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Dallas star Patrick Duffy and Happy Days sweet love story Linda Purl have captivated fans around the world after the TV icons revealed they fell in love during the pandemic.
Now, the stars have revealed that they’d love to see their headline-making relationship come to life in a romantic movie, and they’ve even joked that they’d be willing to play themselves.
Speaking to DailyMail.com about whether their love story could inspire a movie, the 73-year-old actor gushed, “Yeah. It’s that it feels that way to us, like a Hallmark movie. We are extremely grateful for this relationship.
Better than fiction: Dallas star Patrick Duffy and Happy Days’ Linda Purl want their love story made into a movie
“And for it to have found this at this point in our lives and to see you comforted by this reality for the rest of your life is amazing.”
Purl, 67, added that the couple’s ability to find love later in life was proof that others should never give up hope.
‘Change is constant in life, we know that. Energies change, life changes, so never give up if that’s your heart’s desire,” she explained. “I don’t even think it necessarily means that what you’re hoping for will come true, but something will happen, if you go into it willingly and have the ambition.”
Duffy added, “It’s amazing how many signals you get from the universe when you listen. If you pay attention, if you look, it’s always there. When people shut down, it means they stop listening, probably because they’ve lost hope.
“But as long as you listen, it’s amazing what you pick up. The same can be said in a relationship as well. Just keep your eyes and ears open.’
Duffy continued, “I think that’s another reason why people shut down, because they can’t bear to look to the future and they become isolated. It’s actually tragic.’
Special connection: Sparks started flying between the couple during a group text chat in 2020 amid the pandemic — before graduating to ‘two to three hours’ of Zoom calls every night
Not a good idea: the couple in love joked that they would be willing to play themselves
It’s because the real-life couple will see lovers play on screen in new episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful on November 23 and 28.
Duffy is making his grand return to the CBS soap opera after 11 years, and the star couldn’t resist bringing his girlfriend along for the special occasion.
He will see surprise daughters Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang), Donna (Jennifer Gareis) and Katie (Heather Tom).
Over the years, Duffy and B&B executive producer Bradley Bell had joked about Stephen’s return. When Bell brought up the idea again earlier this year, Duffy couldn’t resist asking if his partner could join in.
Reflecting on his return to the set, Duffy said, “It was great to be back and to be welcomed like I’d never left. But it was poignantly wonderful to come back arm in arm with a woman I have a crush on in my private life and be able to walk through the door together.
“It was almost like I was showing off. You know? Look, look, someone really likes me. That was great and so it’s satisfying on so many levels.’
Daddy’s house: it’s because the real couple will see a lover play on screen in new episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful on November 23 and 28
Reunited: Duffy makes his grand return to the CBS soap after 11 years (Photo LR, Katherine Kelly Lang, Duffy, Purl, Annika Noelle and Heather Tom)
He continued, “We are workaholics and just being asked to come work is a privilege in our industry. The fact that we can enjoy it together is just the icing on the cake.’
In the episodes, the Logan sisters finally meet Lucy – while Stephen is surprised to hear about the drama surrounding his children’s love lives and offers comfort.
When asked if this could be the start of more regular daytime appearances, Duffy teased: ‘We hope so, fingers crossed.
“The Bold and the Beautiful kindly asked if we would represent them in the Christmas parade. So we are identified with B&B, and we hope it continues. Absolute.’
Sweet story: The couple said their ability to find love later in life was proof that others should never give up hope
Duffy is best known for starring in Dallas from 1978 to 1985 and from 1986 to 1991, where he played Bobby Ewing, the brother of Larry Hagman’s JR Ewing.
His other major TV role was in ABC’s Step By Step (1991-1998), while he starred in The Bold And The Beautiful from 2006 to 2011.
More recently, he reprized his character in a Dallas continuation aimed at a younger generation, which ran from 2012-2014.
Purl’s most famous role was as Ashley Pfister on Season 10 of Happy Days in the early 1980s.
She also played the daughter of Andy Griffith’s title character in the first season of Matlock, and occasionally played Pam Beesley’s mother on The Office.
Purl has been married four times, first to Desi Arnaz Jr. from 1980–1981. She married the screenwriter William Broyles Jr. in 1988, but their divorce was finalized in 1992.
Magic connection: The smitten couple officially started dating in July 2020
Purl was married to another screenwriter, Alexander Cary, from 1993 to 1999, and her most recent marriage was to James Vinson Adams from 2006 to 2011.
Duffy previously admitted that his romance with Linda came as a complete surprise.
The actor explained that after the death of his late wife Carlyn Rosser in 2017 from a heart attack, he never thought he would fall in love again.
He then confessed, “I never thought for a minute that this would happen again. I never thought I’d feel this way again.’