If you spent your evenings watching late-70s and 80s sitcoms, you likely remember It's a Living, the breezy comedy set in the pretentious restaurant atop the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. The show survived network shifts, title changes, and syndication revivals, propelled entirely by an ensemble cast of sharp-witted waitresses and their exasperated piano player.
Decades after the final dinner service wrapped, fans often wonder what happened to the actors who brought the Skyline Lounge to life. While some cast members have passed away, others transitioned into behind-the-scenes production, directing, or peaceful retirements away from Hollywood.
Understanding the Show and Its Cast Legacy
It's a Living ran from 1980 to 1989, originally premiering on ABC before finding a long, lucrative life in first-run syndication. The premise centered on the personal and professional lives of waitresses working at a high-end restaurant. Over its run, the lineup shifted, introducing new faces while retaining core fan favorites.
Because many of the actors spent years on stage and television before and after the series, their post-sitcom trajectories varied wildly. Let's look at where the primary cast members ended up, what they achieved after the show, and how their careers evolved.
Marian Mercer (Nancy Beebe)
Marian Mercer played Nancy Beebe, the veteran waitress with a heart of gold and a knack for sharp one-liners. Before joining It's a Living, Mercer was already an accomplished stage actress who won a Tony Award for her work in Promises, Promises.
After the sitcom ended in 1989, Mercer continued working in television with guest appearances on shows like Empty Nest and Murphy Brown. She retired from acting in the mid-1990s to focus on her personal life and community interests. Mercer passed away in November 2011 at the age of 75 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. Her extensive contributions to both Broadway and television secured her legacy as a versatile comedic talent.
Ann Jillian (Cassie Cranston)
Ann Jillian portrayed Cassie Cranston, the ambitious, aspiring actress whose theatrical dreams fueled much of her humor. Jillian was already a major pop-culture figure when she joined the series, having famously triumphed over breast cancer during the height of her television career.
Following It's a Living, Jillian starred in her own self-titled sitcom, Ann Jillian, and several high-profile television movies, including The Ann Jillian Story, where she played herself. In the 1990s, she stepped back from daily television acting to raise her son and focus on motivational speaking and cancer advocacy. Today, Jillian remains active in health advocacy circles, sharing her survivor story and supporting medical research initiatives. You can read more about her advocacy work through organizations like the American Cancer Society.
Gail Strickland (Dot Higgins)
Gail Strickland played Dot Higgins during the show's initial network run on ABC. Dot was the cynical, world-weary waitress who provided a grounded counterpart to the more theatrical personalities in the lounge.
Strickland left the series early in its run, which allowed her to pursue a prolific career in film and dramatic television. She appeared in major feature films like Norma Rae and Bound, alongside recurring roles in prestige dramas such as Dallas and The West Wing. Strickland eventually transitioned away from acting in the late 2000s and has since maintained a quiet, private life.
Barrie Youngfellow (Jan Miller)
Barrie Youngfellow portrayed Jan Miller, the sarcastic and street-smart waitress who anchored many of the show's workplace dynamics. Youngfellow brought a grounded, deadpan delivery that kept the ensemble balanced.
After It's a Living concluded, Youngfellow appeared in various television guest roles, including episodes of The King of Queens and Moesha. She married fellow actor Tom Poston in 2001, and the couple remained together until his passing in 2007. In her later years, Youngfellow stepped away from the spotlight, living quietly in California and keeping out of the public eye.
Paul Kreppel (Sonny Fox)
Paul Kreppel played Sonny Fox, the smooth-talking, womanizing piano player whose lounge music provided a constant backdrop to the waitress station drama. Sonny was the quintessential 1980s sitcom cad, yet Kreppel infused the character with enough charm to keep him likable.
Unlike many of his co-stars, Kreppel transitioned smoothly behind the camera. He directed episodes of several television series and focused heavily on theater, writing and starring in the one-man show The Lion, the Fox & the Eagle. He also co-founded theater workshops to mentor young actors. Kreppel remains active in the artistic community, balancing creative projects with directing work.
Louise Lasser (Maggie Flynn)
Louise Lasser joined the cast later in the run as Maggie Flynn, bringing her signature deadpan delivery and neurotic comedic timing that fans remembered from Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
Lasser continued to act in both film and television long after the show ended. She appeared in independent films like Requiem for a Dream and television series such as Girls. Lasser has spent significant time teaching acting and participating in regional theater productions, maintaining a reputation as a fiercely dedicated character actress who values craft over mainstream celebrity.
Crystal Bernard (Amy Tompkins)
Crystal Bernard joined the cast in syndication as Amy Tompkins, the sweet, naive Texan whose wide-eyed innocence added a fresh dynamic to the restaurant staff.
Shortly after It's a Living wrapped, Bernard landed her defining role as Helen Chappel Hackett on the long-running sitcom Wings, which aired from 1990 to 1997. Following Wings, Bernard shifted her primary focus toward music, releasing several Christian pop and country albums and touring nationally. She also starred in various stage productions, including regional tours of Annie Get Your Gun. Today, Bernard splits her time between music projects and private creative ventures.
Common Misconceptions About the Show
When looking back at classic sitcoms, fans often misremember broadcast timelines or confuse syndicated replacements with original cast members.
- The Title Change: Viewers often forget that the show was briefly retitled Making a Living during its second season on ABC before returning to its original name when it moved to syndication.
- Cast Continuity: Because the show underwent several cast changes between its network run and its syndicated years, many fans blend the ABC episodes and the syndication episodes into one continuous timeline in their memories.
- Syndication Success: Some assume the show was an instant ratings hit, whereas it actually built its massive cult following through years of late-night and daytime syndication reruns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch It's a Living today?
Official streaming availability for It's a Living is limited due to music licensing and syndication rights. However, select episodes and clips frequently circulate on archival video platforms and fan-run community sites dedicated to 1980s television.
Why did the cast change so often?
The series experienced major production shifts when it moved from ABC network broadcasting to first-run syndication. Budget adjustments, network cancellations, and actors pursuing other pilot opportunities led to several cast members departing while new characters were introduced.
Did any cast members win major awards for the show?
While the ensemble received praise for their chemistry, the series itself was primarily a ratings and syndication workhorse rather than an awards darling. However, several cast members, such as Marian Mercer and Ann Jillian, brought impressive prior awards credentials—including Tony nominations and wins—to the set.
Are there any official reunions?
There has never been a formal televised reunion special for It's a Living. Most updates regarding the cast come from retrospective television articles, industry interviews, and archival biographical updates maintained by entertainment historians.
