• Untied

  • A Memoir of Family, Fame, and Floundering
  • By: Meredith Baxter
  • Narrated by: Meredith Baxter
  • Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (178 ratings)

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Untied  By  cover art

Untied

By: Meredith Baxter
Narrated by: Meredith Baxter
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Publisher's summary

I remember Sarah asking me, when I’d just begun therapy with her, what I looked for in a man.

After a few moments of silent, tense deliberation I had it.

"Hair", I blurted. "He has to have hair".

Meredith Baxter is a beloved and iconic television actress, most well-known for her enormously popular role as hippie mom, Elyse Keaton, on Family Ties. Her warmth, humor, and brilliant smile made her one of the most popular women on television, with millions of viewers following her on the small screen each week. Yet her success masked a tumultuous personal story and a harrowing private life. For the first time, Baxter is ready to share her incredible highs, (working with Robert Redford, Doris Day, Lana Turner, and the cast of Family Ties), and lows (a thorny relationship with her mother, a difficult marriage to David Birney, a bout with breast cancer), finally revealing the woman behind the image.

From her childhood in Hollywood, growing up the daughter of actress and co-creator of One Day at a Time Whitney Blake, Baxter became familiar with the ups and downs of show business from an early age. After wholeheartedly embracing the 60's counterculture lifestyle, she was forced to rely on her acting skills after her first divorce left her a 22-year-old single mother of two. Baxter began her professional career with supporting roles in the critically panned horror film Ben, and in the political thriller All the President's Men.

More lucrative work soon followed on the small screen. Baxter starred with actor David Birney as the title characters in controversial sitcom Bridget Loves Bernie. While the series only lasted a year, her high-profile romance with Birney lasted 15 volatile and unhappy years. Hiding the worst of her situation from even those closest to her, Baxter’s career flourished as her self-esteem and family crumbled. Her successful run as Nancy on Family was followed by her enormously popular role on Family Ties, and dozens of well-received television movies.

After a bitter divorce and custody battle with Birney, Baxter increasingly relied on alcohol as a refuge, and here speaks candidly of her decision to take her last drink in 1990. And while another ruinous divorce to screenwriter Michael Blodgett taxed Baxter’s strength and confidence, she has emerged from her experiences with the renewed self-assurance, poise, and understanding that have enabled her to find a loving, respectful relationship with Nancy Locke, and to speak about it openly.

Told with insight, wit, and disarming frankness, Untied is the eye-opening and inspiring life of an actress, a woman, and a mother who has come into her own.

©2011 Meredith Baxter (P)2011 Random House Audio

What listeners say about Untied

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Self effacing pleasant to read

This is one book that is complemented by the author reading her own work. Her pleasant, modulated and familiar voice was a pleasure. I have always enjoyed Hollywood insider biographies and this was no exception. Her realization that she is gay is only a small part of the story and far more interesting is her growth as a woman who late in life realizes her worth as a human being. She is a person I would like to know as a friend. She pulls no punches when it comes to describing her relationship with her two ex-husbands. I hope she has a good lawyer.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

What a life!

Very interesting story! Elyse Keaton is a mere blip in this woman’s life so Family Ties Fans might not be satisfied.

Overall, it was very candid and compelling – a fascinating celebrity bio.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Elyse Keaton was drunk half the time

...and that is why you will enjoy this memoir. Poor Meredith Baxter was truly falling apart on camera for a good part of her life! Don't even get me started on her Lifetime TV dramas era! But MB tells it like it is, sparing no painful detail. it'll make you cringe, laugh and shake your head. She's a sweetheart who has written a very engrossing book. But I grew up on 'Family Ties' so maybe I'm biased. No, it's really good.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Honest, forthright, interesting, well-written

Like everyone else, I knew Meredith Baxter-Birney from Family Ties and television movies, but this book is a revelation into a real life with real people. She is honest to a fault- and pulls no punches at the trials she has endured as the daughter of a famous mom, an actress, wife, mother, and finally, a happy and fulfilled woman. She reads with true emotion during each chapter of her life and I would highly recommend this book to all. It is interesting, funny, awe-inspiring and sometimes tear-jerking, but always Meredith. One of the best autobios I have ever read. I came away feeling like she was one of my friends; I always admired her as an actress, but now I admire the woman as well.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

what a story

I enjoyed it. I liked her candor and openness. I found her very likable. what stood out was that she was beautiful and talented. But had no self -esteem. Attracting men who saw and exploited that. My heart went out to her. But,I'm so happy she triumphed in the end. And she's surrounded by people who love her. No one remembers those terrible men. But we all know and love " Meredith Baxter "

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A great listen

I just listened to this on a very long road trip and loved every minute. I found myself not wanting to stop at rest areas because I didn't want to push pause. Her story is an interesting one and she has written it beautifully. She also has a wonderful voice for reading audiobooks. If you had a neglectful mother or parents who divorced or an abusive spouse or alcohol issues....you will find this very relate-able and her insight is wonderful. I've always liked Meredith, since her Bridget Loves Bernie days, and have followed her career with interest. My admiration for has grown exponentially as a result of listening to this book. I highly recommend it!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not quite as expected

Meredith's mother issues plague this story. Not having a mother's love leads to low self esteem, leads to becoming a victim. Sad story but provides insight.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Truth be told

Engagingly fascinating and thought provoking and an opening into the world of actors. Thank you Meredith for telling your story. Blessings

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

good read

so sad to hear about her self esteem. i always thought she was beautiful. She and David Birney seemed like the perfect couple. I am sad to hear how awful he was to her.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Give her credit

Yes, anyone can accuse a star who writes an autobiography after they’ve done something controversial of just doing a money grab. And most are probably guilty. But I do give Meredith credit, since she didn’t seem to hold back much. Like many of the previous reviews, those that are wanting a “Family Ties tell – all“ will be disappointed, because it’s only one or two chapters of the book. But if you give this book a chance, you will definitely see that as well - rounded, and she lays it all out. Those that don’t want to hear about her homosexuality will likely want to skip the last couple of chapters, but you will be deprived of finding out the final dimension of who she is. Good read.

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