Who Is Patrick Duffy's Late Wife? See 5 Facts About Carlyn Rosser

Dallas actor Patrick Duffy was the happiest man on earth when he married his wife, Carlyn Rosser, in 1974. While their wedded bliss lasted for more than four decades, it unfortunately came to an end when Carlyn died in January 2017 and left him heartbroken.

“Patrick doesn’t hide his feelings about it,” an insider previously revealed to Closer Weekly. “He’s grateful for the years they had together but wishes they had more.”

Together, the loving couple had two kids — Padraic and Conor — who, just like the doting dad, miss their mom every single day. However, the couple’s children do understand that sometimes terrible things happen in life and you have to try your best to move on.

“His kids are encouraging him to find love again,” the insider added. “They’ve even tried to set him up.” After everything that’s happened, Patrick knows it will be hard to find the kind of love he shared with Carlyn. In fact, he said he still talks to her every day.

“I can hear her. I can see her,” the Man from Atlantis actor shared with Closer in November 2019. “I know what she would expect of me, and I try and live up to that.”

Even though Patrick will always consider himself “a married man,” he told Closer, it seems he took his kiddos’ words of advice. In November 2020, the Mistletoe Secret actor dished he gave love another shot with actress Linda Purl.

“I’m in an incredibly happy relationship,” Patrick told People, noting he couldn’t feel more grateful that the Happy Days alum came into his life. “I never thought for a minute this would happen again. I never thought I’d feel this way again.”

Patrick said he even believes Carlyn would support him in his pursuit to find true love again. “I feel, quite honestly, that it is keeping with the desires of my wife, the fact that we are intended to be happy,” he explained. “So when it’s offered, think about it, do whatever you do, but don’t let it pass you up if it’s the right thing.”

Scroll through the gallery below to learn more about Patrick’s late wife, Carlyn.

She Introduced Patrick to Buddhism

Being a Buddhist helped the Step by Step actor heal from his parents’ death. Both his mother and father were shot dead in 1986 when two young men walked into a bar to settle a dispute with his dad.

“When my parents were murdered, I went through all the emotions of the horrific event — shock and anger and everything — but I never felt disconnected from [my parents]. I never felt that immediate loss. I did not know why then, but in retrospect, it was a result of being Buddhist,” he explained to Closer.

Carlyn and Patrick Shared a Very Special Bond

As an actor’s wife, Carlyn knew what to expect when her husband had to shoot multiple sex scenes with his on-screen Dallas wife, Victoria Principal. Even though she was fine with this, she got emotional on set one day when she witnessed her beau do something to his costar that seemed a little bit too familiar.

“I said, ‘Sweetheart, what’s the matter? You’ve seen me do these scenes with Victoria before,'” Patrick recalled asking his wife after he caught her crying. “And she said, ‘I just saw a look on your face I thought you only had with me.'”

“It broke my heart,” he continued.

Her Legacy Lives On!

Carlyn is survived by her two sons, who are both married, and her four grandchildren. When Patrick takes one look at his beautiful family, he sees his gorgeous wife’s face every single time.

“I think if it weren’t for my wife and myself, this wouldn’t exist,” he explained. “That’s eight people — all of whom have the potential to create so much value in the world. How can you not be proud of that?”