Actress Linda Gray has shared why she made a major life change after decades at her California ranch. The 86-year-old star left the property she had called home since 1973 following the 2020 death of her son, documentary maker Jeff Thrasher, who died from leukemia at 56. Speaking about the years after his passing, Linda described the weight of staying in a place filled with memories, while also facing the reality of managing a large home and land on her own.
Linda Gray Left Her Ranch After 50 Years
According to Hello Magazine, Linda said, "I thought, what am I doing here?" The actress had been living alone in the large house on three acres after her son's death, surrounded by a ranch life that had once been full of activity. Over the years, the land had been home to horses, chickens, dogs, cats, a pig and a goat. Her daughter, Kehly Sloane, encouraged the move, believing a new home could help create distance from daily reminders tied to Jeff and the life they had shared there.
Linda Gray Speaks About Losing Son Jeff Thrasher
Linda also spoke candidly about the grief she continues to carry. "He never leaves your heart. I was the one that brought him onto the earth and that never goes away," Linda told Hello Magazine. She said the loss of a child is something a mother never fully accepts. Jeff remains present in her memories, from his childhood to later years, and she still feels connected to him in quiet moments. For Linda, grief has not faded, but it has changed shape as she moves through daily life.
Palm Springs Brings Linda Gray Peace
After leaving the ranch, Linda settled into a condominium in Palm Springs overlooking a golf course. The new setting has given her a calmer rhythm and a different view each day. She enjoys watching ducks on the pond outside her window and seeing friends pass by in golf carts. The shift from wide ranch land to a smaller home marked a big adjustment, but it also offered relief. In her new surroundings, Linda has found a sense of serenity and peace that had been missing for a long time.
Grandchildren Fill Linda Gray’s Home Each April
Her Palm Springs home also becomes much livelier when family visits during Coachella. Linda’s daughter’s sons, Ryder, 32, a photographer, and Jack, 22, stay with her during the festival, turning the quiet condo into a busy family base. Linda described the aftermath with humor, saying clothes and shoes end up everywhere and every bed gets used. Even with late-night returns, she keeps one firm house rule: no waking Grandma. The mornings, though, are hers, and she takes pleasure in making breakfast and enjoying grandmother duty.
