Episode 23: Legendary Actress Too Close For Comfort Star Lydia Cornell Shares Her Story with Matthew Mayer

Lydia Cornell reached the height of Hollywood Stardom becoming one of the world’s most notable stars from her starring role as Sara Rush in ABC’s Too Close for Comfort. Appearing in over 250 movies and television shows,

An episode of the Going Solo with Matthew Mayer podcast, hosted by Matthew Mayer: Stories with Amazing People, titled "Episode 23: Legendary Actress Too Close For Comfort Star Lydia Cornell Shares Her Story with Matthew Mayer" was published on November 28, 2025.

November 28, 2025 · Going Solo with Matthew Mayer

Summary

Lydia Cornell reached the height of Hollywood Stardom becoming one of the world’s most notable stars from her starring role as Sara Rush in ABC’s Too Close for Comfort. Appearing in over 250 movies and television shows, the People Choice Award winning Actress and sex symbol of her time has a rise and fall journey that is eye opening, heartfelt, and inspiring. Lydia graciously spends time with Matthew Mayer talking about her journey from growing up in El Paso, Texas to experiencing the coincidences and god shots that lead her to becoming a worldwide household name, and all of the experiences that come with becoming a star. You don’t want to miss out on this eye opening journey of Lydia Cornell! Follow Lydia Cornell on Instagram @lydiacornell1   Follow Matthew Mayer on Instagram @mayersolopiano   Per her biography: Lydia Cornell is an AFI Best Actress nominee and People’s Choice Award winner, and international star often best known as the star of ABC’s hit series Too Close For Comfort as TV legend Ted Knight’s daughter, Sara Rush. One of the most popular sex symbols on TV, she is now a mother, author, teen mentor, talk show host, comedienne, producer, director, and award-winning writer. Too Close for Comfort can currently be seen four times a week on Antenna TV, Tribune Broadcasting. Learn more about Lydia at https://www.lydiacornell.com/ Per Wikipedia: Cornell’s first screen appearance was as Lydia Korniloff in a walk-on as a girl in a car in the film Steel (1979), produced by and starring Lee Majors. Her first professional speaking part was in an episode of The Love Boat, for which she had two lines.[18] In the summer of 1980, Cornell spent nine weeks filming in the Greek Isles for her appearance in the mythological horror film Blood Tide, which was not released until 1982. Cornell’s first major role was as Sara Rush, the daughter to Ted Knight’s character Henry Rush, on the sitcom Too Close for Comfort during 1980–1985. In 1982, at the height of the sitcom’s popularity, Cornell was described by sexologist Robert T. Francoeur as providing a modern example of “classic female stereotypes in the mold of Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield”. Cornell appeared in several single episode roles on television series such as The Love Boat, Charlie’s Angels, The Drew Carey Show, Quantum Leap (the pilot episode) Full House, Knight Rider, The Dukes of Hazzard, The A-Team, T. J. Hooker, Simon & Simon, Hunter, Hardball, Black Scorpion, Hotel, Fantasy Island and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She also appeared as a guest on episodes of television game shows including Battle of the N...

Episode Description