television’s most beloved sitcoms, the two actors still share a unique bond that fans continue to celebrate.
According to People, this year, Gross marked his 79th birthday with a heartfelt social media post honoring Baxter, who happens to share the exact same birthday. The sweet tribute delighted longtime Family Ties viewers and reminded fans why the cast remains one of television’s closest-knit ensembles.
A birthday connection that began before ‘Family Ties’
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When Michael Gross celebrated his birthday on June 21, he also took time to recognize Meredith Baxter, who was born on the very same day. In his social media post, he joked that while he was born in the Central Time Zone and Baxter in the Pacific Time Zone, fate eventually brought them together 35 years later to play Steven and Elyse Keaton on Family Ties.
The sitcom followed the Keaton family as they balanced everyday life with humorous and heartfelt moments, often centered around the political differences between parents Steven and Elyse and their son Alex, played by Michael J. Fox. Gross and Baxter’s natural chemistry helped make the television couple one of the most beloved sitcom parents of the 1980s.
The cast’s friendship extended beyond the screen
The close relationship among the cast continued long after the series ended. During a 2020 reunion, Gross reflected on how fortunate everyone had been to work together, saying he hadn’t realized until later that many television casts experienced conflicts that Family Ties largely avoided. He credited the group’s genuine friendship for creating the warmth audiences saw on screen.
Baxter also recalled how the cast made a point of welcoming guest stars and helping them feel comfortable on set. Michael Gross agreed, explaining that making newcomers feel included became part of the show’s culture. More than 35 years after Family Ties left the air, the enduring friendship between Gross, Baxter, and their fellow cast members continues to remind fans why the series remains such a cherished television classic.