Meredith MacRae and Tim Considine briefly dated during My Three Sons

They got engaged on the show at the same time Meredith accepted a real proposal.

In 1963, Meredith MacRae guest starred in her first My Three Sons episode.

In "How Do You Know?" My Three Sons star Tim Considine’s character Mike falls for MacRae’s character Sally right away, and in the series, the couple eventually get engaged, then married.

Early on while filming My Three Sons, MacRae already had a steady boyfriend in an accounting student named Rick Berger, but they weren’t in a rush to get married, so MacRae was free to date her costar Tim behind the scenes of the show.

In 1964, MacRae told the Star Tribune that she had her "future husband picked" in Rick, however, "I still date others, but he doesn’t."

While the spark we saw on TV became true love for Mike and Sally on My Three Sons, Tim Considine and Meredith MacRae didn’t have a spark like that, instead becoming friends.

Eventually, they started double-dating, with Tim bringing along his current girlfriend to join Meredith and Rick. On these outings, Tim proved to have become a close friend who understood Meredith sometimes better than her boyfriend did.

"It’s so exciting, so confusing and yet so completely without friction because Rick and Tim not only like each other, but compare notes on me," MacRae told the Paducah Sun in 1964. "I suppose you think that would make me mad, but I think it’s dreamy!"

MacRae said of the two, Tim paid closer attention to her.

"He’s constantly alert, deeply objective in his approach to everything, so that you feel he’s sometimes X-raying your mind," MacRae said. "If I ask Tim what I wore on set yesterday, he describes my wardrobe in detail, even how my hair was arranged."

Rick wasn’t quite that attentive.

"With Rick, it’s a different story," MacRae said. "He’s more casual and not very observant. If I asked him what I wore on a date last night, he wouldn’t have the vaguest idea, even if it were a dress I bought just for him!"

MacRae was quick to clarify that she was happier with Rick, whether he noticed what she wore or not.

"Tim can learn a lot from Rick, too," MacRae said. "Tim’s a little withdrawn till you ask him something. Rick always starts a conversation, usually with something dreamy like, ‘You look wonderful, Honey.’"

That’s why when MacRae had to do romantic scenes with Tim with the whole cast and crew watching, she found herself channeling her relationship with Rick to make the scenes convincing.

"I concentrate furiously and say to myself, this isn’t Tim, it’s Rick," MacRae said. "If I concentrate hard enough, I fool myself into thinking it is Rick, and there aren’t 65 people around and Rick is really holding my hand in a secluded restaurant."

"I feel like a wicked fraud, but the director says I’m convincing and that’s what I’m being paid for," MacRae said.

Although Meredith thought it was a little confusing to be  "engaged" to both men at the same time, in 1964, her most fervent wish was to actually walk down the aisle for the first time with Rick, not onscreen while pretending to get married to Tim.

"If they have me marry Tim first, I’ll just die," MacRae swore. "I know I will."

Lucky for her, her TV wedding on My Three Sons wouldn’t occur until spring 1965. In the real world, she wed Rick Berger in 1964.

They remained married for four years, after which MacRae remarried twice.

But in the mid-Sixties, Rick was her main squeeze, and the clothes she wore on My Three Sons were the very same ones she wore on her dates with Rick – mainly because she had to provide her own wardrobe.

"I furnish my own wardrobe for the show, and that was fine except when they told me I couldn’t take my clothes home," MacRae told Miami News in 1964. "I sort of had a fit! I don’t have that many clothes. Finally, it was decided whatever I take home, I have to check out and write everything down. Then I can take my clothes home."

Donning that wardrobe while juggling two men, MacRae was happy to have both Rick and Tim in her life during that time when her acting career was taking off.

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82 Comments

Pacificsun 34 months ago
Wish you would have more stories about My Three Sons. It was such a nice representation of a family classic TV sitcom. But those sons sure grew up fast!!
Coldnorth Pacificsun 34 months ago
The boys sure got yelled at a lot by bub and by uncle Charlie. Their dad was always so understanding. When I was younger a whole bunch younger I didn’t understand why they had to be yelled at so much. Now I understand lol
Runeshaper 35 months ago
That's a very interesting story! Thanks for sharing, MeTV!
bagandwallyfan52 35 months ago
What was Sudsys real first name
Because I think that SUDSY was
A Nickname.Who played Sudsy?
Happy Days Question:
Can anyone name the 2 Characters on HAPPY DAYS
Who had first and last names
That rhymed ?
BAG was the person who played
the drums in Richie's band and
Was a member of the Demons
Club but BAG was a nickname
For Bag Zombroski played by
Neil J Schwartz. Does anyone know what Bag's first name was? Spike had the first name
Raymond Potsie was Warren
Chuck Cunningham was Charles
Chachi was Charles and Richie
Was Richard and Fonzie was Arthur but I never did hear
The first name of Bag.
Also on My 3 Sons did the
Same Dog play Tramp on
My 3 Sons for 12 years(1960-
1972).Also I like the movie
The Shaggy Dog with Fred
MacMurray and Tim Considine.
Don Grady (Robbie Douglas) and Mike Minor
(Steve Elliot on Petticoat Junction) were both talented actors and they
both passed away too young.But like other TV
Characters and Actors THEY WILL LIVE FOREVER
ON FILM . As long as films
and video tapes actors like
Don Grady and Mike Minor
Will be with their fans in
Their hearts and memories
Forever until the end of time.Meredith MacRae who
Played Sally Morrison on
My 3 Sons and Billie Jo
Bradley on Petticoat Junction and Pat Woodall
The first Bobbi Jo Bradley on Petticoat Junction and
Charlene Salerno who played Ginger on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and Skip Young who
Played Wally Plumstead on
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet all passed away much too soon and all of
Them will be missed forever as will Heather O Rourke who played Heather
On HAPPY Days who passed away also.
35 months ago
I had no idea Meredith was married to anyone before she married the Mullavey guy.
bagandwallyfan52 35 months ago
Even though the Article about
Meredith MacRae was about her
Real marriage and TV marriage to Mike (Ted Considine)the
Article should have said that
Meredith MacRae also played
Billie Jo Bradley on Petticoat Junction.
Meredith MacRae did a wonderful job playing
Sally on My 3 Sons.
Does anyone know the
Maiden last Name.of Sally?
bagandwallyfan52 35 months ago
Morrison I believe was Sally's maiden name.
ETristanBooth SheriHeffner 35 months ago
And her father was Sebastian Cabot.
bagandwallyfan52 35 months ago
I wish that Mike and Sally and
Hank and Sudsy had all stayed
On My 3 Sons until the end of
The series in 1972.
Also I wish that BUB could
Have stayed on My 3 Sons
But William Ftawley was in poor health at the time.
I also wish that Chuck Cunningham (Randolph
Roberts) and BAG ZOMBROSKI (Neil J Schwartz) and Moose(Barry
Greenberg ) had stayed on.all of the seasons of
Happy Days until the end of season 11.
I wish that Corporal Boyle
(Roy Stuart) had stayed on
Gomer Pyle USMC and I
DID NOT like it when Boyle
Was replaced by Cpl Duke Slater Ronnie Schell.
U also did not like it when
BAG (Neil J. Schwartz) who played the Drums in Richie's band on seasons one and two was replaced by Sticks Downey Jr John Anthony Bailey)as the second person to play the drums in Richie's band.
I also liked Bub better than
Uncle Charlie on.My 3 Sons.Robbie had a great friend named Hank(Peter
Brooks) who disappeared from My 3 Sons with no explanation.
Then again I guess Hank was no longer on My 3 Sons was because Steve
Douglas and family left
Bryant Park and I think that
They moved to California .
I also wish that Eugene Belvin (Denis Mandel) and
Melvin Belvin (Scott Bernstein) had Stayed on
Happy Days until the End
Of the series which was season eleven .Eugene
Belvin came on HAPPY Days
In 1980 and Melvin Belvin
Came in Happy Days in 1981.I also wish that Marsha Simms (Beatrice
Colen ) and Wendy (Misty
Rowe) and Trudy (Tita Bell)
And Spike (Danny Butch)
And Flip Phillips (Billy Warlock) and KC Cunningham (Crystal Bernard) and Leather Tuscadero (Suzi Quatro )
And Mickey Malph (Either
Alan Oppenheimer OR
Jack Dodson AKA Howard Sprague on TAGS) had all stayed.on Happy Days until
The end of the series in
1984 when Chuck Cunningham (Randolph
Roberts ) And Bag Zombroski (Neil J Schwartz)and Moose (Barry
Greenberg) and Marsha
Simms (Beatrice Colen) and.Wendy (Misty Rowe)
AndbSpike(Danny Butch)
And Trudy (Tita Bell)and
Flip Phillips Billy Warlock and KC Cunningham Crystal Bernard and
EUGENE BELVIN Denis Mandel and Melvin Belvin Scott Bernstein were NOT
Invited to the wedding of
Chachi Arcola and Joanie Cunningham .
Also if Officer Kirk (ED PECK) showed up at the wedding then he would have caused trouble.
Also Leather Suzi Quatro was not at Joanie and Chachi s wedding either.
The Following Characters
On HAPPY Days finally
Came on the show after .years of just being referred
To: Jenny Piccalo (Cathy
Silvers) and Clarence (Gary
Freidkin) the Cook at Arnold's Drive In.
Aunt Bessie was referred to several times on HAPPY Days but was NEVER SEEN
On the show.
On the Live American Style. Episode called Love
And The Happy Days
Aunt Bessie was played by
Peggy REA and Uncle Harold was played by
Jackie Coogan AKA Uncle
Fester . Chuck Cunningham was played by Ric Carrot and Joanie Cunningham was played by Susan Neher
And Howard Cunningham was played by Harold Gould. Fonzie and Ralph Malph were not in that Love American Style epolisode and Bag Wendy
Trudy and Marsha Aldo were not in that Love And.The Happy Days episode of Love American Style.
Peggy Rea also played
Lulu Hogg Boss Hoggs wife
On The Dukes of Hazard.
I like the song Perfidia
That Richie Potsie Ralph and Bag played at the Leopard Lodge in the season 2 Episode where
Fonzie played the BONGOS
In the Happy Days episode
Fonzie Joins The Band.
bagandwallyfan52 35 months ago
I wish that all of the towns and
Cities in the USA were exactly
Like HOOTERVILLE and
MAYBERRY and MAYFIELD.
Also Oz And Never Never
Land .
bagandwallyfan52 35 months ago
On Petticoat Junction Billie Jo
Bradley (Meredith MacRae) had
Steve Elliott (Mike Minor) for a
Boyfriend and later with no explanation Steve Elliott started
Dating and later married Betty Jo Bradley (Linda Kaye Henning).
I know that In real life Mike
Minor and Linda Kaye Henning
Got married but that was not
A good enough reason for Steve
Elliot to have Billie Jo for his girlfriend and then all it a
Sudden switch to Betty Jo.
Paul Henning created both
Green Acres and Petticoat Junction and he was the
Real life father of Linda Kaye Henning who played
Betty Jo Bradley on Petticoat Junction.
bagandwallyfan52 35 months ago
I say the same thing.
Pacificsun SheriHeffner 34 months ago
I *think* (but am not positive) that Linda Kaye Henning marrying Mike Minor, both appearing in the same sitcom, was the first example of a real life romance playing out on their own sitcom.

The reason this comes back to me is because TV Guide seemed to have made a big deal out of featuring this event, and featuring it as part of the story arc.
cperrynaples 35 months ago
Actually, Mike & Sally were married in the fall of 1965 which was both the first CBS and first color episode! And their relationship wasn't as fast as Robbie & Katie's! Mike's engagement lasted 2 seasons but Robbie married Katie in about 5 episodes!
Pacificsun cperrynaples 34 months ago
Wasn't that because the Show rushed to have the Triplets which they assumed (and were right) would be a huge ratings draw??
Andybandit 35 months ago
Cool story about My Three Sons. This is totally off the story. But I will not be watching MeTv on Sundays until 3pm when Momma's Family comes on. I don't like Full House. I don't understand why MeTv could put the MTM show on Sundays from 1pm-3pm. I enjoyed watching it when it was on last week.
Andybandit Andybandit 35 months ago
Sorry that I don't like Full House
Moody Andybandit 35 months ago
Why are you apologizing? You have a right to like or dislike a show without having to apologize for it. There are plenty of other members here who also dislike Full House. It's okay.
Susan00100 Andybandit 35 months ago
I don't like FULL HOUSE, either.
In fact, I prefer sitcoms about dysfunctional households, like MAMA'S FAMILY, to those where everything is always so disgustingly rosy.
Pacificsun Moody 34 months ago
True enough. The addition is meant to draw in the 90's sitcom viewer because they realized the traditional retiree group who they are now serving is aging out, along with all the sad memorials that have posted lately.
MrsPhilHarris 35 months ago
She had a steady boy friend but was free to date others? Really? I wonder if she dated others whilst married to Rick. And since when do you have to supply your own wardrobe at your own cost, then it’s held hostage. I wonder if Hank and Sudsy had to do the same thing. 🤔
Load previous comments
LOL in texting/messaging etc.... is a shortened form of laugh out loud. One of many.
Ho Ho Ho
The Jolly Green Giant and.
Santa Claus
Thanks for telling me what
LOL means.
I think that I will go Watch
The Joker laugh on one of
My Batman VHS Tapes
Or Wally Plumstead Skip Young laugh on The Adventures of Ozzie And
Harriet and Bag Zombroski Neil J Schwartz laugh on
Those Sitcoms .
I also liked Richie Cunningham s laugh
On Happy Days Huh Huh
Huh which Fonzie liked to
Imitate .
Pee Wee Herman had a
Strange Laugh . LOL.
Pacificsun MrsPhilHarris 34 months ago
Supporting actors would do a lot of things to be compliant within the guidelines of their contracts. Perhaps it was an after the fact compromise granted in order to keep the talented Ms. Meredith motivated, and yet, still expenses needed to be accounted for.
Nala92129 35 months ago
Wonder why Meredith McRae died so young? I remember her participating in a talk show on KHJ-9 in Los Angeles.
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LoveMETV22 SheriHeffner 35 months ago
It's not unusual. A book could be written about name changes, celebrities, noteworthy individuals and individuals in general. Thanks for the share though.
Pacificsun LoveMETV22 34 months ago
To the point of that subject (just for the benefit of other who're reading) no two names in the SAG can be the same. It's interesting to see who had to add at least an initial to differentiate!
LoveMETV22 Pacificsun 34 months ago
I don't think the Sr was registered with SAG. (He may have been?)As the fathers history was as a
professional baseball shortstop, manager, coach, and scout. Interesting point though.
Pacificsun LoveMETV22 34 months ago
Yes, I don't think other professions were included of course.
teire 35 months ago
I always liked Mike and Sally as a couple and that their story was brought full circle, even tho it marked the end of My Three Sons as we originally knew it. Good bye Mike and Sally, good bye Bub, good bye Sudsy.
Load previous comments
I forgot To put on THE
HELLO LIST FOR HAPPY
DAYS Lori Beth Allen played
By Lynda Goodfriend and
Chachi Arcola played by
Scott Baio and Cynthia Brannigan who was played
By Marla Pennington for 2
Episodes Only of Happy Days. Cynthia Brannigan was in the Classical Music
Episode where Fonzie had
A dream that he was
Beethoven the composer
And Big AL was Ivan .
Cynthia Brannigan s Last
Episode of Happy Days was
The episode where Arthur
Fonzarelli AKA FONZIE or
The Fonz met his TV Idol
The Lone Ranger played by
John Hart instead of
Clayton Moore.
I think that Jay Silverheels
AKA TONTO made a Guest
Appearance on Brady Bunch on one episode only.
teire 35 months ago
And only mentioned twice after that and then never mentioned again.
On.my list of Happy Days
Characters to say hello and
Goodbye to O forgot to say
GOODBYE in 1975 to actor
RANDOLPH ROBERTS who
Played Chuck Cunningham
2 on HAPPY Days for two
Episodes ONLY.
Pacificsun TheDavBow3 34 months ago
Part of the reason was the natural evolution (age and talent and death) of the actors with whom they started. Amazing how they kept that sitcom going for so many seasons (thank Don Fedderson) and Fred MacMurray's comittment.
Moody 35 months ago
I'm glad they did a story on My Three Sons instead of another on Full House or Monk, but this was a real snoozer. Sorry.
TheDavBow3 Moody 35 months ago
I'm with you, Moody. I really like My 3 Sons, especially the one's with Mike and Bub. Hopefully more interesting stories will come later 😊
bagandwallyfan52 Moody 35 months ago
I would like to see METV
ARTICES on whatever happened to Robbie's friend Hank(Peter Brooks)
And Chips friend SUDSY played by Ricky Allen.
Hank and Sudsy disappeared from My 3 Sons with no explanation.
I would also like to see
Articles on whatever happened to Chester Anderson (Buddy Hart)
And Tooey Brown (Tiger Fafara) who vanished from
Leave It To Beaver with no
explanation after the Episode Wally The Businessman after Chester
And Tooey bought ice cream Igloo bars from Wally(Tony Dow ).
Moody TheDavBow3 35 months ago
My Three Sons is one of my favorite shows & I agree that the first five seasons were definitely the best. But I did like the first couple of seasons after they moved to California. It was still a good show but after that it really started to go downhill. I wish MeTv would put MTS on at a better time too.
LoveMETV22 Moody 35 months ago
Good show. I enjoyed the William Frawley years over the William Demarest years.
They were both great actors though.
And Goodbye to a wonderful sitcom
My 3 Sons in 1972!!
On Pee Wees Playhouse
Goodbye to Mrs Steve
And Hello to Mrs Rene
In season two
Pacificsun Moody 34 months ago
Ahhh, these were part of the interesting behind-the-scenes stories that TV Guide featured. Imagine having to come up with about 3 stories per issue EVERY week. And virtually every TV viewer had the guide in their household. We really looked forward to it!
Pacificsun LoveMETV22 34 months ago
Agree. It was fun to see William Frawley being his own character (appreciated) on My Three Sons. Not that he wasn't on ILL, just very over shadowed by his co-stars. I liked his maturity on My Three Sons. My dad really enjoyed that sitcom (I think he could relate to the elder age groups).
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