Susan Deixler: Inside The Life Of Barry Manilow’s Ex-wife

Susan Deixler is the former spouse of singer and songwriter Barry Manilow. Susan’s ex-husband Barry has produced and arranged albums for himself and several other artists. He produced Grammy-nominated albums for the likes of Bette Midler and Dionne Warwick. He has written and performed songs for musicals, films, and commercials for corporations like McDonald’s, Pepsi Cola, and Band-Aid.

Susan Deixler: Bio Summary

Who Is Barry Manilow’s Ex-wife, Susan Deixler?

Susan Deixler is the first wife of Barry Manilow. She was born in the year 1945 to her father Al Deixler and her mother Nettie Deixler. There isn’t much information about her early life and relatives. She studied at Eastern District High School, in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States. She reportedly worked as a Holistic Therapist.

Susan Deixler ventured into nursing and works as a care manager for an organization in Port Reyes, California, that provides in-home care services for seniors. She reportedly runs a swimming program for the organization. Susan has decided to live a quiet and private life. She avoids the spotlight as much as possible.

How Did Susan Deixler Meet Barry Manilow?

Susan Deixler met Barry Manilow while they were in high school. The high-school sweethearts got married in June 1964. At the time they got married Susan was just 19 years old. She and Barry had no children together. Their marriage was a short-term marriage. In Barry’s autobiography, Sweet Life, he wrote about his brief marriage to Susan.

Barry described Susan as ‘adorable, small with great legs and a voluptuous figure.’ According to Barry, Susan had ‘jet-black hair, dark brown eyes and a smile that lit up the room.’ Barry said his friends thought that he rushed into marrying Susan. He blamed the breakdown of their union on his passion for a music career and his lack of maturity.

Barry walked out on “the perfect wife” after just one year of marriage telling her that he was going on “this wondrous musical adventure”. Barry revealed that Susan “reacted badly of course”. Susan applied for an annulment in 1965, citing “fraud,” and had the marriage annulled in 1966. This was after Barry told her he was going on “this wondrous musical adventure that I saw within my reach”.

ALSO, READ: Garry Kief: Everything About Barry Manilow’s Spouse

Barry told PEOPLE he was in love with Susan. “I was in love with Susan. I just was not ready for marriage. I was out making music every night, sowing my wild oats — I was too young. I wasn’t ready to settle down.” After Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow’s split, Susan has remained unmarried but she has been blessed with two children, Pauline, a lawyer, and Daniel, a builder and musician.

Barry Manilow has no children and he doesn’t regret it. “Ah, no, I don’t. It was impossible,” he said. “This insane world that I have and trying to be a father – I think I would have had to choose one or the other. But, ah, the choice never really happened anyway. Hey, look, the closest I get is raising dogs. Whenever I get one of those little puppies, I stop everything. I do”.

“And I give them a good eight or nine weeks just with me. I train them. My belief is that you do that and you get a great eight or nine years with a great dog.” He added: “Now, you [apply] that to children – you have to give children all of you, for a long time. Then you’ll get a great person but I’ve never had a great three or four years. But like I said,” he repeats, a little sadly, for the third time, “I never had the choice.”

Susan Deixler Ex-husband Is Gay

Susan Deixler’s ex-husband Barry Manilow publicly came out as gay in April 2017. He married TV executive Garry Kief (who became his manager) in 2014 after same-sex marriage became legal in California. They met in 1978. “I knew that this was it,” says Barry. “I was one of the lucky ones. I was pretty lonely before that.”

“He’s the smartest person I’ve ever met in my life — and a great guy, too,” Barry said of Garry. In 2015, news of Barry’s marriage to Garry and his sexuality made headlines, something the legend calls “a blessing and a curse.” Barry said he thought he would be disappointing his fans if they knew he was gay. “So I never did anything,” he said.

“When they found out that Garry and I were together, they were so happy. The reaction was so beautiful — strangers commenting, ‘Great for you!’ I’m just so grateful for it.” Speaking of her ex-husband Barry’s marriage to Garry Kief, Susan Deixler told the Daily Mail: “I wish him well. I’m happy for him. I’m glad that he’s found love and happiness.”

ALSO, READ: Harold Pincus: What Happened To Barry Manilow’s Father?

“What happened between us, our relationship, is ancient history and I don’t want to dig back into ancient history. It’s 50 years ago. You have to remember that I’m not a celebrity. I have children, a life…all that was a long time ago. I’m a private person but I’m happy for him. I really am”.