I discovered Margaret Boltinhouse when researching Wings Hauser’s childhood. Under fame’s roar, her narrative sounds like a calm tune. She never wanted fame, but her brief marriage and motherhood cemented her Hollywood character acting legacy. I wanted to piece together what little was known about this mysterious woman and her family. It depicts resilience, seclusion, and subtle effect over decades.
Margaret Jane Boltinhouse married Wings Hauser on June 7, 1970. On June 7, 1973, the marriage ended after three years. They had their daughter Bright Hauser on February 11, 1971. As a teenage folk musician and performer, Wings took sole custody of the child. Coming to Hollywood with $30 a box of diapers and no solid home was difficult. He and baby Bright lived in a disused garage for months. The single fatherhood chapter later inspired him. They ultimately found steady shelter with his 1975 Wings Livinryte album. I find it remarkable how one brief marriage shaped such determination.
Wings Hauser, born Gerald Dwight Hauser in Hollywood on December 12, 1947, came from an acting family. His mother Geraldine Thienes supported the family while his father Dwight Hauser directed and produced. The family grappled with Red Scare effects as Dwight’s career stopped. Wings was a high school football wing back and got his nickname. At 18, he made his film debut in 1967 First to Fight. He had a successful career for fifty-eight years, including Vice Squad 1982 as Ramrod A Soldiers Story 1984 and Tough Guys Do Not Dance 1987, which got an Independent Spirit Award nomination. From 1977 until 1981, he played Greg Foster on The Young and the Restless, returning in 2010, and appearing on Beverly Hills 90210 Murder She Wrote and Roseanne. Author, director, and singer of theme music. After a protracted struggle with COPD, Wings died in Santa Monica on March 15, 2025, at 77. In his latter years, he used oxygen tanks. Bright, his daughter, told The Hollywood Reporter and posted a touching Facebook tribute complimenting his multifaceted characters and deep family love. Daily sing-alongs and I love yous sprang to mind. Cali Lili Hauser, son Cole, sisters Helena and Marcia, and five grandkids Hutchinson Holden Ryland Colt and Steely Rose survive. In 2017, his brother Erich died.
First wife Margaret is connected to this family. She disappeared after her 1973 divorce. Later life contact with Bright and Wings is unknown. However, her motherhood remains central to family lines. As an adult, Bright Hauser has only mentioned her father. Friend, mentor, dreamer, and lover, she said. Bright’s 2025 remarks don’t reference her mother.
Wings’ following marriages expand the family. Second wife Cass Warner Sperling, daughter of producer Milton Sperling, married him in 1974 and divorced in 1977. They had Cole Hauser around 1976. Cole became famous for playing Yellowstone’s Rip Wheeler. After a long separation, Cole and his father reconciled in his teens. Cole’s accomplishment adds to Hauser’s indirect Margaret-era legacy. In 1979, third wife Nancy Locke married Wings and divorced 1999. That marriage produced no offspring. Final wife Cali Lili Hauser married him in 2002 and lived with him till his death. Together, they ran a Santa Monica indie film and music studio. Cali wrote that she never imagined marriage until meeting Wings and hopes to continue their efforts.
I found Margaret’s unsung musical connection. Jane Boltinhouse was a vocalist, flautist, and keyboardist. She performed with Brooks Poston across California. The Davis Blue Mango Cooperative Restaurant and Coffeehouse, a lesser-known venue, featured her and Brooks from 1979 to 1994. Duck Song / Sailor is their folk 7-inch vinyl single. Her Discogs profile lists one single or EP and three Poston credits following her divorce. These clues in niche music collector circles portray Margaret as a creative who focused on folk scenes rather than stardom. Her flute notes seem to whisper intimate stories in modest California venues.
To organize the family connections clearly here is a table of key members linked to Margaret Boltinhouse.
| Family Member | Relationship to Margaret Boltinhouse | Key Facts and Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Wings Hauser | Ex husband | Married June 7 1970 divorced June 7 1973 born December 12 1947 died March 15 2025 age 77 actor 58 year career |
| Bright Hauser | Daughter | Born February 11 1971 confirmed father death in 2025 media and Facebook tribute |
| Cole Hauser | Stepson | Born from Wings second marriage actor known for Yellowstone Rip Wheeler |
| Cass Warner Sperling | Ex husband second wife | Married Wings 1974 to 1977 mother of Cole |
| Nancy Locke | Ex husband third wife | Married 1979 to 1999 |
| Cali Lili Hauser | Ex husband widow | Married 2002 until 2025 partnered in film music studio |
| Brooks Poston | Musical collaborator | 1980s live shows and vinyl single Duck Song / Sailor |
This table captures the web of relationships that define her place in the Hauser narrative even decades later.
Recent news and social media mentions of Margaret Boltinhouse stay sparse. All 2025 coverage focuses on Wings passing with Bright and Cali statements dominating headlines. No direct quotes interviews or profiles feature Margaret. Searches across platforms turn up zero active social media accounts tied to her name in this context. A 2012 blog post on Mer de Noms simply lists her as Bright mother alongside Cass as Cole mother highlighting name choices in the sibset. That remains one of the few deeper personal notes outside official bios.
An extended timeline helps frame the known milestones.
| Year or Period | Event |
|---|---|
| June 7 1970 | Marries Wings Hauser |
| February 11 1971 | Daughter Bright Hauser born |
| June 7 1973 | Divorce finalized Wings gains custody |
| Early 1970s | Wings raises Bright alone in vacant garage |
| 1975 | Wings album release brings housing stability |
| Mid 1980s | Performs as Jane Boltinhouse with Brooks Poston at California venues including Blue Mango |
| 1980s | Releases Duck Song / Sailor single |
| 2012 | Mentioned in family name blog as Margaret Jane Boltinhouse |
| March 15 2025 | Ex husband Wings Hauser dies of COPD at age 77 |
| March 2025 onward | Bright Hauser public tributes no direct Margaret references |
Privacy can shield us, I keep saying. Margaret Boltinhouse chose or lived hidden from attention. Her music reveals a creative mentality that flourished in folk clubs, not red carpets. Cole continues the acting legacy and Bright honors her father. Three-year marriage, one daughter, fifty-eight-year Wings career, five grandchildren. Human side: garage problems, daily I love you rituals, flute notes in small settings give color.
Rare sources like Blue Mango reunion remarks and collector vinyl listings indicate her 1980s scene. Since she left, these pieces feel like puzzle pieces that never fit together. Business and residential financing facts are absent from records. North Carolina has one unrelated Margaret Boltinhouse profile, but age and familial links disqualify it. Some sources link Hauser’s true Margaret to Burbank, but facts are scarce.
FAQ
Who is Margaret Boltinhouse?
Margaret Boltinhouse also known as Jane Boltinhouse is the former wife of actor Wings Hauser and mother of Bright Hauser. Public information centers on her 1970 to 1973 marriage and limited 1980s music credits.
What are the key dates in her marriage to Wings Hauser?
The couple married on June 7 1970 and divorced exactly three years later on June 7 1973. Their daughter Bright arrived on February 11 1971 during the marriage.
Who are the main family members connected to Margaret Boltinhouse?
Her daughter Bright Hauser ex husband Wings Hauser stepson Cole Hauser and ex husband later wives Cass Warner Nancy Locke and widow Cali Lili Hauser form the core circle. Musical collaborator Brooks Poston adds another link from the 1980s.
What music did Margaret Boltinhouse create?
As Jane Boltinhouse she performed live with Brooks Poston and released the folk single Duck Song / Sailor. She played vocals flute and keyboards at California venues in the mid 1980s.
Are there any recent updates on Margaret Boltinhouse?
No direct news or social media activity appears after 2025. Mentions occur only in context of Wings Hauser obituary coverage where Bright Hauser spoke about her father.
How does Margaret Boltinhouse connect to Yellowstone actor Cole Hauser?
Cole Hauser is her stepson through Wings second marriage to Cass Warner. The family ties remain indirect since the 1973 divorce.
What challenges did the family face after her divorce?
Wings Hauser raised infant Bright as a single father enduring homelessness in a vacant garage before his 1975 album brought stability. This period underscores the resilience that defined his later success.