Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Margaret Brooks Hendrie |
| Also known as | Brooks Hendrie; Brooks Widdoes |
| Birth | Mid-1950s (age 65+ as of 2026) |
| Hometown | Mendham, New Jersey |
| Education | The Taft School; Simmons College |
| Occupation | Retailer; Owner of GOODS (Beverly Hills, California) |
| Known for | Private retail career; former spouse of actor and director James Widdoes |
| Marital status | Divorced (married December 29, 1979; divorce proceedings filed March 24, 2017; finalized circa 2018) |
| Children | Charles Landauer Widdoes; Sumner Dickinson Widdoes; Margaret Hendrie Widdoes |
| Parents | Robert Fowler Hendrie; Mrs. Robert Fowler Hendrie |
| Residence | Los Angeles area, including Beverly Hills |
| Public profile | Low visibility; limited media presence |
Early Years and Education
Business and regularity molded Margaret Brooks Hendrie’s upbringing in Mendham, New Jersey. Her father, Robert Fowler Hendrie, was a partner in Kingsbury Textile Sales Inc. in New York, which may have influenced her professional direction. At the Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut, discipline and community are ingrained. She graduated from Simmons College, which emphasizes practical skills and intellectual ability.
Those formative years indicate a practical education. Taft to Simmons leads directly to retail, where observation, taste, and execution meet. This universe encourages intricacy and patience, skills she would eventually use as a store owner.
Marriage, Family, and a Life Largely Offstage
Brooks Hendrie married James Landauer Widdoes at St. John on the Mountain Episcopal Church in Bernardsville, New Jersey, on December 29, 1979. Her former eighth-grade teacher, Reverend Richard Curtis Vetter, officiated, connecting education, family, and community. The couple combined his entertainment career with her retail and domestic duties.
In the 1980s and 1990s, they reared Charles Landauer, Sumner Dickinson, and Margaret Hendrie Widdoes. As James Widdoes moved to Los Angeles to direct network comedy and multi-camera shows, the family moved there. Throughout, Brooks remained out of the spotlight. It was simply stated as retailer, owner, and mother, typical of a quiet career.
LA County divorce proceedings began in 2017. Around 2018, the marriage ended. The filing was Dissolution W/O Minor Children, signifying their three adult children. James Widdoes married Marianne James 2022. Meanwhile, Brooks focused on career and family in Los Angeles.
Retail Career and the Business Called GOODS
Intimacy helps retail succeed, while visibility helps entertainment. As a retailer, Brooks Hendrie has defined his career. More recently, she owns Beverly Hills retail store GOODS. The name is straightforward and evokes curation and excellence.
GOODS resembles a boutique with a personal touch. A carefully selected assortment, personal style, and long-term relationships are typical. She has no major acquisitions, national chains, or sprawling corporate titles. Instead, it shows a stable, independent business with experience and taste. That’s a throwback in an algorithmic age, but many customers like it.
Home Base in Los Angeles
For decades, Brooks has lived and worked in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. Her public demeanor didn’t reflect the city’s pace and entertainment industry proximity. The city became a stage for a quieter story: family, business, and privacy above profile. Customers and neighbors may identify the face behind the counter or the retail license name. She keeps her own counsel after that.
Family at a Glance
| Name | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Fowler Hendrie | Father | Partner at Kingsbury Textile Sales Inc., New York; central figure in her New Jersey upbringing |
| Mrs. Robert Fowler Hendrie | Mother | Co-parent in Mendham, NJ household; details kept private |
| James Landauer Widdoes | Ex-husband | Actor and television director; married 1979; divorce filed 2017; finalized circa 2018 |
| Charles Landauer Widdoes | Son | Maintains a low public profile |
| Sumner Dickinson Widdoes | Son | Maintains a low public profile |
| Margaret Hendrie Widdoes | Daughter | Carries her mother’s maiden name as part of her given name |
| Carolyn Clarke Hendrie | Cousin | Honor attendant at the 1979 wedding |
The family unit reflects a pattern of discretion. Aside from the 1979 wedding and major family milestones, their names surface sparingly. There are no public controversies or celebrity-level narratives attached to Brooks herself, only the steady hum of work and daily life.
Timeline of Key Dates
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| Mid-1950s | Birth and early years in Mendham, New Jersey |
| Late 1960s to early 1970s | Studies at The Taft School, Watertown, Connecticut |
| 1970s | Graduation from Simmons College |
| December 29, 1979 | Marriage to James Landauer Widdoes in Bernardsville, New Jersey |
| 1980s to 1990s | Three children born; family life in the Los Angeles area |
| 2000s to 2010s | Retail focus continues; identified as retailer and later as owner of GOODS |
| March 24, 2017 | Divorce proceedings filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court |
| Circa 2018 | Marriage officially ends |
| 2019 to 2026 | Operates GOODS in Beverly Hills; maintains a low public profile |
Work Philosophy and Public Presence
Good retail is a tuning fork, not a trumpet. It entails listening to customers, observing seasons, tracking sales, and understanding when to switch racks. All accounts indicate that Brooks Hendrie’s method is based on those basics. This rhythm is functional and elegant, keeping a business open year after year.
Her public persona reflects this ideology. Social media life stories, press-ready quotes, and retail trend blogs are absent. Only professional and former marriage family references are mentioned. She is a study in boundaries—enough information to find her store, but not enough to make a private life happy.
Education and Influence
The Taft School and Simmons College finish her early story fashionably. Simmons has promoted commercial and retail training, whereas Taft promotes character and community. Her biography describes her as a private person with a public-facing business who navigates commerce with a personal compass and respect for its customers.
Notes on Privacy and Public Records
A wedding announcement, divorce filing, professional directories, and residential listings are her key public records. Much is secret or unmentioned in public. In an age of oversharing, that restraint feels old-fashioned, like a quiet hallway off a crowded boulevard.
FAQ
Who is Brooks Hendrie?
She is a Beverly Hills-based retailer and the former spouse of actor and director James Widdoes.
What is her professional background?
She has built a career in retail and is identified as the owner of a store called GOODS.
Where did she grow up and study?
She grew up in Mendham, New Jersey, attended The Taft School, and graduated from Simmons College.
When did she marry James Widdoes?
They married on December 29, 1979, in Bernardsville, New Jersey.
Do they have children?
Yes, they have three adult children: Charles Landauer Widdoes, Sumner Dickinson Widdoes, and Margaret Hendrie Widdoes.
When did the marriage end?
Divorce proceedings began in March 2017 and the marriage ended around 2018.
Does she have a public social media presence?
No, she keeps a very low profile with no active public accounts.
What is known about her parents?
Her father, Robert Fowler Hendrie, was a partner in Kingsbury Textile Sales Inc.; her mother has kept a private profile.
Where does she live now?
She resides in the Los Angeles area, including Beverly Hills.
Is she involved in entertainment?
No, her work centers on retail rather than the entertainment industry.
