This Actress Didn’t Believe She Was Beautiful, Yet Appeared on 500 Magazine Covers – at 66, She’s Still Admired

Magazine Cover Legend

On December 1, 1958, a future star was born in San Diego, California. By the late 1970s, she became a household name when she joined the cast of “Dallas.” This hit prime-time soap opera captivated more than 20 million American households every week. Set on the sprawling Southfork Ranch, the show followed the drama and scheming of the wealthy Ewing family.

At just 17, she took on the role of Lucy Ewing, J.R. Ewing’s clever and mischievous niece. Her character’s bold personality and dramatic storylines made her a fan favorite. One of the most memorable moments was Lucy’s wedding, which aired in 1981 to an incredible 65 million viewers.

However, this star’s skills and natural charm extended beyond the small screen. She became a fixture on magazine covers, reportedly appearing on more than 500 at the height of her fame. She also set her sights higher. “When I was on Dallas and doing bathing suit magazine covers, I couldn’t wait to get older,” the icon told People. “I always saw myself as a character actress. I really did.”

Despite her immense popularity, she credits her church and co-stars with keeping her grounded. “I also had great people around me,” she shared with Fox News Digital. This helped her avoid the downsides of fame. Unfortunately, while her career soared, her personal life told a very different story.

Troubled Childhood

The actress’s early years were filled with hardship. Raised by a single parent with schizophrenia, she experienced instability and trauma that shaped her upbringing. She witnessed moments no child should see, like her mom, Katherine, restrained in a straitjacket, their TV repossessed while she watched, and police leaving her alone in a strange city after taking her mother away.

Movies became her escape from the chaos. Classics like “Mary Poppins” and “The Sound of Music” gave her hope for a better life. She dreamed of having a maternal figure like Julie Andrews‘ characters.

At just five years old, her mother was institutionalized, leaving her to bounce between foster homes and relatives. In one painful memory, she overheard a foster family saying they wanted to “send her off.” That moment sparked a fierce need for independence in her.

“I thought, ‘I’m never going to depend on anybody to take care of me,'” she recalled while speaking to People. Finally, at 15, she moved to Hollywood on her own, determined to make her dreams a reality. She landed roles in hit shows like “Happy Days” and “Eight Is Enough.” But her life changed forever when she joined “Dallas.”

Troubled in Love & Life

Just when things were looking up for this actress, at least professionally, her relationships remained difficult. At 23, she married country singer Johnny Lee, who was 12 years her senior.

Though their two-year marriage ended in divorce, it brought her one of her greatest joys: her daughter, Cherish Lee, who was born in 1982. Cherish became the focus of her life, and the actress embraced being a hands-on parent, calling herself a “helicopter mom.”

She later married Domenick Allen in 1985, but the pair separated in the early 1990s, which would prove to be one of the most difficult decades of her life.

She left “Dallas” in 1990, and things became more than challenging. Financially strained, she cared for her daughter and her mother, who had been living in a care facility for a long time due to her mental health struggles.

The expenses overwhelmed the actress and led to the foreclosure of her home. Eventually, she moved into a small one-bedroom home with Cherish, taking only what they could carry.

However, after her mother’s death in 2001, this Hollywood icon began to rebuild her life. She found love again with cinematographer Cheddy Hart, and the couple became engaged.

But tragedy struck in 2009 when Hart died unexpectedly from heart failure. Devastated, she fell into a deep depression and turned to alcohol to cope.

It was during this time of self-destruction that a spiritual wake-up call came. “One day, I just heard God say to me, ‘You’re going to just lay down here and join Cheddy, or you’re going to get up and live the life I have for you? I have a purpose and a plan for your life, you know that,'” she revealed.

This revelation and a friend inspired her to volunteer with Actors for Autism, an organization that helps young people on the spectrum. “To get out of your own depression or grief, you go help somebody,” she said to People. Afterward, things seemed to settle in her life.

Aging Beautifully

You may have guessed by now that this is actress Charlene Tilton, who, at 66, has found peace and joy despite previous struggles. She also sees herself in a different light.

Looking back at her younger self, she admits she didn’t understand her beauty at the time. “I had no idea how beautiful I was,” she said. “I look back at pictures now and go, ‘I really was all that and a bag of chips!'”

Even as one of the most photographed women of her era, Charlene often compared herself to other Hollywood stars, like Farrah Fawcett and Suzanne Somers.

She also admired the elegance of model Iman, whom she described as “the epitome of beauty.” In contrast, Charlene considered herself “curvy” rather than tall and slender. “I’m not elegant, I’m spunky,” she told People. “What I love about the age I am now is it brings different characters.”

With that acceptance came a quieter life. When her daughter moved to Nashville to pursue music, Charlene followed. Now, she spends her days acting in faith-based films and TV movies, such as “Heaven Sent” and “God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust.”

But her greatest happiness comes from her two young grandsons. “They are the joys and loves of my life,” she said. “They just keep me so happy. I’m fortunate that I get to be on a set and work. But being a grandmother is the thing that gives me the most joy.”

Furthermore, it’s clear from social media that she has maintained a close relationship with Cherish, who posted a touching tribute last year for her mother’s 65th birthday. The caption read, “To celebrate this woman is an honor! To have her as my mother is a blessing indeed. I love you and I am beyond proud of you.”

Naturally, fans flooded the comments with admiration. One wrote, “Looking younger than ever.” Another posted, “ICON! ❤️,” while someone else added, “Oh my Ms. Tilton is still so beautiful as she was on Dallas [sic]! God bless you and your family 🙌❤️.”

Whether dazzling audiences on “Dallas” or finding joy as a grandmother in Tennessee, Charlene continues to inspire others. At 66, she reminds us all that beauty, strength, and purpose can shine through even the darkest moments.