Stockard Channing, renowned for her iconic portrayal of Rizzo in the 1978 film Grease and First Lady Abbey Bartlet in The West Wing, has revealed that she lives a largely reclusive life in London after relocating from the United States, according to Daily Mail coverage of an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine. At 82 years old, the New York-born actress explained that her move across the Atlantic was prompted by a desire for privacy following the devastating 2014 death of her partner, producer Dan Gillham.
Relocation to London Following Personal Loss
According to Daily Mail, Channing left her home in Maine and permanently relocated to London in 2019. The actress stated that the loss of her partner of nearly 25 years carried a delayed emotional impact that fundamentally shifted the pattern of her life. Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, Channing noted that the political climate in the United States, which vaguely coincided with the timing of her move, also influenced her decision to leave.
Having been married and divorced four times throughout her decades-long career—beginning with her marriage to wood sculptor Walter Channing Jr. in 1963, followed by unions with Paul Schmidt, David Deblin, and David Rawle—Channing entered into her long-term relationship with Gillham in 1990. She has lived alone since his passing over a decade ago. “I’m happy being a recluse,” Channing told The Sunday Times Magazine, as reported by Daily Mail, adding that while she occasionally thinks about having children to care for her in later life, she recognizes that “children can be just as selfish as everybody else out there.”
Current Directorial Work and Future Screen Projects
Despite embracing a quiet lifestyle in the British capital, Channing remains active in the arts. According to Daily Mail, she is making her directorial debut with a production of Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape for an Edinburgh Festival run. The classic piece stars David Westhead as a 69-year-old man reflecting on his past through old tape recordings. Channing took on the project alongside Westhead out of a shared desire to raise funds for The Wembley to Soweto Foundation.
Looking ahead to later in the year, Channing is set to return to the silver screen in the anticipated sequel Practical Magic 2, reprising her role as Aunt Frances Owens, as reported by Daily Mail. The project brings the actress back to one of her well-known fantasy-comedy characters even as she scales back her everyday public footprint in favor of a private routine abroad.
Keep reading