Who’s Still Alive From ‘One Day at a Time’?
One Day at a Time premiered on December 16, 1975, and ran for nine seasons on CBS, becoming one of the most recognizable sitcoms of its era. The iconic series was set in Indianapolis and followed Ann Romano, a divorced mother raising her two teenage daughters, Julie and Barbara, while balancing work and her personal life.
Created by Whitney Blake and Allan Manings and developed by Norman Lear, the show drew directly on Blake’s own experience as a single mother. The show also stood out because it tackled topics that weren’t always addressed on television at the time, including divorce, financial stress, addiction, and the shifting expectations placed on women during the late ’70s and early ’80s.
As one of its main stars, Valerie Bertinelli turns 66 today. It’s a good time to look back at the cast and find out what they’re up to now, while paying tribute to those we have since lost.
Valerie Bertinelli (66)
Barbara Cooper Royer
Everett Collection; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
Valerie Bertinelli was just 15 when she was cast as Barbara, and she went on to appear in 208 of the show’s 209 episodes. The role earned her two Golden Globe Awards and helped establish her as one of television’s most recognizable young stars during the late ’70s and early ’80s. She went on to star in series like Sydney, Touched by an Angel, and Hot in Cleveland, and later became a familiar face on the Food Network with Valerie’s Home Cooking and Kids Baking Championship, earning two Daytime Emmy Awards for her work.
In recent years, she has appeared as a contributor on The Drew Barrymore Show. She was famously married to the late Eddie Van Halen and has one son, Wolfgang, who followed in his father’s footsteps to pursue a music career.
Mackenzie Phillips (66)
Julie Cooper Horvath
Everett Collection; Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Princess Cruises
Mackenzie Phillips was already a star after appearing in American Graffiti when she was cast as Julie, the outspoken older daughter. She appeared in 123 episodes of One Day at a Time, but serious struggles behind the scenes marked her time on the show. After ongoing issues with drug and alcohol abuse, she was fired in 1980, brought back briefly in 1981, and then let go permanently after relapsing and collapsing on set in 1983. Phillips continued working steadily in television, with roles in So Weird, ER, Without a Trace, Cold Case, and Beverly Hills, 90210. She later returned to the franchise in the Netflix reboot of One Day at a Time, playing counselor Pam Valentine from 2017 to 2020. In 2018, she had a six-episode story arc in Netflix’s Orange is the New Black in which she played murderess Barbara Denning.
In 2016, she began working as a drug rehab counselor, drawing directly from her own experiences with addiction and recovery. She also pays tribute to her acting career and is set to appear at the upcoming May 2026 Hollywood Show in Burbank.
Glenn Scarpelli (59)
Alex Handris
Everett Collection; Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images
Glenn Scarpelli joined One Day at a Time in 1980 as Alex, the son of Ann’s boyfriend Nick, and appeared in 60 episodes through 1983. When he learned his role would be reduced in the ninth season, Scarpelli chose to leave the series rather than continue in a limited capacity. Before and during his time on the show, Scarpelli had already built a résumé that included Broadway roles in Golda alongside Anne Bancroft and Richard III with Al Pacino. He later appeared in series like The Love Boat, Amazing Stories, and MacGyver, and even released a pop album in 1983.
In recent years, he made a brief return to the franchise with a cameo in the 2019 Netflix reboot and married television producer John Ricci Jr. in 2023.
Michael Lembeck (77)
Max Horvath
Everett Collection; Leon Bennett/Getty Images
Michael Lembeck joined One Day at a Time in 1979 as Max, Julie’s boyfriend and eventual husband, and appeared in 49 episodes through the show’s later seasons. Lembeck began his career as an actor in the late 1960s, with roles in series like Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and appearances on shows including The Love Boat. He later transitioned into directing, where he found long-term success behind the camera. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for directing the Friends episode “The One After the Super Bowl” and went on to direct films such as The Santa Clause 2, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause, Tooth Fairy, Connie and Carla, and, more recently, Queen Bees and The J Team.
He has been married to actress Lorna Patterson since 1990, and they have two children.
Boyd Gaines (72)
Mark Royer
Everett Collection; Brian Ach/Getty Images for Acqua di Parma
Boyd Gaines joined One Day at a Time in its later years, appearing in 52 episodes from 1981 to 1984 as Mark, the dental student who eventually marries Barbara. After the series ended, Gaines appeared in projects such as Fame, Porky’s, The Sure Thing, and Heartbreak Ridge, as well as in television roles on Frasier, L.A. Law, and Law & Order.
He became best known for his work on Broadway, where he has won four Tony Awards for performances in The Heidi Chronicles, She Loves Me, Contact, and Gypsy, and became the first actor nominated in all four major Tony acting categories.
Richard Masur (77)
David Kane
Everett Collection; Alison Buck/Getty Images for SAG-AFTRA
Richard Masur appeared in the early seasons of One Day at a Time as David Kane, Ann’s boyfriend, and was part of the main cast from 1975 to 1976 before returning for a guest appearance later in the series. Masur went on to build a long career in both film and television, with roles in The Thing, It, and My Girl, as well as recurring appearances on series like Younger. In addition to acting, he served as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1995 to 1999.
More recently, he has continued working, appearing in series like Kaleidoscope and The Equalizer in 2023.
Ron Rifkin (87)
Nick Handris
Everett Collection; Dominik Bindl/Getty Images
Ron Rifkin appeared on One Day at a Time as Nick Handris, Ann’s boyfriend and Alex’s father, and was a series regular during the sixth season. His character’s storyline took a serious turn when it was revealed that Nick had been killed in an accident caused by a drunk driver, leading to Alex moving in with the family. He is best known for his roles as Arvin Sloane on Alias and Saul Holden on Brothers & Sisters, and he won a Tony Award for his performance in the 1998 Broadway revival of Cabaret. His film credits include L.A. Confidential, Boiler Room, and The Sum of All Fears, and he has continued working steadily, with roles in series such as Gotham, Limitless, and New Amsterdam.
In Memoriam
Everett Collection; Charley Gallay/Getty Images
Bonnie Franklin, who played Ann Romano, died on March 1, 2013, at the age of 69 from pancreatic cancer.
Everett Collection; Valerie Macon/Getty Images
Pat Harrington Jr., who played building superintendent Dwayne F. Schneider, died on January 6, 2016, at the age of 86 from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease following a fall.
Where to Watch One Day at a Time
The original One Day at a Time is available to stream for free with ads on Tubi, and can also be purchased on platforms like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. You can also catch it on Antenna TV.
Remind 
1970s Fall TV
September 2023
Take a trip back to the ’70s by looking at the TV Guide Magazine Fall Preview primetime lineups.
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