This ’80s TV Icon Divorced a Pastor After 24 Years & ‘Never Thought’ It Could Happen – Inside Her Story

This actress may have grown up far from Hollywood, but she became one of television’s most recognizable faces. Born on May 29, 1963, in Littlefield, Texas, to Virginia “Genny” Whelchel and James “Jimmy” Whelchel Sr., she rose to fame as the polished, quick-witted teenager on one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1980s, “The Facts of Life.”

Her acting career didn’t stop with her signature role. She reprised her character in TV movies like “The Facts of Life Goes to Paris” (1982) and “The Facts of Life Reunion” (2001), and later appeared in holiday films such as “Hearts of Spring” (2016) and “You Light Up My Christmas” (2019).

While her career appeared destined to make her a household name, it was the choices she made off-screen — guided by strong faith and personal convictions — that truly set her apart.

One of her biggest decisions came in 1993 when she was offered a part in a new show that would later become a huge success. In a 2014 interview with OWN, she recalled reading the pilot script for “Friends” and telling her husband, “This is the funniest script I have ever read and this is going to be a huge hit.”

But she declined the role for a reason. “I can tell it is going to be all about just, you know, sex and anything to go with that. I don’t regret not taking that opportunity,” she said.

Her dedication to her values was clear even earlier in her career. While filming “The Facts of Life,” she declined to take part in an episode where the writers originally planned for her character, Blair, to lose her virginity. The storyline was later given to another character, Natalie.

In a 2015 interview, she explained that many young girls, around eight or nine years old, watched the show and might not understand the context.

She felt the storyline treated sex before marriage as “a normal fact of life” and worried it would be handled too lightly. As she put it, after something serious, the show would simply end with “a group hug,” and by the next week, focus on something trivial like “Joe buying a new motorcycle.” For her, that wasn’t the right message to send to young viewers.

A Life Built on Faith, a Divorce Kept Private

In July 1988, she married pastor Steve Cauble. Together, they raised three children, building a life centered around faith and family values. Their marriage appeared strong.

However, after 24 years together, their relationship quietly came to an end. The actress initially kept the news a secret, with only close friends aware of the split.

Even after their divorce, they maintained a close relationship, often going out to dinner or seeing movies together. Their connection remained so unchanged that their daughter Clancy once joked she wouldn’t have known they were divorced unless told directly.

Reflecting on the marriage’s end, she admitted, “Of course I still believe in marriage. I never thought divorce would happen to me. But Steve is still my best friend. We just couldn’t be married.”

She later explained how the experience shaped her perspective. “I personally have much more understanding and empathy now. You don’t know what people are facing in their lives, so it’s important to love and not judge them,” she said.

She explained that her faith taught her that everyone makes mistakes and deserves forgiveness. The experience showed her the importance of offering kindness and understanding to others, especially during difficult times.

As she adjusted to life after divorce, she prepared to face the next challenge — one that would push her both mentally and physically.

Rebuilding Herself & Her Career

After years devoted to her family, this actress, Lisa Whelchel, reached a point where she was ready to focus on herself again. A longtime fan of “Survivor,” she decided to join the show. “I wanted a challenge,” she said. “I had dreamed about being on the show for years. And I really wanted to do the Survivor challenges.”

Her timing was significant. “The divorce was final on March 1, and [I] went out to be on Survivor on March 10,” she revealed in September 2012. She shared that joining the show helped shift her focus and kept her from dwelling on the pain of her divorce.

Lisa’s children supported her every step of the way. Her daughter, Haven, described her as “the strongest woman I know,” while her son Tucker, added, “When Mom gets something in her mind to do, she does it. I’m very proud of her.”

Completing “Survivor” marked a turning point. She soon relocated to Los Angeles and resumed her acting career, appearing in Tyler Perry’s “A Madea Christmas” and taking on roles in several Hallmark productions.

Reflecting on her return to entertainment, Lisa said, “My heart is in comedy. The broader the comedy, the better! I was out of showbiz for so long, so it was perfect to re-enter it with a Tyler Perry movie. It’s like 90 minutes of an ’80s sitcom!”

Lisa also focused on her well-being, recognizing how staying active improved both her physical and mental health. “The biggest step is getting off your couch to work out,” she explained.

She encouraged finding simple ways to stay active, adding that once she started, it motivated her to make healthier choices. “When I do it, I definitely see results. I don’t end up looking like Jillian Michaels, but I feel and look better,” she added.

But as she rebuilt her life and career, an even more meaningful new chapter quietly unfolded.

A Second Chance at Love & Embracing a New Role

Years after her divorce, Lisa — at 56 — found love again in an unexpected but fulfilling way. She is happily married to her second husband, Pete Harris, who holds a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) degree. The couple became engaged in November 2019.

She shared the news on Instagram, “I said, ‘Yes!!!!’ to spending the rest of my life loving this man. To marriage as a spiritual path with this true companion. To belly laughing over sophomoric humor and word nerd puns. To never-enough couch cuddles and kisses on curbs. To creating memories while on a bi-coastal family adventure. To soul growth within the crucible of intimacy. And, fun – lots and lots of fun! I love you, @lovemattersmostyall and I am grateful beyond words for the Grace that led me to you.”

The couple tied the knot on December 20, 2019. Their relationship, marked by warmth and humor, quickly became a source of deep joy.

In a heartfelt anniversary post in 2021, she wrote, “Happy Anniversary, my True Companion. I would rather stay home, eat cereal in bed, and binge watch a show with you than the fanciest dinner in France. Although, a night out celebrating you and us was also nice. Now, let’s hurry home and get in our pj’s! I love being married to you.”

In February 2024, Lisa shared a sweet tribute to Pete Harris. She posted a photo of him baking and said she loved him deeply. She jokingly suggested he could buy her chocolates the day after Valentine’s Day.

Lisa’s post read, “Thank you for being who you are and choosing to spend your life with me. (And, feel free to buy me a pound of See’s Candies Dark Chocolate Nuts and Chews on February 15th. 🙂 💞.”

Although Pete doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day on principle, Lisa happily took the opportunity to praise him. She remarked, “Because of him, I am happier than I have ever been in my whole life (and that is saying a lot because I’ve had a very happy life!) He takes such good care of all of me but especially of my heart.”

Around the same time, she embraced yet another joyful role — becoming a grandmother. In September 2021, she proudly posted a photo featuring her pregnant daughter, writing, “Counting down the days and minutes until I get to meet my grandson.”

By December of the same year, Lisa introduced her grandson publicly during an “ExtraTV interview,” beaming, “Hello, this is my grandbaby.”

Whelchel’s Life as a Grandma

While she has a happy marriage with Pete, Lisa Whelchel also has other sources of joy, mainly in her children and grandchildren. Whelchel once shared what she felt was most important to her and said that her children were.

She shared, “Just to know your children are solid, have good hearts, and have found spouses who are amazing people who love them — there is no greater joy.”

She said that when she leaves this earth, she will do it smiling because she knows that her children are happy. Her children are also the reason that she has another reason to smile. They have given her grandchildren.

Whelchel often posts about her grandchildren on Instagram, showing how proud she is of them and all the love she has for them. In 2019, when her granddaughter, Eisley Virginia, was born, Whelchel posted the happy occasion.

The post contained a series of photos of the child’s first hours on Earth. The first photo showed a beaming Whelchel holding the tiny infant, while the next showed Eisley on her own and with her parents.

One of the photos revealed that the whole family had gathered in the hospital room to share the happy occasion. Each member crowded around the bed, where Eisley was held by her mother, and smiled at the camera.

In the post’s caption, Lisa said she was grateful Eisley had come into the world early because she had been so excited to meet her. She then said the baby was perfect and also had perfect parents.

Lisa also revealed in that post that her grandchildren called her “CoCoMaMa.” She has since shared this name on Instagram many more times since her grandchildren were born.

The actress often posts pictures with her family on social media and talks about what a blessing it is to be able to spend quality time with them. She has said that being around her family is the most important thing to her.