You may know Barry Manilow as the legendary singer-songwriter who gave us hits like “Mandy”, “Copacabana”, and “Can’t Smile Without You”. But did you know that he was once married to a woman named Susan Deixler, who was his high school sweetheart?
In this article, we will explore the life and story of Susan Deixler, who was Barry Manilow’s first wife and the only woman he ever married. We will learn about how they met, why they eloped, and what led to their annulment after only a year of marriage. We will also find out what Susan Deixler did after her brief marriage to Barry Manilow, and how she reacted to his recent revelation that he is gay and married to his longtime manager, Garry Kief.
If you are curious about Susan Deixler, Barry Manilow’s ex-wife, then read on and discover the fascinating facts about this woman who was once part of the pop icon’s life.
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Susan Deixler was born in August 1944 in Brooklyn, New York. She is the daughter of Nettie Deixler and Al Deixler. She attended Eastern District High School in Brooklyn, where she met Barry Manilow and participated in various activities such as chorus, Chemistry Squad, Bowling Club, and swimming. According to her senior yearbook, she intended to study nursing at Miami University. However, it is unclear if she completed her education or pursued a career in nursing. Later, she became a holistic healer.
Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow attended Eastern District High School in Brooklyn, New York during the late 1950s and early 1960s. They first met while participating in the school chorus, bonded by their love for music and singing. Susan was a pianist while Barry played the accordion. As their friendship grew, they began dating in Susan’s junior year and Barry’s senior year.
They were a very different couple in terms of personality and background. Susan was outgoing, bubbly, and popular, while Barry was shy, reserved, and had a small circle of friends. Susan came from a Jewish family that wanted her to have a big wedding, while Barry came from a mixed-faith family that was not very supportive of his musical ambitions. Despite their differences, they were deeply in love and wanted to get married right after high school.
However, their families did not agree on their plans and argued over the cost and size of the wedding. Susan’s parents wanted a lavish affair, while Barry’s parents wanted a simple ceremony. The young couple decided to elope and got married in a judge’s chambers at City Hall in 1964, during their lunch break. They were both 21 years old at the time
Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow’s marriage did not last long. After only a year of being married, they decided to part ways. Susan filed for an annulment, claiming that Barry had committed fraud by hiding his true sexuality from her. Barry later admitted that he was gay and had struggled with his identity for a long time.
Susan Deixler never remarried after her annulment from Barry Manilow. She moved on with her life and became a mother of two children: a daughter named Pauline, who is a lawyer; and a son named Daniel, who is a builder and musician. She also pursued a career as a holistic healer. Susan Deixler, residing in Point Reyes Station, California, has maintained a discreet presence and generally avoids communicating with the media regarding her former spouse.
Barry Manilow also moved on with his life and became one of the most successful and popular singers of all time. He had several relationships with women, such as Melissa Manchester and Lorna Luft, but they were mostly for show. He secretly dated his manager, Garry Kief, for over 30 years until they quietly married in April 2014. He came out publicly as gay in 2017, saying that he was happy and proud of his marriage to Garry.
Susan Deixler, who was Barry Manilow’s first wife and high school sweetheart, has rarely spoken to the media about her ex-husband. However, in 2015, after Manilow married his longtime manager Garry Kief, she gave an interview to the Daily Mail.
She said that she was happy for Manilow and wished him well. She also said that she had moved on with her life and had two children, a daughter and a son, from a later relationship. She said that she was not bitter or angry about their annulment, which happened after only a year of marriage in 1965. She said that she felt misled by Manilow, who hid his true sexuality from her, but that she did not hold any grudges.
She asserted that she was proud of Manilow’s achievements and that she still listened to his music. She said she was not a celebrity and preferred to live a quiet and private life as a nursing care manager and holistic healer in California.
Susan Deixler, Barry Manilow’s first wife, led a quiet and private life after their brief marriage. Despite their annulment and Barry’s recent revelation about being gay, Susan expressed her happiness for him, harboring no bitterness or anger. She focused on raising her children and pursued a career as a nursing care manager and holistic healer, finding contentment in her path.
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