Bill Klein and Jen Arnold’s Life Beyond the Cameras: A Small Couple with Big Obstacles

Since their debut on television in 2009, The Little Couple has captivated us. Bill Klein and Dr. Jennifer Arnold, both dwarfs, are the subjects of the TLC show.

While the show is upbeat and encouraging, their experience has not been easy behind the scenes. The family has encountered numerous challenges, including physical and mental health problems as well as fertility troubles.

Let’s take a look at how Bill Klein and Jen Arnold got their start in reality television and the challenges they’ve experienced.

The Beginning

Due to their physical condition, the pair has endured a lot of difficulties and challenges, but they’ve always been there for each other.

Klein and Arnold, on the other hand, have known each other since before the TLC show premiered in 2009. They first met as children!

Hospitalisation

Klein and Arnold began having reconstructive surgery when they were barely children, as do many small people. He’s had roughly 20 and she’s had around 35 in all.

They met while having treatment at a hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, when they were barely ten years old!

They had the same doctor, but she had surgery and he had physical therapy. Arnold was very sick after receiving a blood transfusion, but she received an unexpected guest in her room—Bill Klein!

While she doesn’t recall their initial meeting, he does.

The Initial Meeting

Klein remembers their first encounter like it was yesterday, despite the fact that it was just a few seconds long.

“He remembers coming into my room and thinking I was incredibly cute, and I shooed him out, and my mom shooed him out because I was, like, puking.” But he was actually trolling the hall for ladies in his wheelchair when he met me,” Arnold told the Tampa Bay Times.

“I remember it like it was yesterday,” Bill told TLC. “I even recall the room where she was.” Regardless, she had completely forgotten about me.”

Different Paths

The two parted ways after their brief rendezvous at the hospital. However, they would reunite many years later. Their doctors attempted to match them when they were still in college, but it never worked out.

“Believe it or not, our doctor and nurse practitioner tried to set us up a couple times.” Bill and I both wanted to be doctors and shadowed the same surgeon, but I never met him because we did it at different times,” Arnold wrote in their book Life Is Short.

Klein, on the other hand, was dealing with his own problems and demons as they were being put up.

Dealing with Depression

It wasn’t easy for the pair, especially Klein, to grow up differently. He was teased and called names because of his tiny stature.

In their book Life Is Short, he writes, “Unfortunately, my unwanted and unearned celebrity effortlessly migrated from high school to college.”

Klein was depressed for a long time. “I’d had enough of hearing the term midget.’ I was tired of being a part of a group but feeling alienated. I’d had enough of the looks, pointing, and laughing, and I’d had enough of being alone “he continued.

Klein was going to reconnect with Arnold, so he wouldn’t be alone for much longer.

Dating Apps

After some time had gone, the pair reconnected on a dating service designed particularly for little people.

Klein sent Arnold a message, but she didn’t get it for two months because she wasn’t paying her subscription at the time. He told her that he recognised her, but she had no idea who he was because she hadn’t met him before.

“Hey, have we met at a convention?” she messaged him. Arnold told Glamour about it.

The only thing standing in their way was the fact that they lived 1,500 miles apart! This, however, was not going to deter them!

The Initial Date

Klein felt he was in love with Arnold after speaking over the phone for nearly a month, and he flew out to Pittsburgh to meet her in person. He boarded a plane to meet her for their first date! They also went to Starbucks before going out to dinner, as many couples do.

“That is a big gesture,” Arnold told Glamour, “but when you’re a little person and you meet someone, that happens all the time.”

So, how did they react to each other at first?

Initial Impression

Klein was apprehensive about meeting Arnold in person after their online encounter because he wasn’t sure if their connection would be as strong in person as it had been over the phone. But as soon as he saw her, all of his nerves vanished.

What sparked Klein’s curiosity? “I think the thing I like best about her is her grin. Aside from being a successful woman who never gives up and is outgoing and friendly, she has this amazing smile. It’s genuine, and it simply brightens a space. He told Glamour, “It never gets old.”

Feelings You Know

What was Arnold’s attraction to Klein?

“1) His sense of humour, 2) his baby blue eyes, and 3) I didn’t know much about Bill when we first spoke on the phone before we met, but the first time we spoke, I felt like I had known him my entire life.” It was the oddest thing, but it was fantastic. Arnold told Glamour, “I told him I could chat with him forever because it felt like I knew him forever.”

And before long, the couple was ready to take their relationship to the next level—they were about to make their relationship official!

Tying a Knot

Klein and Arnold were ready to take the next step in their relationship after starting an online interaction and then meeting in person and falling in love. The couple got engaged on November 3, 2006, and married just a few months later.

They married on April 12, 2008, in Florida, and the entire event was shown on television! Little People: Just Married, a one-hour TLC special, chronicled their trip to the altar.

But this special was only Bill Klein and Jen Arnold’s first public appearance. They were on their way to becoming renowned!

“The Tiny Couple”

Season 1 of The Little Couple began on May 26, 2009, following the couple’s introduction to TLC in Little People: Just Married.

The pair made their TV debut in 2009, but producers who wanted to record their wedding for a TV special turned them down. Even after producers returned with new ideas, they turned them down until they offered to make a show based on their daily life. However, the pair was still apprehensive to appear on television.

Famous on TV

While the producers were proposing ideas, Arnold was out shopping and met a girl who made her rethink her mind.

“In a store, a small girl came up to me and said, ‘You are a little person,’ and I answered, ‘Yes, I am, thank you very much,'” Arnold told PEOPLE. “We have a tremendous opportunity to raise awareness,” she told the newspaper.

The couple then shot a pilot, and the rest is history. Klein and Arnold were dealing with other challenges while the show was taking off.

Aspects of Fertility

The couple was eager to start a family, but obstacles arose. They attempted to conceive for years and when that failed, they turned to a surrogate. However, the surrogate had two miscarriages.

Klein was torn between having genetically his children and not having them. “When Jennifer and I initially started dating, my selfish attitude was that I wanted a kid who was genetically mine,” he told In Touch Weekly, before explaining that he changed his mind after they struggled with infertility.

As a result, they decided to adopt.

Adoption

Klein and Arnold decided to pursue adoption after struggling to conceive and experiencing two miscarriages.

“We talked about how many kids didn’t have a home, lacked love and support from a family, and were destined for a life of institutionalisation.” Klein told In Touch Weekly, “I don’t think I could have done a better job through surrogacy, the old-fashioned way, or anything else.”

And the family’s wishes were about to be fulfilled.

The Family

Will, the couple’s son, was adopted from a Chinese orphanage on March 5, 2013. They adopted their two-year-old daughter Zoey from India just a few months later, on October 15, 2013. Will and Zoey, like their adoptive parents, both have dwarfism.

And it was love at first sight for Klein when he viewed the children’s artwork. “I fell in love with Will’s photo the moment I saw it. “I fell in love with Zoey the moment I saw her photo,” he told PEOPLE.

Their joy, however, was fleeting. Jen revealed that she was having serious health problems soon after the kids arrived.

A Tragedy Occurs

Arnold reported in December 2013 that she had been diagnosed with stage 3 choriocarcinoma as a result of a non-viable pregnancy in September 2013. Arnold told PEOPLE, “The one time I get pregnant, I get cancer.”

Treatment for the condition was problematic due to Arnold’s dwarfism. Dr. Concepcion R. Diaz-Arrastia told the magazine, “We wanted to avoid surgery in her situation because of her shortened airway and the difficulties she has had in the past with procedures.” “But we felt compelled to… This was necessary in order to save her life.”

Overcoming Obstacles

Arnold said her cancer was in remission in February 2014, after months of weekly intense chemotherapy treatments.

Arnold told PEOPLE, “I got my official last chemo treatment.” “And, while I’m cautious to say I’m cancer-free – perhaps that’s common among cancer survivors – I’m doing fantastic.” Everything seemed to be on the correct track. “I’m quite enthusiastic.”

“It’s confirmed. CANCER 0 vs. ME 1… I WIN! She tweeted, “Thank you for all the prayers, thoughts, and support!”

While Arnold was coping with health issues, the children were adjusting to their new lives as adopted children.

Problems with Adjustment

While Jen Arnold was battling cancer, the family’s attempt to integrate Zoey into their lives did not go as planned.

They had problems bonding with their daughter at first because she was reared in an institution and had never met other children.

Arnold told PEOPLE, “She didn’t want anything to do with us.” “It took months for her to come around.”

Will faced his own difficulties. Klein said, “He had hearing problems and had surgeries.”

Children who are happy

Despite the difficulties, Will and Zoey are now content and adjusted. They’ve come a long way, and Klein and Arnold are amazed at how different they’ve become.

“These players weren’t as dynamic not long ago.” They weren’t as self-sufficient. Klein told PEOPLE, “They weren’t as innovative.” “They’re just kids now.”

“They’re reaching an intriguing age where they’re discovering their true passions… It’s enjoyable to watch them develop,” he continued.

Jen and Bill were ready to make a significant change now that their children were happy and healthy.

​​New Home

The family was living in Houston, Texas, where Arnold was the medical head of Texas Children’s Hospital’s Simulation Center and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine’s Division of Neonatology, but they were about to make a significant change!

She couldn’t say no to a job offer from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

While the family was house hunting, their show was involved in a major legal struggle.

Legal Fight

The Little Couple’s production firm, LMNO, filed a $7 million complaint in 2016, alleging that Discovery intended to “steal” the show by manipulating records to conceal hundreds of thousands of dollars in embezzled funds.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Discovery countersued, saying that LMNO kept two sets of books on its shows, shortchanging the participants and overcharging Discovery.

Klein and Arnold didn’t waste any time in filing their own case against LMNO.

The Lawsuit of a Tiny Couple

Klein and Arnold sued LMNO in June 2017, alleging fraud and conversion and seeking “compensatory damages, punitive damages, and emotional-distress damages.”

However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, the couple lost a significant portion of their litigation and were unable to revoke intellectual property rights.

But that would not be the family’s only challenge. Another huge health crisis loomed for the couple.

Another Surgical Procedure

Jen Arnold was getting ready to undergo her 35th surgery, a hip replacement, in August 2019. Bill Klein, her husband, was quite concerned about the procedure and the hazards involved.

“Any big operation comes with a distinct set of dangers, and skeletal dysplasia complicates matters,” he told PEOPLE. “Part of me understands precisely how that feels, and the other part of me is sick to my stomach watching her go through it.”

Thankfully, the procedure went smoothly, but Klein was about to enter the hospital.

Hospitalisation

Jen Arnold revealed to her fans in October 2021 that her spouse had broken his elbow over the summer and was in the hospital.

Arnold uploaded a photo of Klein laying on a hospital stretcher with his head on a pillow, putting one arm up and giving a “thumbs up” after arm surgery.

“You have this, @reallybillklein, and we have this.” Pre-op testing was positive. Thank you for always looking after us, @hspecialsurgery. I’m looking forward to getting Bill’s arm back to normal!” The shot was captioned by Arnold.

Arnold was poised to take a tremendous step in her profession, which meant another big move for the family, now that their health was taken care of.

Big Move

To ring in the new year, Arnold has some exciting news: she has been offered a big career opportunity at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Simulator Program as well as a job on Harvard’s staff as part of the institution’s medical school teaching hospital in January 2022.

She announced it on Instagram, accompanying a photo of a notebook with the words “Make Things Happen” with the caption “This.”

The family has been missing from our television screens while great things have been happening for them. What happened to the show The Little Couple?

Season 15?

TLC ran the show for 14 seasons, with the final episode airing in August 2019. So, has the show been cancelled or is it set to return for Season 15? Will new episodes be released?

Fans went crazy when Arnold shared a photo to Instagram hinting at the show’s likely return.

Leaving Hints

Jen Arnold captioned a photo of herself and her husband Bill Klein on Instagram with the hashtags “health” and “checkup,” saying, “Guess who’s back, back again.”

While the snapshot appears to be about her health, some saw her caption as a hint that the TLC series would be returning soon.

Despite the lack of information, it’s assumed that the lawsuit led to the delays, and that the pandemic harmed the show’s filming and production.

And, after more than a decade on the air, the couple has achieved their goal of raising awareness for small people.

Increasing Public Awareness

The pair chose to allow cameras to follow them about in their daily life because they wanted to raise awareness regarding tiny people, which they have done.

“Our goal when we launched the programme was to raise awareness, and we’ve had the opportunity to do that with many various topics that we’ve personally and professionally faced,” Arnold told E! News.

When are they going to stop doing the show?

Positive Results

Klein and Arnold are always debating how long they’ll keep performing the show, so what did they decide?

“As long as it’s a nice programme, as long as our kids are having fun with it and it’s not negatively affecting them,” Arnold told E! News.

However, things may change if the children are no longer having fun. “And as soon as that changes, we’ll have to make that choice,” she continued.

A happy union

Bill Klein and Jen Arnold have been through a lot together, but they’ve always been there for each other. The couple celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary in April 2021, and Klein shared the nicest Instagram message.

“I didn’t think I’d find genuine love for a long time.”  Then something happened. We talked, met, fell in love, and I asked (with her parents’ consent) on November 3, 2006 at 8:30 p.m., and she said yes! It seems like yesterday… Thank god we didn’t have cameras following us at the time, or they would’ve learned I hadn’t made any plans for supper that night! I was too frightened!!”

So, what is the key to their happy marriage?

The Secret

The couple has been married for almost thirteen years and has learned a few marriage secrets.

Klein told PEOPLE that he and his wife seldom go to bed angry. “We have disagreements, just like everyone else, but we don’t let it drag on till the morning.” Everything can be worked out, even if someone has to apologise.”

Arnold has three guidelines, according to the news outlet: “understanding when to give in, the wife is always right, and the significance of making time for each other.”

While the pair has discovered the secret to a happy marriage, broadcasting their family life hasn’t been easy—and has at times been fraught with public criticism.

Public Inquiry

Klein and Arnold’s family, like other families who have opened the world to their lives by appearing on television, has been scrutinised, particularly when it comes to rearing their children, but they don’t let it upset them.

“We are obviously fallible, and we make several errors. We try our hardest with our children. We attempt to provide direction, discipline, and everything else. I believe that when people watch a piece of television, they assume a lot more about how we manage our family.” “Klein told E! News about it.

Even so, you may have observed that the kids aren’t always on camera. So, what gives?

Why aren’t the kids on camera?

While the children are an important element of the show’s success, they are rarely featured on camera. They don’t mind the cameras, though.

“They’re attractive in any case. “Move! Move! Move, move, you’re in my way,” Arnold told Glamour if a camera gets in the way of what they’re attempting to achieve.

Even so, much of what goes on in the family happens while the cameras aren’t on.

“The vast bulk of what we do is off-camera because we want kids to grow up in a normal, comfortable atmosphere where they can do whatever they want without having to do it in front of an audience,” Klein explained.

The Cost of Notoriety

The small pair has become increasingly popular with fans as they’ve grown in fame, and fans occasionally drop by uninvited.

Klein told Glamour, “We’ve had individuals come to the door or cut pages out of books and write full-length comments and drop them in our mailbox.”

“When I went to retrieve the mail, she was standing on my doorstep, and I almost gave her a heart attack. I opened the door as she was still writing her note, and she fell over and everything. We’ve received visitors on Christmas Eve and on other special occasions.”

Future Perspectives

Even when life has provided them with numerous hardships, Bill Klein and Jen Arnold have won us over with their positive and upbeat mindsets. From mental and physical health concerns to reproductive issues and miscarriages, their resilience in dealing with life’s challenges is incredibly inspiring, and we’ve enjoyed following their tale on The Little Couple.

We’re excited to see what the tiny pair does next, and we’re hoping for a new season soon! We wish them the best of luck in the future.