If you spent any time in front of a TV in the 1980s, you knew the Landers sisters. You couldn't escape them. Audrey was the sultry, scheming Afton Cooper on Dallas, and Judy was the bubbly, often-underestimated blonde appearing in every hit comedy from BJ and the Bear to Night Court. They were the ultimate Hollywood duo. But Hollywood is a fickle place, and fame usually has an expiration date.
Funny thing, though. Audrey and Judy Landers today aren't just "former stars" living off old residuals. They’ve basically built a family-run empire that spans three generations, and honestly, it’s a lot more interesting than the gossip columns ever gave them credit for.
The Evolution of the Landers Brand
Most people think they just vanished when the big hair went out of style. Wrong. While many of their peers were struggling to adapt to a changing industry, the Landers sisters, led by their powerhouse mother and manager Ruth Landers, shifted gears. They stopped waiting for the phone to ring and started making the calls themselves.
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Audrey, who always had a bit more of a "serious" edge—having studied at both Juilliard and Columbia—dove deep into music and production. She didn't just sing on Dallas; she wrote the songs. That’s a detail a lot of folks miss. She has dozens of gold and platinum records in Europe, specifically Germany, where she’s basically a pop goddess. Even in 2026, those tracks still get play. It’s wild.
Business First, Fame Second
The sisters eventually moved their base of operations to Sarasota, Florida. Why? Because the sun is nice, sure, but also because they realized they could build something sustainable there. They launched the Landers STAR Collection, a fashion line that found massive success on shopping networks like QVC and Home Shopping Europe.
They realized early on that their fans were growing up with them. The women who watched Dallas in 1982 were the same women looking for affordable, glamorous fashion in the 2000s and beyond. It was smart. It was calculated. It worked.
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Where is Judy Landers Now?
Judy was always the one people labeled as the "blonde bombshell," but she was a savvy collaborator. She married former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tom Niedenfuer in 1987. That’s a Hollywood marriage that actually lasted—nearly 40 years. You don't see that often.
She’s mostly stepped back from the relentless grind of acting to focus on her family, but she’s never truly retired. She and Audrey collaborated on The Huggabug Club, a multi-award-winning children’s series that ran for years on public television. If you have kids or grandkids, you might have inadvertently heard Audrey’s songwriting through those 250+ tracks she wrote for the show.
Setting the Record Straight on Recent Rumors
There has been some confusion online lately. If you search for Judy Landers today, you might stumble across some obituary notices for a "Judy Landers" in Tennessee or Georgia. To be clear: that is not the actress Judy Landers. The Hollywood Judy is very much alive and remains a fixture in the Sarasota community alongside her sister. It’s one of those weird internet glitches where a common name causes a minor panic among fans. She’s fine. She’s still gardening, cooking for her family, and occasionally appearing at fan events.
Audrey Landers: Still a Creative Force
Audrey is the one who really keeps the production engine humming. She’s been remarkably active in the 2020s. She recently appeared in films like Cloudy with a Chance of Christmas (2023) and the Lifetime thriller Engaged to a Psycho. She doesn't need the work, but she clearly still loves the craft.
She’s also passing the torch. Her son, Daniel Landers, is a musician and actor in his own right. They often collaborate through their company, Three Cubed Entertainment. They’ve been developing everything from "dark pop" musicals to high-concept dramas. It's a far cry from the oil fields of Southfork, but it shows a level of creative growth most actors from that era never achieve.
Why They Actually Matter in 2026
We live in an era of "influencers" and overnight TikTok stars. The Landers sisters are the antithesis of that. They represent a specific kind of old-school Hollywood work ethic where you learned how to sing, dance, act, and—most importantly—manage your own money.
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- Longevity: They’ve stayed relevant for over 50 years.
- Independence: They own their productions and their fashion brand.
- Family Values: They’ve kept their family unit tight-knit, with their mother Ruth remaining a central figure in their business dealings well into her later years.
How to Follow the Landers Sisters Today
If you’re looking to keep up with them, Audrey is the more active one on social media. She’s on Instagram and Facebook, often posting updates about her music or behind-the-scenes clips from her latest projects.
For the true fans, it’s worth checking out the Landers STAR Collection if you're into that classic, glamorous aesthetic they’ve championed for decades.
The biggest takeaway from looking at Audrey and Judy Landers today is that they didn't let the industry define them. They took the "blonde sisters" trope of the 80s and turned it into a multi-million dollar family legacy. That’s the real story.
If you want to dive deeper into 80s icons who successfully pivoted, you should look into how other Dallas alumni managed their post-show careers. Many struggled, but a select few, like the Landers, found a way to own the game rather than just play it. Keep an eye on Audrey's official site for news on her next European concert dates—she still draws huge crowds across the pond.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check Official Sources: Follow Audrey Landers on Instagram for real-time updates on her music and TV appearances to avoid internet rumors.
- Explore Their Music: Look for Audrey’s discography on streaming platforms; her European pop hits are surprisingly catchy "evergreens" that still hold up.
- Support the Brand: If you’re a fan of their style, the Landers STAR Collection remains their primary business venture and a way to see their design philosophy in action.