Donna Mills became a mom at 54 & found new love at 60 – At 82 she’s still an iconic blonde & looks radiant

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.

Wikipedia Commons / Alan Light
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.
Jim Ellwanger / Flickr
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 Took My Little Daughter to Visit My Girlfriend – I Couldn’t Believe What She Found in Her Room

When my four-year-old daughter, Chloe, begged me to leave my girlfriend Lily’s house, I knew something was wrong. Her fear was unlike anything I’d seen before, and as much as I wanted to reassure her, I couldn’t ignore the urgency in her trembling voice.

“Chloe, don’t forget your jacket,” I called out as I grabbed my keys from the counter.

A man putting on his coat | Source: Midjourney

A man putting on his coat | Source: Midjourney

“I don’t need it, Daddy!” she yelled back, her voice muffled from the closet where she was probably picking out her favorite sparkly sneakers.

I shook my head, smiling. At just four years old, Chloe already had a mind of her own. Being her dad wasn’t easy—raising her alone never was. My ex-wife, Lauren, had left us before Chloe even turned one. She decided motherhood wasn’t for her. Since then, it’s been just the two of us.

A man with his daughter | Source: Pexels

A man with his daughter | Source: Pexels

The first year was the hardest. Chloe cried constantly, and I had no idea what I was doing. I’d rock her to sleep for hours, only to have her wake up minutes after I put her down. But we found our rhythm.

Three months ago, I met Lily. I’d gone into the coffee shop for my usual black coffee, no cream, no sugar. She was behind me in line, wearing a red scarf and a smile that was impossible to ignore. “You look like you need something stronger than coffee,” she’d joked.

A smiling woman wearing a red scarf | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman wearing a red scarf | Source: Midjourney

That one comment turned into a full conversation, and eventually, a date. Lily was warm and easy to talk to. Chloe had met her twice already, and they seemed to get along. Chloe wasn’t shy about her feelings. If she didn’t like someone, she’d say so. The fact that she smiled around Lily gave me hope.

“Are we there yet?” Chloe asked, her nose pressed against the car window.

A smiling girl in a car | Source: Midjourney

A smiling girl in a car | Source: Midjourney

“Almost,” I said, trying not to laugh.

Tonight was our first visit to Lily’s home. She’d invited us for dinner and a movie, and Chloe had been talking about it all week.

When we pulled up, Chloe gasped. “She has fairy lights!”

I looked up at the balcony where tiny golden lights glowed. “Pretty cool, huh?”

A house with fairy lights | Source: Pexels

A house with fairy lights | Source: Pexels

Lily opened the door before we even knocked. “Hey, you two!” she said, beaming. “Come in, come in. You must be freezing.”

Chloe didn’t need a second invitation. She darted inside, her shoes flashing like tiny fireworks.

The apartment was cozy, just like Lily. A soft yellow couch sat in the middle of the room, with colorful throw pillows arranged perfectly. The walls were lined with bookshelves and framed photos, and a small Christmas tree twinkled in the corner, even though it was mid-January.

A cozy room | Source: Pexels

A cozy room | Source: Pexels

“This is awesome!” Chloe exclaimed, spinning around.

“Thanks, Chloe,” Lily said with a laugh. “Hey, do you like video games? I’ve got an old console in my room you can try while your dad and I finish dinner.”

Chloe’s eyes lit up. “Really? Can I?”

“Of course. Follow me. I’ll show you where it is.”

A girl talking to a woman at the dinner table | Source: Midjourney

A girl talking to a woman at the dinner table | Source: Midjourney

As Chloe disappeared down the hallway with Lily, I stayed behind in the kitchen. The smell of garlic and rosemary filled the air as Lily pulled a tray of roasted vegetables from the oven.

“So,” she said, placing the tray on the counter, “any embarrassing childhood stories I should know about you?”

“Oh, there are plenty,” I admitted, laughing. “But let’s hear one of yours first.”

A couple having dinner | Source: Pexels

A couple having dinner | Source: Pexels

“Well,” she said, grinning, “when I was seven, I decided to ‘help’ my mom redecorate. Let’s just say glitter glue and white walls don’t mix.”

I laughed, picturing it. “Sounds like something Chloe would do.”

Just as Lily was about to reply, Chloe appeared in the kitchen doorway. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear.

A scared girl in the kitchen doorway | Source: Midjourney

A scared girl in the kitchen doorway | Source: Midjourney

“Daddy,” she said, her voice trembling, “I need to talk to you. Alone.”

We walked out into the corridor and I crouched to her level, trying to steady my voice. “Chloe, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Her wide eyes darted toward the hallway, then back to me. “She’s bad. She’s really bad.”

“What do you mean? Lily?” I glanced over my shoulder toward the kitchen, where Lily hummed softly as she stirred a pot.

A man talking to his scared daughter | Source: Midjourney

A man talking to his scared daughter | Source: Midjourney

Chloe nodded, her voice dropping to a whisper. “There are… heads in her closet. Real heads. They were looking at me.”

For a second, I didn’t understand. “Heads? What kind of heads?”

“People heads!” she hissed, tears spilling onto her cheeks. “They’re scary, Daddy. We have to go!”

A crying young girl | Source: Pexels

A crying young girl | Source: Pexels

I swallowed hard, my chest tightening. Was this her imagination running wild, or had she seen something truly awful? Either way, Chloe was terrified, and I couldn’t ignore it.

I stood, scooping her into my arms. “Okay, okay. Let’s go.”

Chloe buried her face in my shoulder, clinging to me as I carried her toward the door.

Lily turned, her brow furrowed. “Is everything okay?”

A concerned woman cooking | Source: Midjourney

A concerned woman cooking | Source: Midjourney

“She’s not feeling well,” I said quickly, avoiding her gaze. “I’m so sorry, but we’ll have to take a rain check on dinner.”

“Oh, no! Is she alright?” Lily asked, concern etched on her face.

“She will be. I’ll call you later,” I mumbled, heading out the door.

On the drive to my mom’s house, Chloe sat quietly in the back seat, her knees tucked under her chin.

A sad girl in the car | Source: Midjourney

A sad girl in the car | Source: Midjourney

“Sweetheart,” I said gently, glancing at her in the rearview mirror. “Are you sure about what you saw?”

She nodded, her voice shaky. “I know what I saw, Daddy. They were real.”

My stomach churned. By the time I pulled into my mom’s driveway, my mind was racing. I kissed Chloe’s forehead, promising her I’d be back soon, and told my mom I needed to run an errand.

A scared girl hugging her grandmother | Source: Midjourney

A scared girl hugging her grandmother | Source: Midjourney

“What’s going on?” my mom asked, eyeing me curiously.

“Just… something I need to check out,” I said, forcing a smile.

I drove back to Lily’s with my heart pounding. Could Chloe have been right? The idea felt ridiculous, but her fear was too raw to dismiss.

When Lily opened the door, she looked puzzled. “Hey, that was fast. Is Chloe okay?”

A confused woman opening her door | Source: Midjourney

A confused woman opening her door | Source: Midjourney

I hesitated, trying to sound casual. “She’ll be fine. Hey, uh, would you mind if I played your old console for a bit? I, um… need to relax. It’s been years since I’ve touched one.”

Lily raised an eyebrow. “That’s random, but sure. It’s in my room.”

I forced a chuckle and headed down the hallway. My hands shook as I reached for the closet door. Slowly, I slid it open.

And there they were.

A man standing in front of an open closet | Source: Midjourney

A man standing in front of an open closet | Source: Midjourney

Four heads stared back at me. One was painted like a clown, its grin twisted and unnatural. Another was wrapped in tattered red fabric, its expression distorted.

I took a step closer, my heart hammering. Reaching out, I touched one. It was soft. Rubber.

They weren’t heads at all. They were Halloween masks.

Halloween clown masks | Source: Midjourney

Halloween clown masks | Source: Midjourney

Relief flooded through me, but it was quickly followed by guilt. I closed the closet and returned to the kitchen, where Lily handed me a mug of coffee.

“You okay?” she asked, tilting her head.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I need to tell you something.”

Her arms crossed. “This sounds serious.”

A serious woman with her arms crossed | Source: Freepik

A serious woman with her arms crossed | Source: Freepik

I nodded, shifting uncomfortably. “It’s about Chloe. She was scared earlier. Really scared. She said she saw… heads in your closet.”

Lily blinked, her expression unreadable. “Heads?”

“She thought they were real. I didn’t know what else to do, so after I dropped her off at my mom’s, I came back and, uh… I looked in your closet.”

A couple talking in their kitchen | Source: Midjourney

A couple talking in their kitchen | Source: Midjourney

Lily’s mouth fell open. “You went through my closet?”

“I know. It was wrong. But she was so terrified, and I needed to make sure she was safe.”

Lily stared at me for a moment before bursting into laughter. “She thought they were real? Oh my gosh.” She wiped her eyes, but her laughter faded as she saw the worry in my face. “Wait—she was that scared?”

A laughing woman | Source: Freepik

A laughing woman | Source: Freepik

“She was shaking,” I admitted. “I’ve never seen her like that before.”

Lily sighed, her amusement replaced with concern. “Poor thing. I didn’t even think about how those masks might look to her. I should’ve stored them somewhere else.”

I nodded. “She’s still convinced they’re real. I don’t know how to help her see otherwise.”

Lily’s eyes lit up. “I’ve got an idea. But I’ll need your help.”

A woman talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney

The next day, Lily arrived at my mom’s house with a bag slung over her shoulder. Chloe peeked out from behind the couch as Lily knelt to her level.

“Hey, Chloe,” Lily said softly. “Can I show you something?”

Chloe clung to me but nodded warily.

Lily pulled out a mask—a silly one with a goofy grin—and slipped it on. “See? It’s not a head. It’s just for Halloween.”

A funny halloween mask | Source: Midjourney

A funny halloween mask | Source: Midjourney

Chloe’s eyes widened, her fear softening into curiosity. “It’s… not real?”

“Nope,” Lily said, pulling the mask off. “Feel it. It’s just rubber.”

Tentatively, Chloe reached out, her small fingers brushing the mask. Her lips curved into a smile as she grabbed its nose. “It’s squishy!”

“Exactly!” Lily grinned. “Want to try it on?”

A laughing little girl | Source: Pexels

A laughing little girl | Source: Pexels

Chloe giggled, slipping the mask over her head. Lily gasped dramatically. “Oh no! Where did Chloe go?”

“I’m here!” Chloe squealed, pulling the mask off.

Her laughter filled the room, and I felt a knot in my chest unwind.

Months later, Chloe was tugging at Lily’s hand as we walked into the park. “Mommy Lily, can we go on the swings?”

A mother and daughter playing | Source: Pexels

A mother and daughter playing | Source: Pexels

Lily’s smile was as warm as ever. “Of course we can, sweet girl.”

Watching them together, I realized how close we had all become. A moment that could have torn us apart had instead brought us together.

Honesty, trust, and a little creativity had bridged the gap. Sometimes, the scariest moments can lead to the strongest bonds.

A happy family | Source: Pexels

A happy family | Source: Pexels

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