Richard Dean Anderson ditched all his vices after he welcomed his only daughter Wylie Quinn Annarose with his ex-lover Apryl Prose in 1998
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.
FAQs
After MacGyver ended, Anderson stated "MacGyver was seven years of being in virtually every frame that was shot and having absolutely no life at all." During the run of the program, Anderson suffered a number of injuries related to doing his own stunt work, some of which required surgery.
Is Richard Dean Anderson's daughter an actress? ›
What happened to actor Richard Dean Anderson? ›
After the end of his long - running series , Stargate SG-1 , in 2007 , Anderson took a step back from acting and instead pursued his passion for environmental and humanitarian causes . He has also been busy with his family and spending time at his ranch in Malibu , California .
Why did Richard Anderson leave Stargate? ›
Why did Richard Dean Anderson/Jack O'Neill leave the show? Anderson left the show after Season 8 wrapped to spend more time with his daughter, and O'Neill left the SGC after he was promoted the rank of Major General, and (presumably) to head "Homeworld Security" department.
Did Richard Dean Anderson ever marry? ›
Never married, he had dated many women including such actresses as Teri Hatcher, Lara Flynn Boyle, and Sela Ward as well as German ice-skater Katarina Witt. Since 1996, his partner has been Apryl A. Prose, mother of his only child, Wylie Quinn Annarose Anderson (born August 2, 1998).
What languages does MacGyver speak? ›
Did you know. MacGyver speaks at least six other languages in addition to English: French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin.
When did the original MacGyver end? ›
MacGyver (1985–1992 original series, 1994 specials)
Where does Richard Dean Anderson live now? ›
Who played the first MacGyver? ›
The original MacGyver (1985) and Stargate SG-1 (1997) star was born on January 23, 1950, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father, Stuart Anderson, was a teacher at a local high school and his mother, Jocelyn, was an artist who was talented in both sculpting and painting.
Is MacGyver based on a real person? ›
First of all, the the fact that MacGyver was a fictional television character, which therefore clearly gives great irony to the title of this blog post, is not lost on me.
In seasons 1 and 2, MacGyver was portrayed living in a waterfront apartment in Venice Beach. In season 3, he moved onto a houseboat at an unspecified location, though implied still to be in Los Angeles (the actual shooting took place at Coal Harbour, near downtown Vancouver).
Is Richard Dean Anderson related to John Anderson? ›
Shares last name with Richard Dean Anderson, and played the grandfather of MacGyver (1985). Despite this, there is no relation. He guest starred in episodes of 3 different TV westerns as the former commander of a Civil War prison camp who was now trying to hide under an assumed name to escape his past.
Why did Stargate end? ›
Viewership continued to decline, and the Stargate SG: 1 was becoming increasingly costly. Ultimately, in August 2007 the Syfy Channel confirmed it was pulling the plug.
When did Richard Dean Anderson retire from acting? ›
However, Anderson officially retired from acting in 2013.
Why did Stargate Atlantis end so abruptly? ›
The show's co-creator Brad Wright explained that the decision to cancel Stargate Atlantis when there was still a lot of interest in the show was to ensure the success of the movies. More movies were expected to follow in the Atlantis series if the first movie was to be successful.
Why did Patty leave MacGyver? ›
It appears the main reason Sandrine Holt departed MacGyver was for a leading role in ABC series The Crossing, which began filming a couple of months after Thorton's final appearance in 2017 episode "Screwdriver." While the behind-the-scenes shuffles on MacGyver may have played a role in Holt's exit, it's also possible ...
Why did MacGyver quit Phoenix? ›
At the end of season two, he learns that his absent father, James MacGyver, is Oversight—the man who oversees the Phoenix Foundation. Mac then leaves the Phoenix because of his lack of trust in its leadership. He eventually returns after realizing how much they need his skill set.
Why did MacGyver's dad leave? ›
His wife Ellen (Scottie Thompson) died when MacGyver was 5. James didn't deal well with her death; becoming emotionally distant to his son due to constantly feeling angry. He eventually left when MacGyver was 10, leaving him in the care of Harry.
Did Richard Dean Anderson do all his own stunts in MacGyver? ›
Anderson used to do all of his own stunts but not any more. “I won't be jumping off of buildings again,” he said laughing.