Lauren Tewes left Hollywood and became cheese steward after losing baby

From Hollywood to Cheese: Lauren Tewes’ Heartbreaking Journey & Reinvention

🎬 The Love Boat Star Who Stepped Away

Lauren Tewes, best known as cruise director Julie McCoy on the hit 1970s/80s series The Love Boat, faced a personal tragedy that led her to leave Hollywood behind. After struggling with cocaine addiction in the ’80s (which she later overcame) and navigating the ups and downs of fame, Tewes experienced a devastating loss: the death of her baby in the late 1990s.

🧀 A New Life as a Cheese Steward

Grieving and seeking a fresh start, Tewes moved to Washington State and reinvented herself in an unexpected way:

• Became a cheese professional, working as a cheese steward (a certified expert in cheese selection and pairing) at DeLaurenti Food & Wine in Seattle’s Pike Place Market.

• Embraced simplicity: Traded red carpets for artisan wheels, calling cheese her “new happy place.”

• Found healing: “Food is comfort,” she told People Magazine in 2012. “It’s about nurturing people.”

⚓ Why She Left Hollywood

Though Tewes had already stepped back from acting post-Love Boat, the loss of her child (details of which she’s kept private) deepened her desire for a quiet, grounded life. She later reflected:

“I needed to be somewhere real. Cheese is honest. It doesn’t care if you’re famous.”

🌟 Where Is She Now?

• Still works in food and hospitality, occasionally appearing at Love Boat reunions.

• Advocates for addiction recovery and grief support.

• Says she’s “at peace”—though fans still adore her as Julie.

A story of resilience, heartbreak, and unexpected second acts. 💔🧀 #LoveBoat #HollywoodEndings

(Note: Tewes has shared little about her child’s passing; this reflects public reports with sensitivity.)