Patrick Duffy sees Linda Purl as the 'gift that COVID gave him.'.

The 71-year-old actor - who played Bobby Ewing in Dallas - started dating Linda, 65, during the coronavirus lockdown earlier this year, and he admits that their romance evolved amid a unique set of circumstances. .

'That's the gift that COVID gave me - Linda Purl is the lady in my life,' the actor told Extra this week.

Happy man: Patrick Duffy sees Linda Purl as the 'gift that COVID gave him'; pictured in July 2019.

He loves her: The 71-year-old actor started dating Linda, 65, during the coronavirus lockdown earlier this year, and he admits that their romance evolved amid a unique set of circumstances; Purl shown in 2004.

Cowboy heart: 'That's the gift that COVID gave me - Linda Purl is the lady in my life,' the actor told Extra this week; seen here as Bobby Ewing on DallasR

The Dallas days: From left, Steve Kanaly (as Ray Krebbs), Patrick (as Bobby Ewing), Victoria Principal (as Pamels Barnes Ewing), (sitting), Barbara Bel Geddes (as Eleanor Southworth 'Miss Ellie' Ewing), Jim Davis (1909 - 1981) (as John Ross 'Jock' Ewing), Larry Hagman (as John Ross 'J.R.' Ewing, Jr.), Charlene Tilton (as Lucy Ewing) (in red), and Linda Gray (as Sue Ellen Ewing).

Classic series: Purl's best known role was as Ashley Pfister in season 10 of Happy Days in the early 1980s; still from Happy Days featuring Henry Winkler.

He People earlier this month he was dating the Happy Days actress. .

New love: Duffy, 71, revealed he and his old friend, Happy Days' Linda Purl, 65, had begun dating after falling out of touch years earlier, according to People.

Duffy is best known for starring on Dallas from 1978 to 1985 and 1986 to 1991, where he played Bobby Ewing, the brother of Larry Hagman's J.

Purl's best known role was as Ashley Pfister in season 10 of Happy Days in the early 1980s.

The 80-year-old actress revealed on Instagram that her 56-year-old son Jeff Thrasher has passed away

Seen with Larry Hagman on Dallas in 1981

Sad loss: The 80-year-old star revealed on Instagram that her 56-year-old son Jeff Thrasher has passed away

Back in the good ole days: Gray, husband Ed Thrasher, son Jeff Thrasher and daughter Kehly in 1982

Linda got her start in modeling then came to fame when she played Sue Ellen Ewing opposite Larry Hagman on Dallas from 1978 until 1989