Free Republic

David Birney, star of TV’s “Bridget Loves Bernie” and “St. Elsewhere” and Broadway’s “Amadeus,” died Friday at his home in Santa Monica, Calif., after a five-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 83. The veteran actor’s passing was confirmed by “life partner” Michele Roberge, the New York Times reported. Birney first gained mainstream fame in 1972 opposite his future wife Meredith Baxter in the CBS sitcom “Bridget Loves Bernie.” The show was popular — slotted between ratings juggernauts “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “All in the Family — but short-lived thanks to controversial protests by Jewish groups who disagreed...

The “Family Ties” star — who famously played Elyse Keaton on the hit ’80s sitcom — told Page Six that her breasts were “the plague of my life” early in her career, with TV execs constantly talking at her chest or making lewd comments.

There are going to be some serious LGBT surprises in the season finale of Fox's hit series Glee. According to a Friday report at E!, Oscar winner Patty Duke and longtime television star Meredith Baxter will play a lesbian couple. Not only that, regular character Blaine played by Darren Criss will propose to original cast member Kurt played by Chris Colfer. …