America's beloved 70s TV mom who had a secret romance with her on-screen husband was spotted in LA... can you guess who?

She was once celebrated as rural America’s mom, managing a household and raising a gaggle of seven kids in a beloved 1970s sitcom. 

Her first name was meant she was often mistaken for a male, which resulted in her being billed as ‘Miss’ early in her career.  

The actress grabbed three Emmy awards as Lead Actress in a Drama after being nominated six times for her warm and charismatic performance.

Later in her career, she appeared in iconic soap operas including All My Children, One Life to Live, General Hospital and The Young and the Restless.

She also revealed exclusively to DailyMail.com that she had a secret romance with her on-screen husband. 

Can you guess who she is?

She was once celebrated as rural America's mom, managing a household and raising a gaggle of seven kids in a beloved 1970s sitcom

She was once celebrated as rural America’s mom, managing a household and raising a gaggle of seven kids in a beloved 1970s sitcom

Her first name was meant she was often mistaken for a male, which resulted in her being billed as 'Miss' early in her career

Her first name was meant she was often mistaken for a male, which resulted in her being billed as ‘Miss’ early in her career 

The actress grabbed three Emmy awards as Lead Actress in a Drama after being nominated six times for her warm and charismatic performance

The actress grabbed three Emmy awards as Lead Actress in a Drama after being nominated six times for her warm and charismatic performance

It’s Michael Learned! 

Now 85 years old, Learned was spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles with her fourth husband, John Doherty, who she married in 1991.

The actress got out of her gray sedan carrying a valet ticket and canned seltzer.

Learned smiled as she talked to a doorman while another valet approached the car to move it to another location. 

She wore comfortable and casual clothing, including gray joggers, a navy blue speckled shirt, blue slide-on sneakers, a light gray canvas coat, a stylish black purse with gold hardware, and matching dainty gold jewelry.

Her husband Doherty wore glasses with black frames, a green cardigan and a khaki brown shirt.

Michael Learned, 85, was spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles with her fourth husband, John Doherty, who she married in 1991

Michael Learned, 85, was spotted on a rare outing in Los Angeles with her fourth husband, John Doherty, who she married in 1991

Learned got out of her gray sedan carrying a valet ticket and canned seltzer

Michael Learned

Learned got out of her gray sedan carrying a valet ticket and canned seltzer 

Learned smiled as she talked to a doorman while another valet approached the car to move it to another location

Learned smiled as she talked to a doorman while another valet approached the car to move it to another location

Learned hit it big with the role of Olivia Walton in the television drama The Waltons, transitioning away from the Broadway stage

Learned hit it big with the role of Olivia Walton in the television drama The Waltons, transitioning away from the Broadway stage

Learned has achieved her happily ever after with husband Doherty, a California-based lawyer.

But she had to strike out three times to achieve it. 

She first tied the knot with Canadian-American actor Peter Donat – who passed away in 2018 – when she was only 17 years old and he was 28. 

They both performed in various capacities at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California, and had three sons together. However, their marriage ended after 16 years.

Her second marriage to Glenn Chadwick, a stagehand, in 1974 lasted only two years before she married actor and screenwriter William Parker, her third husband. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1989.

But it was her first split from Donat that would define her acting career. 

Learned achieved her happily ever after with husband Doherty, a California-based lawyer

Learned achieved her happily ever after with husband Doherty, a California-based lawyer

She first tied the knot with Canadian-American actor Peter Donat ¿ who passed away in 2018 ¿ when she was only 17 years old and he was 28

She first tied the knot with Canadian-American actor Peter Donat – who passed away in 2018 – when she was only 17 years old and he was 28 

Learned with her second husband Glenn Chadwick, a stagehand, at the Golden Globe Awards in 1974, the year they married

Learned with her second husband Glenn Chadwick, a stagehand, at the Golden Globe Awards in 1974, the year they married

Learned wed third husband, actor and screenwriter William Parker, in 1979

Learned wed third husband, actor and screenwriter William Parker, in 1979

Since the pair had acted together at the San Francisco theater, Learned told the Archive of American Television that she had a feeling she wouldn’t be welcomed back after her divorce. 

Making the trip down to Los Angeles in search of work with only a few items to her name and a severe alcohol addiction, she was told about an opportunity to be in the television drama, The Waltons – a show that features an Appalachian family navigating the Great Depression.  

Initially, she had no interest in the show, wanting to stay on stage instead. She even showed up to the screen test hungover. 

But as soon as the scene began with her future castmates, Richard Thomas and Ralph Waite, she quickly found her rhythm and let her acting chops take over. 

Convinced she hadn’t gotten the part, Learned said she put the audition in the back of her mind. But four days later she got the call – she was going to be the mother of America. 

And Learned’s screen presence as the matriarch earned her three Emmys as Lead Actress in a Drama after being nominated six times.

Initially, Learned had no interest in The Waltons. She even showed up to the screen test hungover

Initially, Learned had no interest in , wanting to stay on stage instead. She even showed up to the screen test hungover. But she soon found her rhythm with on-screen husband Ralph Waites and Richard Thomas as John Boy

Learned's screen presence as the matriarch earned her three Emmy awards as Lead Actress in a Drama after being nominated six times

Learned’s screen presence as the matriarch earned her three Emmy awards as Lead Actress in a Drama after being nominated six times

Learned told DailyMail.com on the fifth anniversary of her on-screen husband Ralph Waite's death, that the duo 'were in love' off-screen and even went on a date

Learned told DailyMail.com on the fifth anniversary of her on-screen husband Ralph Waite’s death, that the duo ‘were in love’ off-screen and even went on a date

Learned referred to Waite as her 'spiritual husband' and said he saved her from a life of heavy drinking during the early seasons of The Walt

Learned referred to Waite as her ‘spiritual husband’ and said he saved her from a life of heavy drinking during the early seasons of The Walt

Learned told Dailymail.com, on the fifth anniversary of her on-screen husband Ralph Waite’s death, that the duo ‘were in love’ off-screen and even went on a date. 

But the pragmatic pair decided during their first intimate meeting that they probably shouldn’t pursue a romance as it could ruin the famous show and ‘get messy’.

Instead, Learned said their instant chemistry turned into a lifelong friendship and Waite became her ‘spiritual husband.’

She also revealed how Waite ‘saved her life’ as her heavy drinking – mainly bourbon and wine – ran out of control during the early years of the CBS series.

The actress stayed on the show for seven seasons, reappearing for season eight briefly under the guise of her character developing tuberculosis and entering a sanatorium in Arizona.

But she returned for four out of the six sequel movies after the show ended. 

The actress also was nominated for two Emmys, winning one, for her role as Nurse Mary Benjamin in the critically acclaimed drama series Nurse

The actress also was nominated for two Emmys, winning one, for her role as Nurse Mary Benjamin in the critically acclaimed drama series Nurse

Learned was born in Washington D.C. and raised on a farm in Connecticut for the first ten years of her life. She was the eldest of six sisters

Learned was born in Washington D.C. and raised on a farm in Connecticut for the first ten years of her life. She was the eldest of six sisters

During the 80s, she appeared in the films Touched by Love, Power and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. 

She kept up with her fledging television career and was nominated for two Emmys, winning one, for her role as Nurse Mary Benjamin in the critically acclaimed drama series Nurse, which ran from 1981 to 1982.

As the decades passed, the actress transitioned to soaps and appeared in All My Children and One Life to Live as Judge Turner, General Hospital as Shirley Smith and The Young and the Restless as matriarch Katherine Chancellor.

Recently, Learned returned to television in a streaming service format to star as the infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer’s grandmother in the Netflix series Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.

Learned was born in Washington D.C. and raised on a farm in Connecticut for the first ten years of her life. She was the eldest of six sisters.

She comes from a family of diplomats as her father Bruce worked for the State Department and her maternal grandfather worked in embassies.

You May Also Like
2025 NYC mayor election live results: Andrew Cuomo concedes Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani

Live Updates: Zohran Mamdani wins Democratic primary for NYC mayor in 2025, Andrew Cuomo concedes

New York’s former Governor Andrew Cuomo admitted defeat in the Democratic primary…
Alleged Tren de Aragua boss added to FBI’s most wanted, sanctioned by Treasury: 'No border will shield him'

“Tren de Aragua leader supposedly on FBI’s top wanted list, facing Treasury sanctions: Nowhere to hide”

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! An individual identified as…
Secrets of the Bezos wedding exposed: Outrageous dinner plans. Who's in and who's out. The dress designer. And the REAL cost. Insiders spill every jaw-dropping detail to ALISON BOSHOFF

Insider Details Revealed: Bezos Wedding Secrets Unveiled! Shocking Dinner Plans, Guest List, Dress Designer, and True Expenses Exposed by Informants to ALISON BOSHOFF

There is very little that disrupts the tranquility of the little-known island…
Suburban Chicago club is popular multi-cultural venue

Well-known Multicultural Venue in Suburban Chicago

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Naperville, a western suburb of Chicago, is now the…
Glamorous TV anchor facing years in prison over shocking Covid lies learns her fate

TV Anchor Convicted for Spreading False COVID Information Faces Prison Sentence

A glamorous TV news anchor facing years in prison over shocking Covid…
Joe Rogan gives decisive take on MAGA civil war as Iran bombing continues to tear Trump's base apart

Joe Rogan shares clear view on MAGA conflict as Iran attacks keep dividing Trump’s supporters

Joe Rogan backed Republican Thomas Massie after the renegade congressman came out against President…
NATO leaders, including President Donald Trump, gather for historic summit with unity on the line

NATO leaders, including President Donald Trump, come together for crucial summit with unity at stake

A historic two-day summit of NATO leaders commenced in the Netherlands on…
Purple Heart Army veteran self-deports from Hawaii

Purple Heart Army veteran voluntarily leaves Hawaii

HONOLULU (KABC) — Sae Joon Park, who had resided in the U.S.…
Yikes! Jasmine Crockett Gives Harris Competition After Incomprehensible Word Salad Response on Iran

Jasmine Crockett Competes with Harris in Response to Confusing Statement on Iran

During a House Oversight Committee hearing focused on securing cuts to the…
FedEx founder Fred Smith, a Marine Corps veteran who revolutionized package delivery, dies at 80, company says

Fred Smith, FedEx Founder and Innovator of Package Delivery, Passes Away at 80, Confirms Company

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred Smith, the FedEx Corp. founder who revolutionized the…
Outrage as federal judge orders release of 'Maryland man' migrant accused of shocking criminal past

Anger Sparked by Federal Judge’s Decision to Release Migrant Accused of Alarming Criminal History in Maryland

Outrage was ignited when a Tennessee judge decided to release Kilmar Abrego…
Hiker disappears from ‘Edge of the World’ campground on trip with father

Hiker goes missing from ‘Edge of the World’ campsite while hiking with dad

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Arizona authorities made a…