Stockard Channing, the acclaimed actress known for her role in "Grease," has described her life in London as a "recluse" in a recent essay. The 82-year-old performer shared reflections on her life shift, which began shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Channing relocated to London, stating that the death of her partner, cinematographer Daniel Gillham, in 2014 had a delayed and profound impact on her life, prompting her to leave Maine. She has been living alone since Gillham's passing and finds contentment in her solitary existence.
"I've lived alone since I lost Daniel and I’m happy being a recluse," Channing wrote. "The pattern of my life shifted, so I shifted my life from Maine."
Before her relationship with Gillham, Channing was married four times to Walter Channing Jr., Paul Schmidt, David Debin, and David Rawle. She and Gillham were together for over two decades but never married. Channing had previously expressed in a 2006 interview that another marriage felt unnecessary given the longevity of her partnership with Gillham.
Reflecting on her past marriages, Channing noted that people do not typically enter into matrimony with the intention of divorce. While she has contemplated the idea of having children, acknowledging that it would be beneficial to have someone to care for her in her later years, she also commented on the potential for selfishness in offspring. The actress has previously stated that her previous marriages each represented distinct periods of her life.