The Untold Story Of Donna Mills And Richard Holland: 5 Surprising Facts About Their 20-Year Non-Marital Relationship
The enduring mystery of Donna Mills and Richard Holland’s relationship continues to fascinate fans of the Knots Landing icon. While the actress, famous for her role as the manipulative Abby Cunningham, is now in a stable, long-term partnership with actor and producer Larry Gilman, her two-decade-long romance with music executive Richard Holland remains a pivotal, yet often misunderstood, chapter of her life. As of December 2025, Mills is thriving, having returned to Hollywood in films like Nope and Origin, but her path to happiness was a surprising journey that involved a major life change and a quiet separation from Holland, the man she was with for nearly 20 years.
The story of Donna Mills and Richard Holland is not one of a traditional Hollywood marriage, but rather a unique, long-term commitment that spanned the height of her soap opera fame. Their relationship, which reportedly lasted from the late 1970s until around 1999–2001, was a foundational period in the star's life, setting the stage for the dramatic pivot she would make in her mid-50s to become a mother and find her current lasting love.
Donna Mills and Richard Holland: Complete Biography and Relationship Profile
To fully understand the significance of this long-term partnership, it’s essential to look at the backgrounds of both figures and the timeline of their lives together.
Donna Mills (Donna Jean Miller)
- Born: December 11, 1940 (some sources say 1942) in Chicago, Illinois.
- Occupation: Actress, Producer.
- Years Active: 1966–Present.
- Breakthrough Role: Abby Cunningham on the primetime soap opera Knots Landing (1980–1989).
- Notable Recent Work: Films like Joy (2015), Nope (2022), and Origin (2023); the Lifetime limited series V.C. Andrews' Dawn (2023).
- Children: One adopted daughter, Chloe Mills (adopted in 1994).
- Partnerships: Richard Holland (c. 1979–1999), Larry Gilman (c. 2001–Present).
Richard Holland
- Occupation: Music Executive, Producer, Singer.
- Known For: His long-term relationship with Donna Mills and his previous marriage to a legendary music artist.
- Previous Marriage: Married to singer Chaka Khan from 1976 to 1980.
- Children: One son, Damien Holland, from his marriage to Chaka Khan.
- Partnerships: Chaka Khan (1976–1980), Donna Mills (c. 1979–1999).
The 5 Most Surprising Revelations About Their Decades-Long Romance
The relationship between Donna Mills and Richard Holland was defined by its longevity, its non-traditional structure, and the dramatic life changes that ultimately led to its quiet conclusion. Here are the most intriguing facts about their time together.
1. Holland Was Previously Married to Music Legend Chaka Khan
One of the least-known facts about Richard Holland is his connection to the music world's royalty. Before his decades-long relationship with Donna Mills, Holland was married to the iconic "Queen of Funk," Chaka Khan. The two were married in 1976 and had a son, Damien Holland, before divorcing in 1980. This detail highlights Holland's deep ties to the entertainment industry, particularly as a music executive and producer, a world away from Mills' primetime soap opera fame. The connection provides a unique layer to Holland's identity, separating him from simply being "Donna Mills' former partner."
2. Their Relationship Spanned the Entire Run of Knots Landing
Donna Mills joined Knots Landing as Abby Cunningham in 1980, the very beginning of her relationship with Richard Holland. Their partnership, which lasted until around 1999, spanned her entire nine-year run on the show and the subsequent decade of her career focusing on TV movies. This means Holland was her primary partner during the period when she was one of the most famous and recognizable villains on television. The stability of their private, non-marital life contrasts sharply with the dramatic, often chaotic life of her on-screen persona, Abby Cunningham.
3. The Relationship Was Non-Marital and Characterized by "Instability"
Despite being together for nearly 20 years, Mills and Holland never married. While Mills has often expressed that marriage was simply not a priority for her, some reports suggest the latter part of their relationship was characterized by "instability." This period of turbulence coincided with a major, life-altering decision for Mills: becoming a single mother. The lack of a legal bond allowed both parties to navigate their personal evolutions without the complexities of a divorce.
4. Donna Mills Adopted Her Daughter While Still with Holland
In a life-changing move, Donna Mills adopted her daughter, Chloe Mills, in 1994 when the actress was 54 years old. This adoption occurred during the final years of her partnership with Holland. Mills famously took an 18-year hiatus from acting to focus entirely on raising Chloe. The decision to become a mother in her mid-50s and step away from Hollywood was a radical shift, and it is widely understood to be the primary focus of her life in the years leading up to and following the quiet conclusion of her relationship with Richard Holland.
5. Her Current Partner, Larry Gilman, Arrived Shortly After the Breakup
The end of the Mills-Holland relationship around 1999 was quickly followed by a new chapter. In 2001, Donna Mills met her current long-term partner, actor and producer Larry Gilman. Mills has described Gilman as a stark contrast to her previous partners, stating, "I kind of went for the bad boys. But when I met him, I just knew I was going to be with him." This suggests a conscious shift in her relationship priorities after her two-decade-long journey with Richard Holland, finding a more stable and supportive partnership as she embraced her role as a full-time mother to Chloe Mills.
Life After Holland: A New Chapter with Larry Gilman and Chloe Mills
The separation from Richard Holland marked the beginning of Donna Mills' most fulfilling era. Her relationship with Larry Gilman has been a stable, enduring partnership for over two decades. The couple lives in Brentwood, California, and has supported each other's careers, with Mills recently experiencing a career resurgence in major films. Her greatest joy, however, remains her daughter, Chloe Mills, who is now an adult and has a successful career of her own. Mills’ story is a powerful testament to the fact that personal fulfillment—whether through motherhood, a career pivot, or finding a new, stable love—can happen at any stage of life, long after a significant, decades-long partnership has concluded.
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