Melissa Peterman Applauds Reba Co-Star Chris Rich’s TV Comeback Following Stroke
Melissa Peterman became emotional while reflecting on her onscreen reunion with Reba co-star Christopher Rich following his significant stroke.
“When he had a stroke, it was truly frightening — and I believe many people were unaware,” Peterman, 53, told Us Weekly in an exclusive interview, adding that she might “tear up a little” while discussing Rich. “Fans probably thought, ‘Oh, maybe he retired or chose to take a break.’ That wasn’t the reality. He had a massive stroke, and it was terrifying.”
Peterman recounted the early days following the health crisis, saying, “He worked incredibly hard to regain his old self, although he was always Chris. I saw him in the hospital right away, and Chris was present. He was making jokes right from the start.”
Despite Rich’s recovery, he continues to face some lingering effects.
“His left side is still impacted. But we were eager for him to return, and he was ready to come back,” Peterman shared with Us. “It was truly wonderful because I recall when I was on Reba, I was just starting out. It was my first regular role in a series, and Chris was essentially my acting partner throughout that entire show.”
Peterman and Rich, 71, became well-known when Reba aired from 2001 to 2007. The beloved series followed a single mother forced to rebuild her life after her husband, Brock (Rich), left her for his dental hygienist, Barbra Jean (Peterman). Reba (Reba McEntire) struggled to start anew while raising her three children — including her pregnant teenage daughter (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) and her boyfriend (Steve Howey).
“It was just the two of us, and he was incredibly kind to me,” Peterman added. “He taught me so much. He would even whisper things to me so I wouldn’t feel foolish for not knowing. He’s one of the smartest men I know and a fantastic actor.”
McEntire, 69, and Peterman reunited two decades later as co-stars on NBC’s Happy’s Place, allowing them to reconnect with Rich and Howey as well. Rich’s episode in February was particularly meaningful since he had stepped away from acting for a number of years following his severe stroke.
“It’s difficult for all of us when your body lets you down yet you still want to perform. It’s frightening. But our entire team felt familiar to him, and he felt secure enough to play. And he absolutely nailed it,” Peterman exclaimed. “He was hilarious.”
Peterman commended Rich for his “bravery,” saying, “When we discussed other possibilities for future projects — if there were to be a Reba reboot — we would need to address it because he can’t hide it physically. He’s always been transparent and vulnerable about it.”
In his return to acting, Rich portrayed a tattoo artist who instantly attracted Gabby (Peterman). The episode even featured a moment where Gabby asked Maverick (Rich) if he had a wife she could steal him from.
“I appreciated that they allowed me to call [Reba’s character Bobbie] Red at one point. That’s what I called her on the show,” Rich explained to Us about Brock’s reference to Reba on the popular sitcom. “Those little touches are often remarkable. And Reba [the show] has such a devoted fan base that people comment on it online. It was just a joy to collaborate with those two women. They treated me wonderfully and were extremely protective.”
While fans of Reba anticipate more news about cameos, Peterman has not ruled out future onscreen reunions.
“Scarlett [Pomers] as Kyra was incredibly talented and funny. I know we would love to see JoAnna Garcia [Swisher] again, and I believe she just visited Reba recently. So I hope Reba said, ‘When you are free…’ It would be delightful to have any and all Reba participants — whether they are cast members or guests,” Peterman expressed. “It would be a blast, and we would love to include all of them.”
Happy’s Place airs on NBC on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET.
