Actress Donna Mills is one of those women who are gifted with exceptional beauty. No matter how many years pass by, they still look as gorgeous as ever.
Her looks, along with her talent, helped Mills become a household name. From the moment she landed a role on the CBS daytime soap opera The Secret Storm in 1966, it was obvious she was meant for great things. As all eyes were on her, her career skyrocketed with the iconic role of scheming, manipulative vixen Abby Cunningham on the long-running primetime soap opera Knots Landing and a major recurring guest-starring role in the popular soap opera General Hospital.
At the same time as her career blossomed, Mills was also trying to find love. Eventually, she started a relationship with guitarist Richard Holland, the ex-husband of singer Chaka Khan with whom he had a son, Damian. Many believed that Mills and Holland made a somewhat odd couple as their personalities were very different. She perceived herself as an active and motivated go-getter, while Holland rarely found motivation to do things. Those close to him always described him as laid back.
The public even believed that he was with her for her money and the comfort she provided for him. Shortly after they started a relationship, Holland settled with Mills in her $1.5 million mansion where she prepared a room for his son who visited them and sometimes stayed with them over the weekends.
The two stayed together and she always considered their relationship “turbulent.” During the 20 years they were going on and off, they never started a family or had a child on their own.
Mills was way too busy building her career and never felt like something was missing in her life, until she reached 54 and decided she wanted to become a mother. Many criticized her decision, saying it was late for her to embark on such a journey as parenthood, but Mills was determined to have a child. In 1994, at the height of her acting career, Mills adopted daughter Chloe, who was just four days old.
The role of a mother was so fitting to Mills that she made a shocking decision to put her career on hold and focus on raising her baby girl.
Even today, 28 years after Chloe entered her life, their mother-daughter bond is as strong as ever.
Chloe is a celebrity in her own right. She is an influencer and a model, as well as a member of the popular California-based arts, politics and media club Soho House. She’s dating musician Bailey Joshua.
Just like her daughter, Mills found love herself. Although her relationship with Holland was an unstable one, the Knots Landing star never lost hope of falling in love again. For the last 20 years, she’s been together with another Hollywood star, actor and producer Larry Gilman, whom she describes as her soul mate.
He is best known for his roles in the television series Texas Rangers between 1980 to 1981, the feature film Secrets, and the popular CBS war comedy-drama television series, M*A*S*H.
In 2015, he surprised her with a vineyard.
Recently, Mills posed alongside two other stars of her kind, Linda Gray and Joan Collins. The three 80s lead women appeared radiant and glowing, leaving their fans in awe.
It’s safe to say that the three actresses defy age.
The trio had come together for a magazine shoot, as was evident from Mills’ caption, which read:
“What a delight working with these lovely ladies. Thank you Hello Magazine @hellomag for a terrific story in your latest issue.”
Mills was dressed in a sparkling pink outfit, while Collins stunned in a gorgeous black dress and Gray opted for a shimmery gray and silver attire.
As expected, the post attracted the attention of many who dubbed the three ladies “icons,” “soap queens,” and “legends.”
“Dallas, Dynasty & Knots Landing in one frame. These Iconic ladies made those shows!” a fan wrote.
I Invited My Parents for Dinner, but When I Saw What They Did to My Daughter, I Kicked Them Out
This story was beautifully and poignantly told, capturing the challenges of generational dynamics, especially the responsibility of shielding a child’s innocence and sense of self-worth. Lily’s vulnerability and the father’s steadfast support made for an emotional narrative. The father’s memories of his own struggles with his parents’ relentless criticism heightened the stakes, showing a determination to break that cycle for Lily.
The progression from his initial nervous hope to his powerful stand for his daughter’s well-being underscores the strength it takes to confront deeply ingrained family patterns. He refuses to let his own painful history repeat with his daughter, emphasizing the importance of kindness and encouragement. That quiet moment afterward—him sitting alone, absorbing the night’s events—brought a touching depth, illustrating the cost of such resolve and the loneliness often felt in doing what’s right.
The ending left a hopeful impression, showing Lily’s resilience and her father’s unwavering support as she sits at the piano, fingers ready to try again. This story is a reminder of the generational cycle-breaking we often take on, fueled by love for our children.
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