Whatever Happened to Sarah Purcell from TV’s ‘Real People’?

How about we talk a little bit about Sarah Purcell today? Those of you who grew up during the late seventies and early eighties will likely remember her as the former co-host of the popular television show Real People, which aired from 1979 to 1984 on NBC. Today, she’s left the entertainment industry behind to focus on her family and philanthropy.

What was Real People?

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Real People was a pioneer in reality television and featured real people (hence the title) sharing their stories, talents, and unique experiences. Sarah was known for her warm personality, quick wit, and impeccable fashion sense — and TV viewers gobbled it up. The program was a huge success, attracting millions of viewers each week and winning several awards, including a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series.

Writing for his Unremembered blog, author Ken Zurski said this about the program, “It was a hit, many agreed, because it served as an alternative to the other top-rated shows at the time or cheesecake programs (like The Love Boat and Three’s Company).”

Real People paved the way for other reality shows, like That’s Incredible! and even America’s Funniest Home Videos. I think it’s fair to say that its legacy can still be felt in today’s reality TV landscape. Sarah, along with the show’s other hosts, Skip Stevenson, John Barber, Byron Allen, and Bill Rafferty became household names. Their warm and engaging personalities helped make Real People a truly beloved television show.

Wait. Did I mention that the legendary Fred Willard was on Real People as well? I didn’t. Well, now I have. Fred was truly one of the all-time comedic greats.

How did Sarah Purcell get her start?

Even before Real People, Sarah had been a fixture on television. She had been a co-host on the morning talk show, AM Los Angeles, with none other than Mr. Regis Philbin himself. Sarah has some amazing stories about Regis, a favorite of mine being a phone call that she received from him when she originally turned down that gig because she thought she wasn’t being offered enough. Regis told her, “Don’t be dumb. This is just the beginning,” and then hung up. She immediately called the producers right back and took their offer, and the rest is history. The role of morning talk show host is something that she would return to years later while co-hosting ABC TV’s Home with Gary Collins during the early nineties.

After that, she was on the weekday game show The Better Sex, which she co-hosted with Bill Anderson. I thought it was a fun show, but it didn’t last long, which gave Sarah the opportunity to guest star on a couple of my favorite TV shows from the late seventies, Charlie’s Angels and Wonder Woman.

NBC/Courtesy: Everett Collection

I mentioned earlier that even before Real People, Sarah had guest-starred on a handful of TV shows. She really did aspire to be an actress. And to that end, Sarah appeared in the 1981 television movie, Terror Among Us, with Ted Shackelford and Don Meredith. And a couple of years later, Sarah would star in Emergency Room alongside actor Gary Frank. Of the two TV movies that Sarah was in, the latter is clearly the better of the two and the one you should watch.

When did Sarah Purcell leave the entertainment industry?

By the mid-nineties, it feels like Sarah made a conscious decision to step away from actively participating in the entertainment industry.

By that time, Sarah and her then-husband, Dr. Sandy McClintock, had started a family, and they were raising a couple of boys, and I think we all know that that can be pretty much a full-time job. Sarah also acted as a stepparent to a couple more kiddos with her third husband, Chip Schultz.

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She is also extremely passionate about volunteer opportunities and, in particular, one organization that is near and dear to my heart as well. Sarah is extremely active with Big Brothers Big Sisters, an organization that creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships with boys and girls who might not always have that kind of support.

A few years back, during a red-carpet interview, Sarah talked about the importance of organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters. You can watch the full interview here.

So, while Sarah may have left the entertainment industry behind, it’s also clear that she continues to inspire others with her creativity and passion. She has also remained a beloved figure in the hearts of many Real People fans like me, who fondly remember her for her infectious energy and warm smile.