The greatest on-screen mother-daughter duos of the 1980s – see their transformation 4 decades later

In 1983, Terms of Endearment premiered, starring Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine as Aurora Greenway and Emma Greenway Horton. The film, which follows a widow mother and daughter over thirty years, won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Shirley for Best Actress.

Four decades after the film's triumphant premiere, both Shirley and Debra are still acting. Shirley is now 92, living in Malibu, California. She refuses to retire and is set to star in two upcoming films – People Not Places and Margret and Stevie. Debra, 71, took a hiatus from acting in 1995, before returning to the big screen in 2001. Since then, Debra's starred alongside Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married and with Sam Elliott in Netflix's The Ranch.

Jane Fonda starred alongside Katharine Hepburn and her father, Henry Fonda, in 1981's On Golden Pond. The drama mirrored the real-life and complex reconciliation between Jane and Henry, and was anchored by Katharine's warm presence. On Golden Pond received 10 Oscar nominations and won three. The film was Henry's last on-screen appearance before his death in 1982.

While Katharine, who passed away at 96 in 2003, and Jane portrayed a strong mother-daughter duo on screen, their relationship off-screen was a bit more tense. In 2023, Jane told AARP: "I was intimidated by Katharine, that's for sure. My God. When we made On Golden Pond, she made sure that she was always top dog — and that I knew it." At 88, Jane is a Hollywood titan. She's won two Academy Awards, an Emmy, and has been nominated for a Grammy and two Tony Awards.

Steel Magnolias is a classic '80s film. Starring Sally Field and Julia Roberts as M'Lynn and Shelby Eatenton as a Southern mother-daughter duo, it is still loved today. The drama followed mom and daughter as they faced Shelby's type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Julia's portrayal of Shelby earned her her first Academy Award nomination.

Both Sally and Julia are still acting today. Sally, 79, won her fourth Emmy Award in 2026 for her role in Netflix's Remarkably Bright Creatures, and became the oldest woman to win in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category. Julia, 58, starred in After the Hunt in 2025 and is set to reprise her role of Tess Ocean in the upcoming sequel, Ocean's 14. But, much of her time is spent raising her three children, twins Hazel and Phinnaeus, 21, and son Henry, 19, who she shares with husband Danny Moder.

On the small screen, the most iconic mother-daughter duo of the '80s was surely Elyse and Mallory Keaton from Family Ties. Played by Meredith Baxter and Justine Bateman, the two couldn't have been more different. Elyse was a former 1960s radical hippie, while Mallory was a materialistic, fashion-obsessed teen. But, when they came together, the mom and daughter provided heartwarming moments for fans of the sitcom.

Meredith, 79, continues to act, recently appearing in an episode of the medical drama Code Black (2016). But, her focus is on her staunch advocacy, including breast cancer awareness following her own battle with the disease. She is a mother-of-five and is married to wife Nancy Locke. In the decades since Family Ties wrapped, Justine, now 60, has enjoyed a successful TV career, appearing in the likes of Desperate Housewives, and has recently transitioned to more behind-the-scenes work. Her film directorial debut, Violet, premiered in 2021, starring Olivia Munn and Justin Theroux.

1981's Mommie Dearest gave fans multiple mother-daughter duos to latch onto. The psychological drama starred Faye Dunaway, Mara Hobel, and Diana Scarwid depicting a mother and daughter with an incredibly turbulent relationship. Faye starred as Joan Crawford, while Mara and Diana starred as Christina Crawford at different ages. The film now has a cult following, but wasn't well received at the time.

Over 50 years later, only one of the Mommie Dearest stars is still acting. Faye, 85, is set to appear in the upcoming indie film Prima alongside Nicola Peltz Beckham. But, the actress – who has also won an Emmy, BAFTA, and three Golden Globes – has stepped back from the spotlight in recent years, choosing to live a quieter life. Her Mommie Dearest co-stars, Mara, 55, and Diana, 71, have both left Hollywood. Mara currently teaches acting classes for children, while Diana works with local non-profit organizations.