'Grease' star Stockard Channing reveals she's living as a 'recluse' after partner's death
LONDON, ENGLAND: Stockard Channing is opening up about life after love, reflecting on the loss of her longtime partner, her choice to embrace a solitary life and her changing perspective on her career and future, while returning as Aunt Franny in 'Practical Magic 2' and preparing to direct a production of 'Krapp’s Last Tape' later this year.
The 82-year-old actress, best known for playing Rizzo in 'Grease,' penned a candid essay for The Sunday Times, published Wednesday, August 5, discussing her move to London and the different chapters of her life.
Stockard Channing reflects on life after Daniel Gillham
Channing revealed that her longtime partner, Daniel Gillham, "died in 2014 and it was more devastating than I realized; it had a lag effect,” adding, “The pattern of my life shifted, so I shifted my life from Maine.” She further said, “I’ve lived alone since I lost Daniel and I’m happy being a recluse," and explained that she moved from New England to London alone, “just before Covid.”
She also noted that the move partially coincided with politics changing in the United States following President Donald Trump’s election. She has been married four times, to Walter Channing Jr, Paul Schmidt, David Debin and David Rawle.
She was single for two years before becoming romantically linked to Gillham in 1990. The actress acknowledged that “children were thought about” during her life and that she sometimes still thinks about what could have been, noting that “it’d be great to have someone taking care of me.”
However, she added, “children can be just as selfish as everybody else out there.” In a January 2025 interview with The Sunday Times, Channing had already made clear that she was uninterested in finding another partner.
“No, I think that would be such a pain in my life. I’m consolidating, thank you very much,” she said, adding, “I’m very happy with the friends I have. No. Life is good. Life is very good.”
Stockard Channing revisits 'Grease' and returns to 'Practical Magic'
In her recent essay, Channing described her dating history as representing different “epochs” of her life, much like her roles in different films. She noted that younger women know her from 'Practical Magic,' adults know her from 'The West Wing,' while “real grown-ups” know her from 'Grease.'
She wrote, “I guess films are like songs: they take you back to a particular time in your life, maybe a more innocent time.” Channing has also reflected on how she joined 'Grease' during an appearance on UK talk show 'Lorraine.'
She revealed that accepting the role was primarily about getting steady work, “I was lucky to get a job for the summer. The mortgage was whispering in my ear…I mean, I’m not making that up. It’s absolutely true.”
Channing was 33 when she played Rizzo, the outspoken leader of the Pink Ladies, alongside John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. She had no idea the 1978 film would become a worldwide phenomenon, later describing the unpredictability of filmmaking with, “You never know. Great oaks from little acorns grow.”
Channing also admitted she had no idea whether celebrations were planned for Grease’s 50th anniversary in 2028, saying, “I have no idea.” For now, she is focused on 'Practical Magic 2,' reprising Aunt Franny alongside Dianne Wiest as Aunt Jet, with Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman returning as Sally and Gillian Owens.
