Grease legend reveals they live a ‘reclusive’ life after quitting US and devastating death of partner

GREASE icon Stockard Channing has shared details of her quiet life in the UK, after leaving America following the death of her partner. The actress, 82, shot to fame as leader of The Pink Ladies, Rizzo, in 1978 hit Grease, opposite John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. Stockard Channing has shared details of her quiet life in the UK, after leaving America following the death of her partner Credit: Getty The actress, 82, shot to fame as leader of The Pink Ladies, Rizzo, in 1978 hit Grease Credit: Alamy She has enjoyed much success since, starring in shows like The West Wing, and movies including First Wives Club and Practical Magic (as well as its upcoming sequel), but admits she mostly lives a quiet life these days. Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, the star admitted: “I’m happy being a recluse.” Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! Several factors lead to her quitting the US – notably the death of cinematographer Dan Gillham – her partner of 20 years. Dan died in 2014, prompting Stockard to leave her home in Maine, New England, in 2019, and relocate to London. Read more Hollywood stars Stockard starred opposite John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John Credit: Alamy Several factors lead to her quitting the US – notably the death of cinematographer Dan Gillham – her partner of 20 years (pictured in the 1990s) Credit: Bei Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, the star admitted: “I’m happy being a recluse” Credit: Alamy Dan died in 2014, prompting Stockard to leave her home in Maine, New England, in 2019, and relocate to London (pictured in 2024) Credit: Alamy Having been married four times in her life, and not having children, she mused: “Children were thought about and, yeah, I think about them now because it’d be great to have someone taking care of me. “But hey, children can be just as selfish as everybody else out there.” She went on: “[Dan’s death] was more devastating than I realised; it had a lag effect. “The pattern of my life shifted, so I shifted my life from Maine. Most read in Showbiz “It vaguely coincided with Trump getting elected and the way politics has changed in the US.” Referencing her time playing First Lady Abbey Bartlet opposite Martin Sheen, she added: “People look at The West Wing and go, ‘Wow, wasn’t it great when politicians had an ounce of integrity?'” Stockard’s first husband was wood sculptor Walter Channing Jr, whom she married in 1963 but split fro in 1967. In 1970 she wed Professor Paul Schmidt, their marriage lasting six years before coming to an end. She wed writer David Deblin in 1976, spittling in 1980, immediately meeting businessman David Rawle, who she was with until 1988. 1990 was when she met Dan, who she never married, yet shared more than two decades with. The cinema legend is spending August at the Edinburgh Festival, making her directorial debut with a production of Krapp’s Last Tape. She reprises the role of Aunt Frances in Practical Magic 2 – the long-awaited sequel to Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman‘s supernatural 1998 original – which is in cinemas on September 11. Comment now