Patrick Duffy retreated to his ranch after losing his first wife of more than four decades.
He met Linda Purl and decided to make something more out of their relationship.
The actor ended his isolation and brought her back to his ranch — “Duffy’s Kingdom” — and the two have been together ever since.
The TV show “Dallas” star Patrick Duffy lost his wife after 43 years together. The actor was devastated when Carlyn Rosser passed, and the time they spent together didn’t seem like enough for the love-struck TV star. Patrick married his late wife in 1974.
It was revealed that he was very open about his grief and didn’t try to hide the fact that he wanted more time with Carlyn. The couple had two children together, who supported their father during this challenging time.
Although Patrick’s children, Padraic and Conor, also sorely missed their mother, who passed away in 2017, the two knew that they should do their best to move on. They tried to encourage their dad to do the same, but the “Dallas” star chose to isolate himself on his ranch instead.
During this time, Patrick reportedly still spoke to Carlyn to work through the grief and still considered himself a “married man.” Padraic and Conor also encouraged him to step out of isolation and find someone new to spend the rest of his life with. Although Patrick knew it was necessary, he was hesitant.
Finding a relationship like the one he had with Carlyn would be difficult at best, and the actor was reluctant to try. His two children even tried setting him up with someone several times, but nothing seemed to pull him from his slump.
Patrick spent months on his ranch in almost complete isolation. During this time, the “Man from Atlantis” actor spent his days walking in nature and contemplating his relationship with Carlyn. He also mused about life in general and wrote poetry.
Moving on Was Hard but Necessary
Patrick and Linda Purl had known each other since 2019 when a mutual friend introduced them in Los Angeles. During Patrick’s extended isolation on his ranch, Linda was the only one he communicated with frequently.
Initially, the duo was part of Richard Thomas’ texting group. The two had been speaking via WhatsApp frequently and decided to move their communication to FaceTime. They called each other every Wednesday and shared many aspects of their lives. Then, in 2020, the COVID-19 lockdown happened.
The two quickly became each other’s social lifelines and found they had something special before starting daily video calls on Zoom. The two would talk every night, slowly getting to know one another. As they spoke, they realized they had a lot in common.
Their experiences in the entertainment industry weren’t the only things the two could bond over. They each shared a love for family. Patrick and Linda also spoke about almost everything, and their relationship grew closer by the day.
From the start, the two enjoyed cooking together, and their kitchen routines show their compatibility.
After a while, the actor realized he was enjoying Linda’s company tremendously. He spoke to her daily, and they discussed things he didn’t say to anyone else. So, he followed his sons’ advice and crossed the line of friendship when they were both ready for their next “great adventure” by telling Linda that he loved her.
Afterward, both of them wanted to see each other in person. Patrick decided the time was right, and on June 24, 2020, the actor drove from his ranch to her house. They spent a few weeks together, and when Patrick had to return home, she went along. They haven’t been apart since!
Life in ‘Duffy’s Kingdom’
Patrick bought his home, nicknamed “Duffy’s Kingdom” in an homage to the “Dallas” TV show, with his late wife. After acquiring the initial property for $1.5 million in the early 2000s, they bought the surrounding land as it went up for sale, with the actor noting:
“My family always felt like we were stewards as opposed to owners. We kept the boundaries sacred.”
Patrick and Carlyn loved the ranch when they first saw it, but the stretch of river running through it really sold the piece of land. They believed they were the luckiest people in the world when they were there.
The main house has four bedrooms, all attached to a gallery that houses an art collection. The property also features a caretaker’s cottage converted into a guest bedroom. They also added a room with a hot tub, another for an indoor lap pool, and a wine cellar.
The main feature of the house, though, is the impressive kitchen. With its homey white-and-blue color scheme, the kitchen seems straight out of a country abode. Patrick also restored a stove that he found in one of the old residences on an adjoining property.
Although Patrick and his late wife renovated the main house and added many things to it, they always tried to stay true to the original spirit of the property. They loved the untouched scenery and tried to keep things as natural as possible.
Due to the stretch of the Rogue River that flows through the ranch, the property is considered conservancy land. This contributed to the property’s natural air, and Patrick always thought himself the custodian of the pristine portion of land.
Some of the adjoining properties also have houses, which the actor rented out to local ranchers. These ranchers have started keeping cattle and other livestock, making the ranch lively and productive. Patrick commented:
“We became a working ranch but not with our own animals. It added the most beautiful, bucolic sense of the place.”
Patrick and his new partner, Linda, have embraced a lifestyle befitting the lovely kitchen in the Oregon ranch. From the start, the two enjoyed cooking together, and their kitchen routines show their compatibility. The duo also started a sourdough business, and they love working together.
In February, March, and September 2023, the two stars showed how much they enjoyed cooking together with videos uploaded on Patrick’s Instagram. The actor was recorded making Duffy Dough cinnamon rolls in February while Linda handled the recording off-camera.
For Saint Patrick’s Day in March, Linda’s partner showed himself whipping up a loaf of Irish soda bread. The former “Happy Days” star hilariously broke into Irish dancing before he advised her to keep practicing! In September, the couple showed off some of their baking products and what type of baked goods could be used to make them.