5 Things You Never Knew About ‘Virgin River’s Annette O’Toole
Newer audiences may know her as Tim Matheson’s wife Hope in Virgin River, but Annette O’Toole has had a long and successful career. You may recognize her from roles such as Lana Lang in Superman III, Martha Kent in Smallville or Lisa Bridges in Nash Bridges, but she has also dabbled in dancing and singing careers. Here are some interesting things you may not know about the multi-talented star, including who her famous husband is:
1Her first love was dance
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Before O’Toole ever stepped in front of a camera, she was already shining as a dancer. Born in Houston, Texas, she began taking dance lessons at the age of three. By the time her family moved to Los Angeles when she was a teenager, she had honed her craft and was ready to pursue acting. “The week I turned 18, I had been cast in the Broadway show Promises, Promises, which is based on The Apartment, the Billy Wilder movie,” she shared about her dancing skills and why she decided to turn to acting instead. “It was coming to L.A. In the meantime, I got a Gunsmoke job. I had to decide what I was going to do. I decided to do Gunsmoke because I figured I could always go back to dancing. But then I started working like crazy.”
2She’s married to a Spinal Tap star
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O’Toole married This is Spinal Tap star Michael McKean on March 20, 1999. They had known each other in the 1970s but reconnected and sparked a connection when they worked together on the 1998 film Final Justice. Their first date was at a benefit concert featuring performances by Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison. O’Toole recalled emotionally, “I would have married him that day.” This year, they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and said they are more in love than ever!
3She’s a talented singer and songwriter
While many fans know her for her acting, O’Toole is also a gifted musician. Along with McKean, she co-wrote the Oscar-nominated song “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” for the 2003 mockumentary A Mighty Wind. She gushed about the joy of writing music with her husband, sharing how the collaboration brought them even closer together. When discussing their marriage, she said they often play music together around the house, and it keeps their marriage fresh and fun.
4Annette has played opposite Superman twice
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O’Toole holds a unique connection to the Superman universe. In the early ’80s, she played Lana Lang, Clark Kent’s high school crush, in Superman III alongside Christopher Reeve. Years later, she returned to the world of Superman in a completely new role: Martha Kent, Clark’s adoptive mother, in the hit television series Smallville. This fun twist made her a beloved figure among both longtime Superman fans and a new generation of viewers.
5She used another talent to help raise funds for charity
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O’Toole is also talented at knitting and has made blankets to raise money for the Maryland chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, as well as participated in a project with other celebrity knitters to raise funds for those affected by the 9/11 tragedy.
Have you been watching Virgin River? What is your favorite role of O’Toole’s?
Hollywoods Golden Couples
February 2022
Gaze back at the classic romances of old Hollywood, both onscreen and off.
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