Actress Meredith Baxterbest known for being Elise Keaton on the '80s TV show Family Tieshas officially come out of the closet, CNN.com reported.
"It was a later in life recognition," Baxter, 62, told Matt Lauer on the "Today" show Dec. 2.
Talking on Sirius XM's "The Frank Decaro Show," Baxter said, "I know it's not the image that I've … accrued over the years." When asked about the impact she thought coming out would have, she said, "…I am hoping that if I am that familiar face and you kind of like me, and I say, 'OK … I am the same person and I am a lesbian, hello,' … maybe I make it a little less scary for them. There's so much misunderstanding and … fear around issues that they don't know that maybe I can help … [ them ] cross … over [ that hurdle ] … in some way, give someone the courage to say, you know I've been thinking about that too and I've been afraid."
Baxter told People magazine that she has been with partner Nancy Locke, a building contractor, for four years. Baxter, who has been married three times and has five children, has been dating women for several years, and "the thought of being gay never crossed my mind," she said. Son Peter, 25, admitted to People that he could not "stop smiling, because she finally figured it out."