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'Dallas' Star Patrick Duffy Dating 'Happy Days' Linda Purl: 'I Never Thought I'd Feel This Way Again'

There's nothing quite like a love story to renew your faith in the world!

In a year as complicated, messy, and (you know what? I'll just come right out and say it) awful as 2020 has been so far, it's so refreshing to see an emotional and moving story about finding love after tragedy, like what happened to Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl!

Those names should sound familiar to you if you've got good taste like me.

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Patrick Duffy was famous for his role as Bobby Ewing, the youngest of the Ewing family, on Dallas from 1978 until 1985, and he even reprised the role on the continuation of Dallas in 2012-2014.

How could you forgot those eyes and that hair?!

Linda Purl should also ring some bells for fans of *Happy Days* — and who isn't a fan of that?

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While Linda initially played Richie Cunningham's on-again off-again girlfriend Gloria in season two of the long-running sitcom, most fans will recognize her as Ashley Pfister in season 10 as the girl who made us all jealous when she got Fonzie to settle down with her and her daughter.

Patrick Duffy, 71, was previously married for 48 years.

Tragically, Patrick's wife, ballet dancer Carlyn Rosser, passed away from cancer in 2017.

“My wife and I, in 48 years we were always together,” Patrick recently told People, revealing that he had grown accustomed to life as a widower.

Patrick revealed that he and Linda were friends years ago, but had lost touch over time.

However, he explained that over the pandemic, the two were reunited in a group text that eventually dwindled down to just being between them.

Next time you complain about having to try to figure out a group text, remember that this could happen to you too!

“I loaded up my car and drove 20 hours and ended up on her doorstep just to see if it was real,” Patrick said of their connection.

“We haven’t been apart since," he stated.

This is so romantic I might just cry! It's so inspiring when people find love after tragedy, especially when they haven't been looking for it!

Patrick explained that he believes his wife would be happy for him.

“I feel quite honestly, that it is keeping with the desires of my wife, the fact that we are intended to be happy,” he said.

“So when it’s offered, think about it, do whatever you do, but don’t let it pass you up if it’s the right thing," Patrick explained.

Patrick described their relationship as "incredibly happy," and added, "I never thought for a minute this would happen again."

"I never thought I'd feel this way again," he said.

It's so heartwarming and inspiring to see two people (who really deserve it!) find love together after the kind of tragedy like losing a spouse. It just goes to show that you never know what could happen!

We're wishing so many more happy days (get it?) to Linda and Patrick!

Obviously, fans are happy for them as well.

"I love that you found each other!" shared one Instagram commenter, with another adding, "It's so wonderful he found you after he thought love was out of the question for him!"

It really is a touching story.

"Oh this is sweet. Linda Purl always liked her and wondered where she landed.....good for them," one fan shared.

More fans on Instagram shared their own stories of finding love again after losing a partner.

"After my husband of thirty years passed away I knew he'd want me to be happy again," one fan wrote.

"Patrick your wife is surely ecstatic you've found someone as wonderful as Linda to spend your time with!" they wrote.

We couldn't agree more.

It just goes to show that it's never too late to find love!

Unsplash | Sven Mieke

Do you have a similar story to Patrick and Linda? Share it in the comments below! We'd love to hear from you.

h/t: People