What The Stars Of One Day At A Time Look Like These Days

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The following article includes discussions of addiction.

"One Day at a Time" was one of America's most beloved sitcoms in the '70s and '80s. With 209 episodes and spanning nine seasons, the Norman Lear hit was a revelation for portraying the raw realities of a divorced single mother raising two teenage daughters on her own. The show was such a hit that Netflix did a revival in 2017 that told the story of a Cuban-American family in similar circumstances. 

It's been more than 50 years since it premiered, but people still love to talk about "One Day at a Time and the barriers it broke. Whether you were lucky enough to watch the original show on Tuesday nights or you're a millennial who discovered the Cooper family magic decades later thanks to TV reruns, you might have wondered how much the cast members have changed and what they look like these days. 

While we're sad to say many cast members have since passed away, some of the show's female stars are still with us today. These ladies built lives and careers long after the beloved sitcom came to a close. 

Shelley Fabares played Ann Romano's work nemesis, Francine, in six seasons of "One Day at a Time." After her time on the sitcom wrapped, Fabares continued to dominate primetime television, starring in another long-running sitcom, "Coach," and even dipping her toes in voice acting as Martha Kent in "Superman: The Animated Series." During the nine seasons of "Coach," Fabares earned two primetime Emmy nominations, and everything seemed uphill from then on. 

However, her life took a sudden, life-threatening turn in the late '90s when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder that required a liver transplant. She was able to get a new liver in 2000. In a 2003 interview with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, she reflected on how her medical crisis changed how she looked at her life and priorities. The actor was also grateful for her husband and M*A*S*H legend, Mike Farrell, who never left her side. She said, "I have been so changed by this experience. ... I'm grateful for my life." 

After recovery, instead of focusing on her career in front of the camera, Fabares decided to go behind it. She began work as a producer for the Screen Actors Guild Awards and continued to advocate for the Alzheimer's Association, as well as encouraging organ donation. In 2026, the "Coach" star celebrated her 82nd birthday. She may not be as active as before, but she's often spotted walking hand in hand around LA with her husband. 

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Mary Louise Wilson played the quirky neighbor Ginny Wroblicki during the second season of "One Day at a Time." While her run on the hit sitcom was short-lived, Wilson's career in showbiz boasts an amazingly diverse resume that spans over four decades. Her last major television appearance was a run on Netflix's "Orange is the New Black" in 2019, which meant she was 88 and still doing what she loved. 

Her career wasn't just limited to acting in front of a camera. Wilson actually shone even brighter on a live stage and as a playwright on Broadway and Off-Broadway. From winning a Tony Award to publishing her own memoir at 84 to teaching acting classes at Tulane University in her hometown of New Orleans, the actor spent her active years immersing herself entirely in the craft she was so passionate about.

In 2026, the actor and playwright, who celebrated her 94th birthday in November 2025, seems to be enjoying retirement. While it's unknown how she's spending her quieter days off stage, an Instagram post by actor John Glover wishing Wilson a happy birthday on her 93rd celebration warmed the hearts of "One Day at a Time" fans in 2024. One fan even commented, "I know she talks about how she left after the second season of 'one day at a time', but I was looking at the ratings from when she was on it and season two was the highest ratings the show had for all nine seasons."

Mackenzie Phillips played Julie Cooper, the oldest daughter of Ann Romano. Known for sporting all kinds of chic & retro '70s hairstyles and for having a rebellious streak, Phillips' character was always testing her mother's patience. It was a breakout role that lasted for years, and it surely served as an unforgettable chapter in the actor's life. 

In a 2011 interview with Erica Diamond, Phillips described her time on the sitcom as "THE MOST AMAZING experience" and said days on the set were enjoyable, and the cast members were no different than family. Having found stardom so young, the actor navigated a turbulent personal life and a severe drug addiction that ended up affecting her role on the show. Phillips left "One Day at a Time" in 1980 due to her substance misuse. As of 2026, not only does Phillips look completely different, but she's also living a completely transformed life. 

After her "One Day at a Time" chapter came to a close, her life was heavily centered on her sobriety journey, which she shared in her tell-all memoir, "High on Arrival" in 2009. Although Phillips continued to build her career in the spotlight while working on her sobriety, she also found a passion outside of Hollywood and became an addiction counselor in 2013. Her journey had a full-circle moment when she guest-starred in the 2017 Netflix reboot of "One Day at a Time" as a counselor.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

At 15, Valerie Bertinelli was the series' youngest cast member when the first season of "One Day at a Time" premiered in 1975. Bertinelli's life in the spotlight as a '70s teen star was not much different from that of her on-screen sister. The actor wrote two memoirs that detailed the heavy pressures of showbiz, her body image struggles, and her high-profile marriage and divorce to Eddie Van Halen. Bertinelli also admitted to using drugs and actually admitted to even doing them with Mackenzie Phillips during their time together on the set of "One Day at a Time." 

Although her life behind the scenes of the hit sitcom was intense, the "Boston Legal" actor told Entertainment Weekly in 2025 that she walked onto the set and thought to herself how life-changing this might end up being. She was right. The breakout role skyrocketed her into decades of television success, starring in shows like "Touched by an Angel" and "Hot in Cleveland," which she co-starred alongside legendary actor Betty White. 

Acting wasn't the only thing to which Bertinelli dedicated her career in showbiz. The "Sydney" star also reinvented herself and landed her own cooking show on Food Network. "Valerie's Home Cooking" aired for 8 years. During that time, she also published some cookbooks. In 2025, she sported a bold hair transformation going temporarily blond. Valerie Bertinelli went through a succesful weight-loss journey and, as of 2026, you can see her as a lifestyle expert on "The Drew Barrymore Show."