Fans of iconic ’80s sitcoms got a major blast from the past when one of TV’s biggest sex symbols set Instagram on fire.
Blonde bombshell Lydia Cornell, now 72, sizzled once again in a recent post, reminding fans why she turned heads as Sara Rush on Too Close for Comfort.
The El Paso native, who also shared the screen with David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider, brought charm and cheek to her role as the daughter of Ted Knight’s Henry Rush.
During the show’s 1980–1985 run, Sara got into all sorts of hijinks with sister Jackie, played by Deborah Van Valkenburgh and their eccentric friend Monroe Ficus, played by comedian Jim J. Bullock.
At the height of the sitcom’s popularity in 1982, Cornell — alongside Suzanne Somers — was hailed by sexologist Robert T. Francoeur as a modern embodiment of ‘classic female stereotypes in the mold of Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield.’
Lydia herself recently embraced the label in a heartfelt Instagram tribute to the late Loni Anderson.
Fans of iconic ’80s sitcoms got a major blast from the past when Lydia Cornell set Instagram on fire recently; (seen in 1980)
Blonde bombshell Cornell , now 72, sizzled once again in a recent post, reminding fans why she turned heads as Sara Rush on Too Close for Comfort; (seen in 1980)
The El Paso native (R) brought charm and cheek to her role as the daughter of Ted Knight’s (center) Henry Rush, along with Deborah Van Valkenburgh (L) and Nancy Dussault (top)
Sharing a snap of herself with Anderson, Melrose Place star Courtney Thorne-Smith, and Hollywood legend Tippi Hedren, Cornell wrote on August 4: ‘Rest in Peace Loni Anderson. What a beauty, gone too soon. My heart goes out to her children, friends and loved ones.
‘It was a strange trip being an “80s sex-symbol.” And sometimes, hell on earth. But Loni had great sense of humor about it, and we both got a lot of laughs at our ‘required’ poster sessions.
‘At least she made her character intelligent too.’
Unsurprisingly, fans were wowed by how youthful and strikingly glamorous Lydia looked.
In post after post, she proves that age hasn’t slowed her down—either in life or in looks.
As for the ‘hell on earth’ of being a sex symbol, Lydia once revealed the pressure ABC put on her to maintain that ideal.
‘ABC was promoting me as a sex symbol,’ she told People in 2020. ‘They used to measure my underwear. It had to be a certain number of inches from the calf to the panty line!
‘I was a piece of meat, but I was so grateful for a job.’
At 72, Lydia still radiates the same star power that made her a household name in the 1980s; (pictured July 2025)
At the height of the sitcom’s popularity in 1982, Cornell — alongside Suzanne Somers — was hailed by sexologist Robert T. Francoeur as a modern embodiment of ‘classic female stereotypes in the mold of Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield’
During the show’s 1980–1985 run, Sara got into all sorts of hijinks with sister Jackie, played by Deborah Van Valkenburgh and their eccentric friend Monroe Ficus, played by comedian Jim J. Bullock
Lydia shared the screen with David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider
Longtime followers also know that Lydia overcame a difficult battle with substance abuse to reach the thriving life she leads today; (seen in 1985)
Longtime followers also know that Lydia overcame a difficult battle with substance abuse to reach the thriving life she leads today.
‘During the series, we would go out every night and … drink like five bottles or something. [But after the show] I was just binge drinking. You lose control and you don’t know what you’re doing,’ she told Fox in 2020.
‘I became a radioactive blackout drinker.’
After Too Close for Comfort ended, Lydia remained in the Hollywood spotlight, reportedly dating such famous lotharios as Lorenzo Lamas and the late playboy Dodi Fayed.
‘I was drinking champagne and cocktails every night,’ she told People. ‘I crashed and burned.’
But with the birth of her son Jack in 1994, she left the party girl life behind.
‘I wanted to be a good mother,’ Cornell, who shares her son with comedy writer Jim Mulholland, told Fox.
‘It became really scary after I had my baby. I didn’t drink during the pregnancy at all, but after he was born, I couldn’t handle it. I drank until I passed out, blacked out. It was really scary.’
Lydia once revealed the pressure ABC put on her to maintain an ideal: ‘They used to measure my underwear. It had to be a certain number of inches from the calf to the panty line!’
But with the birth of her son Jack in 1994, she left the party girl life behind: ‘I wanted to be a good mother’
‘I never really did hard drugs. I never liked marijuana. It made you eat everything. But I haven’t touched a drug or drink since 1994. It’s been a spiritual thing. Sobriety is a beautiful, incredible gift.
‘And I truly believe it got me closer to God. Life now is always fresh and beautiful.’
During her interview with Fox, Lydia also opened up about her whirlwind start in Hollywood, revealing that her path to stardom was anything but ordinary.
Fresh out of college, she spent hours tracking down producers and writing letters, determined to turn her lifelong dream of acting into reality.
As she told Fox, ‘The minute I got to town, I was invited by an agent to a dinner party. I remember at the front booth of this fancy restaurant was Aaron Spelling. He was sitting with Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner. I was so starstruck.’
That chance encounter led to her first professional gig on The Love Boat, followed by a string of guest roles on other Spelling productions, including Charlie’s Angels.
‘I ended up doing nine guest-starring roles for Aaron Spelling,’ Lydia recalled.
Her big break on Too Close for Comfort came in equally unexpected fashion.
The former Too Close for Comfort bombshell has kept her trademark glamour, dazzling fans with her timeless beauty; (seen in July 2025)
Decades after being hailed as a sex symbol, she continues to turn heads with her youthful glow; (seen in July 2025)
Lydia, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, and Jim J. Bullock still reunite at fan conventions, delighting longtime Too Close for Comfort fans
The trio is keeping the show’s legacy alive decades later
Lydia showed up late to her audition in a soaked cheerleader sweater after a rare LA downpour.
Initially turned away, she got a last-minute chance to read for creator Arne Sultan.
Recounting the chaotic moment, she said, ‘There’s a line in the script that says “Sara gives her dad a raspberry.” So I’m here picking up this imaginary raspberry and handing it to Arne. He goes, “What the hell are you giving me?” I said, “I’m giving dad a raspberry.” He goes, “Oh my God, she doesn’t know what giving a raspberry means?” They all laughed so hard, tears were coming out.’
That impromptu moment sealed her fate.
‘Then they went, “She’s perfect for the part.” It was a total fluke,’ she explained.
The producers were charmed, and by the next morning, Lydia was officially cast as Sara Rush, proving that sometimes, serendipity and a little chaos are all it takes to launch a career.
