Sara Lownds: Inside The Life Of Bob Dylan’s Ex-wife

Sara Lownds is an American former actress and model and the ex-wife of American singer-songwriter, artist, and writer Bob Dylan born Robert Allen Zimmerman. Sara’s former husband Bob had his breakthrough as a songwriter with the release of his second studio album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan. He has sold over 145 million records, making him one of the best-selling musicians ever.

Sara Lownds: Bio Summary

How Old Is Sara Lownds?

Sara Lownds is 84 years old as of 2023. She was born Shirley Marlin Noznisky on October 28, 1939, in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. Her parents Isaac Noznisky and Bessie Noznisky were Jewish. Isaac became a US citizen in 1912. He established a scrap metal business at South Claymont Street, Wilmington.

Unfortunately, Sara’s father was shot dead by a drunken fellow East European immigrant on November 18, 1956. Sara who is not the only child of her parents had an older brother called Julius. Her mother, Bessie is said to have suffered from a stroke when Sara was still a child. Bessie would eventually pass away.

Sara Lownds Was An Actress And Model

Sara Lownds is a former actress and model. As a model, she appeared in the women’s fashion magazine Harper’s Bazaar as the ‘lovely luscious Sara Lownds’. She used to be a Playboy model. She modeled under the name “Sara Lownds”. She played the role of Clara in the movie Renaldo and Clara. She was also a secretary at a point in her life. Sara worked as a secretary for the film production division of the Time Life company.

Sara Lownds Has Been Married Twice

Sara Lownds has been married two times to two different men. She married magazine photographer Hans Lownds in the year 1959 after she moved to New York City. This marriage was Sara’s first and Hans’ third. Sara who was born Shirley Marlin Noznisky was made to change her name from Shirley to Sara by her then-husband Hans.

Hans’ reason for the name change was that his first wife who was also Shirley, left him and he did not want to be reminded of her or that marriage. During their union, Sara and Hans lived in a five-story house on 60th Street in Manhattan, between Second and Third Avenues. Sara became pregnant. She and Hans’ daughter was named Maria Lownds.

ALSO, READ: Carolyn Dennis: Who Is Bob Dylan’s Ex-wife?

Things began to fall apart between Sara and Hans. Sara met singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. At the time they met, Sara was still married to Hans. Sara left Hans and she and Bob started dating. They got married on November 22, 1965, in a low-key ceremony. They had four children together. Their first child, Jesse Byron Dylan was born on January 6, 1966.

Sara and Bob’s other children are Anna Lea Dylan who was born on July 11, 1967, Samuel Abram Dylan, born on July 30, 1968, and Jakob Luke Dylan, born on December 9, 1969. Bob even adopted Sara’s daughter from her previous marriage, Maria Lownds (later Dylan, born October 21, 1961). Sara is said to have inspired several songs by Bob.

At some point in their marriage, Bob started to take art classes. Bob later mentioned in an interview that the art lessons caused problems in his marriage to Sara: “I went home after that first day and my wife never did understand me ever since that day. That’s when our marriage started breaking up. She never knew what I was talking about, what I was thinking about, and I couldn’t possibly explain it.”

Sara and Bob’s marriage ended on June 29, 1977. A fictional version of Sara and Bob’s marriage is featured in the Bob Dylan biopic I’m Not There. After the divorce, Sara reportedly “dated a number of men after her divorce including Bob’s friend David Blue”, a singer-songwriter and actor who died in 1982 of a heart attack while jogging in New York.

Bob secretly married his backup singer and now ex-wife Carolyn Dennis and they have a daughter, Desiree Gabrielle Dennis-Dylan.

ALSO, READ: Bob Dylan’s Children: Jakob, Desiree, Sam, Maria , Jesse, Anna Dylan

Where Is Sara Lownds’ Now?

Bob Dylan’s ex-wife, Sara Lownds is suspected to be living in the United States but there isn’t a 100% assurance of that. She lives a very private life and doesn’t share much about herself with the public. She is not active on social media. She makes a very rare appearance in public. She has not been involved in any controversies or rumors.