The Stars Of The Love Boat: Then And Now

Playing Julie McCoy, the Cruise Director in Love Boat was the big break that Lauren Tewes had been waiting for! Her part was only officially cast the day before the third pilot was shot. Sadly, she struggled with addiction which led to her being replaced before the show finished its run.

Thankfully, Lauren managed to break her dangerous habit and went back to school to train as a cheese specialist. She does still do a bit of acting and voiceover work for video games but mostly works as a sous chef at a catering company in Seattle.

After Lauren Tewes was removed from the show due to her regular no-shows as a result of troubles with addiction, she was replaced by Pat Klous. Pat played Judy McCoy who was Julie’s sister in the show and the successor as Cruise Director. That opportunity was the big break she needed to launch her career further into the limelight.

Pat appeared in shows such as Fantasy Island and Matt Houston during her acting career and had a brief stint in Murder She Wrote after Love Boat. However, in 2002 she officially retired from acting at the age of 54. Not much has been heard of her since, so we can only assume she is enjoying retired life with her family.

As Captain Stubing’s daughter Vicki, Jill Whelan had some crazy experiences while working on the show. She wound up dancing with Ginger Rogers and was even held at gunpoint in Egypt with Debbie Allen from Fame. Thank goodness they got out of that one unscathed!

Jill was a prominent face for Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign against drugs. She ended up working as a journalist, an associate producer, and investigative reporter to make money as a failed business venture of her husband’s used up all her Love Boat wages. She now acts as often as possible including providing voices for Phineas and Ferb.

Unlike some of his cast mates, Ted McGinley already had a very successful career before The Love Boat, starring in shows such as Happy Days and films like Young Doctors in Love. In the show, he played Ashley, AKA Ace – the ship’s photographer who often ended up in compromising situations.

Ted was just as successful after Love Boat. He appeared in  Pearl Harbor, Do You Believe, and The Outskirts. He also lent his voice to Transformers: Robots in Disguise. He is almost 60 years old but shows no sign of slowing down! Good on you, Ted!