5 Things You Never Knew About Morgan Fairchild, Plus: What Is She Doing Now?
Morgan Fairchild, best known for her soapy roles in Dallas and Falcon Crest, has been a glamorous Hollywood staple for decades. Born on February 3, 1950, she celebrates her 75th birthday this year, but she certainly doesn’t look it! Behind the beautiful face, she has brains, too, and an even more interesting hobby than acting.
She recently starred in the TV movie Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas with fellow ’80s icons Loni Anderson, Donna Mills, Nicollette Sheridan and Linda Gray. She is also a recurring character on General Hospital, and occasionally shows up at conventions around the country. In honor of her birthday, let’s learn some fun facts about her life and career.
1 She’s a dinosaur lover
Interestingly enough, if acting hadn’t worked out, Fairchild imagined herself as a paleontologist. As a kid, she was obsessed with dinosaurs — a fascination that stuck with her well into adulthood. You might think that someone with her level of showbiz fame and fortune would have forgotten about paleontology by now, but Fairchild never did. She’s even lectured on the subject at conventions, including ComiKaze in Los Angeles.
2 Her first big break was as a stand-in
Steve Wood/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
It’s hard to imagine Fairchild as anything besides the flawless presence she became known for on Dallas or Flamingo Road, but she didn’t start out in front of the camera. Instead, her first big break came as a stand-in for Faye Dunaway on the set of Bonnie and Clyde (1967). She also worked as Jane Fonda’s stand-in for Barbarella (1968). Perhaps being so close to iconic stars and movies helped her to gain inspiration and experience that she carried over to her own acting career.
3 She blew off SNL
MGM TV/Everett Collection
In 1986, Saturday Night Live was practically the holy grail for actors trying to break through in comedy and television. However, Fairchild decided to walk away from that chance to host the iconic show. Instead of making her mark on live TV, she flew to Israel, where she starred as the queen in Sleeping Beauty.
4 She was almost Miss Teenage Dallas
Lorimar Television/Everett Collection
At the age of 14, she entered the Miss Teenage Dallas competition, which, though she didn’t win, was one of her first public moments in the spotlight. That experience may have been a bit of a letdown at the time, but it helped mold Fairchild into the confident and poised figure she would become.
5 Her name was inspired by a film
Carin Baer/Hallmark Channel/Everett Collection
Born Patsy Ann McClenny in Dallas, Texas, she eventually changed her name to the one you know and love: Morgan Fairchild. Her stage name has an unusual backstory: It is actually inspired by the title character of the 1966 film Morgan!, a quirky comedy that explored the strange life of a man dealing with mental health struggles.
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June 2017
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