They Made Us Laugh on ‘Designing Women’—Here’s What the Cast is Up to 40 Years Later

We love a good series about female friendship, and Designing Women most certainly delivers in that department. The hit 80s sitcom followed a group of unique and quirky women, plus their delivery man who eventually becomes a partner, running the design firm Sugarbaker and Associates. The series first hit the airwaves back in 1986 and ran until 1993, and though it’s been quite some time since we’ve seen the Sugarbaker crew on our screens, many of them are still enjoying successful careers. Here, take a look at where the Designing Women cast is today. 

Delta Burke as Suzanne Sugarbaker

Delta Burke famously portrayed Suzanne Sugarbaker on Designing Women up until a rift with the series’ creator led her to step away from the show in 1991. However, Delta continued to act in the years that followed, even reprising her Designing Women role in Women of the House, a spin-off series. She additionally appeared in series such as Delta, DAG and Boston Legal, but over the last few years, she’s chosen to live a quieter, private life, with her last on-screen appearance being in Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings. 

Dixie Carter as Julia Sugarbaker

Dixie Carter also continued acting after Designing Women, both on the stage and screen. In the years after the hit sitcom ended, she acted in shows like Family Law and Desperate Housewives, as well as appearing on Broadway in shows like Thoroughly Modern Millie. She was married to actor Hal Halbrook up until she passed away in 2010 of complications related to endometrial cancer. 

Annie Potts as Mary Jo Shively

After Designing Women, Annie Potts has certainly kept busy—up to today! In the years that preceded the sitcom, Potts could be seen in Love & War, Dangerous Minds, Any Day Now, Joan of Arcadia, and dozens of other television shows, but it was her role as Meemaw in the Big Bang Theory spin-off Young Sheldon that earned her a new generation of fans. 

Jean Smart as Charlene Frazier Stillfield

Jean Smart was another actress within this cast whose career continued to boom after her time on the show came to an end. The actress shone in series like High Society, In-Laws, The District, 24, Samantha Who?, and has even lent her voice to countless animated series over the years. However, it’s her role as Deborah Vance in Hacks, for which she’s taken home Emmy Awards, that put her on the map once again. 

Meshach Taylor as Anthony Bouvier

After Designing Women, Meshach Taylor lent his voice to countless animated series and acted in shows like Dave’s World, Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide and many others. His most recent role was in a few episodes of Criminal Minds. Sadly, he passed away in 2014 of colon cancer.