Is ‘Patrick Duffy’ The Star of Dallas Really in Love at 72?

American actor Patrick Duffy is known widely for his excellent characterization of Bobby Ewing in the soap opera Dallas. Once again finding himself in the news, the 72-year-old star has found love again.

Dallas star Patrick Duffy 

Born on March 17, 1949, Patrick Duffy’s name and the primetime CBS soap opera Dallas adjoin together. He played Bobby Ewing in the said drama from 1978 to 1991 (leaving a year in the middle of 1985-86).  He reprised his role again recently from 2012 to 2014. 

Not only that, but he has also played other recognizable roles for which he has received acclaim. The actor has a celebrated career along with spectacular acting skills. He has also become a director and has directed various projects. The actor is also uncle to former Baseball Major League player and pitcher, Barry Zito. 

Early Life 

Born to Marie Duffy and Terence Duffy, Patrick Duffy was born in Townsend, Montana to tavern owners. He attended high school in Washington and participated in drama club when he was in school. He graduated in the year 1971, majoring in drama. 

Undertaking various roles since then, Patrick Duffy has performed actor-in-residence duties, interpreter for opera and orchestra companies when he was in Washington, and has also been a teacher when he taught movement classes and mime.  

Life behind the camera 

His marriage came in 1974 with Carlyn Rosser. Carlyn was Patrick Duffy’s senior of 10 years and was a dancer who performed with First Chamber Dance Company. The couple had two sons Padraic and Conor.  

He and his family are members of the Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai International. Patrick Duffy was introduced to Buddhism by Carlyn, and since then the actor has converted to Buddhism and had also begun chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. 

Patrick Duffy’s wife Carlyn died in the year 2017. After 3 years in the year 2020, it came to light that Patrick Duffy was in a relationship with Linda Purl, the actress of Happy Days. 

Murder of Patrick Duffy’s Parents 

Patrick Duffy’s parents were shot and murdered during an armed robbery of their tavern. They were the tavern owners of the said robbery in Boulder, Montana, and were murdered by Kenneth Miller and Sean Wentz.

Both the convicted murderers were teenagers at the time and were tried and sent to jail for 75 years. The incident occurred on November 18, 1986. 

After 15 years in the year 2001, one of the convicted gunmen Sean Wentz confessed and admitted that he was the only and sole gunman and that Kenneth Miller didn’t shoot. It happened when Kenneth Miller stepped forward and appeared before the parole board of Montana.  

Miller still was denied his parole in 2001 and it wasn’t until 6 years later in the year 2007 that he was pardoned and released on parole. Sean Wentz, the confessed gunman was granted parole in the year 2015, 29 years after his sentenced jail time.  

Re-entering the realm of love 

Patrick Duffy’s marriage with his wife Carlyn Rosser since the year 1974 lasted for 43 years and ended when Carlyn met her demise in the year 2017. It took 3 years for the American Dallas star to again reclaim love with Linda Purl. 

The couple revisited their account of them falling in love in their recent interview on This Morning. 

The Interview and details of their relationship 

Patrick being 72 at the time and Linda Purl 66, both the elderly couple confessed and shed light on their relationship in this interview. Their story begins when they were engaged in a group chat in the year 2020. 

Their ‘modern’ relationship story began on video calls when they both used to FaceTime each other every night. The calls lasted for two to three hours every night on Zoom, and they were hooked to each other. 

This could be blamed on the pandemic when there was social distance involved. That is why Patrick Duffy has titled his romance with Linda as “Covid romance”.  

To shed further light on their romance, Patrick said, “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 became FaceTime and for two and a half months plus we Zoomed every night for two or three hours.” 

The covid romance and their late love 

The couple has labeled their romance as being mature and modest, as it didn’t involve questions like taking each other to their houses or doing formalities when on their first date.  

Linda evidenced this when she told in the interview, “As we were about to do the end meeting, Patrick says, ‘see you tomorrow, love you.’” 

This was followed by uninterrupted conversations the next day and it went on until Patrick Duffy drove for 23 hours to come to Linda’s place. They have “never been apart” since then. 

Linda has since accepted that this was only possible due to the pandemic. It wouldn’t have otherwise been possible to talk for such long periods on a video call and get a start on their relationship. 

Patrick thinks of Linda as “the most beautiful thing in the world”.  He also claims that since his first wife’s demise, he wasn’t exactly looking for love, but as it happened love found him. 

At the time of writing of this article, Linda has taken to her Instagram a day before and has shared a glimpse of the interview with a snapshot of the couple seated on the sofa, opposite hosts Rochelle Humes and Phillip Schofield on This Morning show. 

The road ahead 

The couple is happily and merrily in love and are happy together, as can be seen in the interview and their talks about each other. 

The Dallas star and Happy Days actress are set to appear in Catch Me If You Can, a Broadway thriller and a new production. The said classic and its production is set to start its nationwide tour from next month. There can be no doubt that we can expect to see genuine chemistry there.