Heather Harlan did remarry following the death of her first husband, comic legend Tony Randall, in May 2004. In April 2008, Harlan married Dr. Timothy Van der Vliet, a New York-based physician specializing in internal medicine. Since her second marriage, Harlan has maintained a private life focused on her family, healthcare advocacy, and foster youth philanthropy.
The First Chapter: Heather Harlan’s Marriage to Tony Randall
To understand Heather Harlan's public profile and subsequent personal choices, one must examine her high-profile first marriage. Harlan was an aspiring 25-year-old theater actress in New York City when she met legendary The Odd Couple star Tony Randall in the mid-1990s. At the time, Randall was 75 years old and had recently lost his wife of 54 years, Florence Gibbs, to cancer in 1992.
The couple met through the National Actors Theatre, a nonprofit Broadway company founded by Randall in 1991 to promote classic plays. Harlan was an apprentice actor at the organization. Despite a 50-year age difference that generated substantial media commentary, the pair bonded over their shared passion for the stage, classic literature, and dramatic arts.
Harlan and Randall married on September 20, 1995, in a ceremony officiated by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The union marked a major life shift for Randall, who had never fathered children during his previous marriage.
Family Life and Tony Randall's Passing
During their nine-year marriage, Harlan and Randall welcomed two children:
- Julia Laurette Randall: Born in April 1997, named in honor of legendary stage actress Laurette Taylor.
- Jefferson Salvini Randall: Born in June 1998, named after legendary American actor Joseph Jefferson and Italian stage actor Tommaso Salvini.
The couple resided in Manhattan, where Randall actively balanced his late-in-life fatherhood with his directorial and acting work at the National Actors Theatre. However, in December 2003, following a starring performance in a revival of Luigi Pirandello's Right You Are (If You Think You Are), Randall contracted pneumonia after undergoing heart bypass surgery.
After spending nearly six months in intensive care at the NYU Medical Center, Tony Randall passed away in his sleep on May 17, 2004, at the age of 84. Harlan was 34 years old at the time of his death, left to raise two young children aged six and five.
The Second Chapter: Heather Harlan Remarries Dr. Timothy Van der Vliet
Following the grief and publicity surrounding Tony Randall’s passing, Heather Harlan deliberately stepped back from the entertainment spotlight to prioritize her children's privacy and well-being. During this transition period, Harlan focused on philanthropic endeavors and her local New York community.
In 2007, Harlan met Dr. Timothy Van der Vliet, a respected internal medicine doctor practicing in the New York metropolitan area. Dr. Van der Vliet earned his medical degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University and established a clinical practice focused on general internal medicine and primary patient care.
On April 19, 2008, approximately four years after Tony Randall's passing, Heather Harlan and Dr. Timothy Van der Vliet married in a private, low-key ceremony surrounded by close family and friends.
Life as a Blended Family
The marriage provided a stable, grounded environment for Harlan’s children, Julia and Jefferson, who grew up mostly removed from the celebrity spotlight. Unlike her marriage to Randall, which was constantly scrutinized by entertainment media, Harlan’s life with Dr. Van der Vliet has been defined by discretion and community focus.
Dr. Van der Vliet's medical practice and Harlan's nonprofit commitments anchored the family in New York, allowing both children to pursue their education and personal interests without public intrusion.
Key Milestones and Timeline of Heather Harlan's Personal Life
| Year | Milestone / Event | Associated Individual / Organization | Key Context & Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–1994 | Met Tony Randall | National Actors Theatre | Harlan joined as an intern/apprentice actor where Randall was founder and artistic director. |
| 1995 | First Marriage | Tony Randall | Married on September 20, 1995, in New York City with Mayor Rudy Giuliani officiating. |
| 1997 | Birth of First Child | Julia Laurette Randall | Harlan and Randall's first child born in April 1997. |
| 1998 | Birth of Second Child | Jefferson Salvini Randall | Harlan and Randall's second child born in June 1998. |
| 2004 | Passing of Tony Randall | Tony Randall | Randall died on May 17, 2004, at age 84 following complications from bypass surgery. |
| 2006 | Co-Founding of Non-Profit | The Felix Organization | Founded alongside casting director Sheila Jaffe to support children in the foster care system. |
| 2008 | Second Marriage | Dr. Timothy Van der Vliet | Harlan married New York internist Dr. Timothy Van der Vliet on April 19, 2008. |
| 2026 | Ongoing Philanthropic Leadership | The Felix Organization / Camp Felix | Continues serving on leadership boards advocating for foster youth resources nationwide. |
Philanthropic Leadership: The Felix Organization
Beyond her personal history, Heather Harlan built an influential career in non-profit executive leadership and youth advocacy. In 2006, two years after Tony Randall’s death, Harlan joined forces with Emmy Award-winning casting director Sheila Jaffe to co-found The Felix Organization.
Jaffe, who was adopted and grew up in the foster care system, joined Harlan to create an organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children in foster care. What started as a small initiative in New York expanded into a nationally recognized non-profit organization.
Core Programs and Community Impact
Under Harlan’s continuous guidance and operational stewardship, The Felix Organization has developed several key initiatives:
- Camp Felix: An annual summer camp experience designed specifically for youth in the foster care system. Camp Felix provides a safe, nurturing environment where children participate in outdoor recreation, arts, and leadership building.
- Felix Youth Advisory Board: A platform created to empower older foster youth transitioning out of the system, providing career mentoring, life skills workshops, and scholarship opportunities.
- Beyond Camp Enrichment: Providing funding for year-round extracurricular activities, including dance lessons, athletic equipment, music tutoring, and academic support for youth in residential treatment centers and foster homes.
Harlan’s dedication to foster children established her as a prominent figure in youth philanthropy across New York State, separate from her public identity as a high-profile celebrity spouse.
Preserving Tony Randall’s Legacy and Family Update
While Heather Harlan moved forward with her life alongside Dr. Timothy Van der Vliet, she remained dedicated to preserving Tony Randall's artistic legacy and preserving his archives for future theatrical historians.
Julia and Jefferson Randall Today
Both of Tony Randall’s children have grown into adulthood with a deep appreciation for their father's artistic heritage and their mother's philanthropic work:
- Julia Randall: Pursued studies in liberal arts and theater, occasionally engaging in performance and writing projects while maintaining a private social footprint.
- Jefferson Randall: Completed his higher education in New York and maintains interests in film, media production, and history.
Both children have periodically appeared alongside Harlan at select memorial tributes celebrating Tony Randall's contributions to television, film, and Broadway, as well as charity galas benefiting The Felix Organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Heather Harlan remarry after Tony Randall passed away?
Yes, Heather Harlan remarried four years after Tony Randall’s death. She married Dr. Timothy Van der Vliet on April 19, 2008.
Who is Heather Harlan's current husband?
Heather Harlan's husband is Dr. Timothy Van der Vliet, a board-certified internal medicine physician practicing in New York.
How many children does Heather Harlan have?
Heather Harlan has two children, Julia Laurette Randall (born 1997) and Jefferson Salvini Randall (born 1998), both from her marriage to actor Tony Randall.
What was the age difference between Heather Harlan and Tony Randall?
There was a 50-year age gap between Heather Harlan (born 1970) and Tony Randall (born 1920). They were married from 1995 until his death in 2004.
What organization did Heather Harlan co-found?
Heather Harlan co-founded The Felix Organization in 2006 alongside casting director Sheila Jaffe. The non-profit provides enrichment opportunities, summer camps, and support programs for children in the foster care system.
Summary and Current Outlook
Heather Harlan's journey reflects a transition from high-profile public scrutiny to personal stability and philanthropic leadership. After navigating the public loss of Tony Randall in 2004, her 2008 marriage to Dr. Timothy Van der Vliet provided a quiet private life in New York. Through her continued stewardship of The Felix Organization and her dedication to raising her children, Harlan has built an enduring legacy of advocacy and service.
