What Happened to Susan Deixler After Her Divorce From Barry Manilow?
Susan Deixler is known publicly for her early marriage to singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, but her story extends beyond that brief connection to the music world. The couple were high-school sweethearts who married in 1964, before Manilow became a household name. Their marriage lasted about a year and was later annulled. Decades afterward, Deixler spoke briefly about their past, saying she wished him happiness and considered the relationship part of history. This article looks at what is documented about her background, marriage, family, career, and life away from celebrity attention.
Who Is Susan Deixler?
Susan Deixler is the former wife of American singer and songwriter Barry Manilow. The two knew each other as teenagers in Brooklyn and married after finishing high school in 1964. Their relationship ended after approximately one year, and the marriage was annulled in 1966.
Unlike Manilow, Deixler did not pursue a public entertainment career. She has generally kept her personal life private, making reliable information about her early years and later family life limited.
Susan Deixler’s Childhood and Family Background
Publicly available biographical information about Susan Deixler’s childhood is scarce. Most established reporting mentions her in connection with Barry Manilow’s early life and describes her as his high-school sweetheart.
Some online biographies publish details about her parents, birthplace, and childhood, but those details are not consistently supported by strong independent sources. It would therefore be misleading to present names or family stories as confirmed facts without better documentation.
Growing Up in Brooklyn
Deixler is described in reporting about Manilow as his Brooklyn high-school sweetheart. Barry Manilow was born Barry Alan Pincus in Brooklyn in 1943 and grew up in the city before pursuing music professionally.
The available sources do not provide a detailed, independently verified account of Deixler’s childhood neighborhood or family circumstances.
Susan Deixler’s Education and School Life
Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow were high-school sweethearts. Manilow attended Eastern District High School in Brooklyn, where he developed his interest in music and became involved in the school’s orchestra. After graduation, he married Deixler.
However, reliable public sources do not provide a detailed record of Deixler’s own academic activities, school clubs, grades, or career plans. Claims about specific school achievements should not be treated as established biography without supporting records.
How Did Susan Deixler Meet Barry Manilow?
Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow met while they were young and became high-school sweethearts. Their relationship began before Manilow achieved commercial success as a singer and songwriter.
At that stage, he was still working toward a future in music. Their relationship developed during a period when he was balancing his personal life with ambitions to build a career as a musician.
Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow’s Love Story
Their relationship is an early chapter in Manilow’s personal history. The couple married shortly after graduating from high school, but their different circumstances and Manilow’s growing commitment to music made married life difficult.
Manilow later spoke about the relationship in interviews. He described being in love with Deixler while acknowledging that he was not prepared for the responsibilities of marriage.
Barry Manilow’s Early Music Ambitions
Before becoming famous for songs such as “Mandy” and “Copacabana,” Manilow was working to establish himself in the music business. He pursued arranging, performing, and other musical work, often spending his evenings focused on music.
In a 2023 interview with The Guardian, he reflected on how frequently he was away making music during his first marriage. He said he could not be the husband he needed to be while living that way.
Susan Deixler’s Wedding to Barry Manilow in 1964
Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow married in 1964, shortly after finishing high school. Published accounts describe a small civil ceremony followed by a ceremony involving a rabbi. They were both very young: Manilow was 20 and Deixler was reported to be 19.
Their marriage took place before Manilow became a major recording artist. At the time, he was still trying to build a future in music.
Why Did They Have Multiple Wedding Ceremonies?
Some published accounts describe two parts to the wedding: a civil ceremony before a justice of the peace and a later religious ceremony with a rabbi. These accounts explain why reports sometimes refer to more than one wedding ceremony.
The available reporting does not establish that the couple held multiple separate weddings on different dates. It is more accurate to describe the ceremonies as two parts of their 1964 marriage celebration. Hollywood Life
Their Marriage Before Barry Became Famous
The marriage began before Manilow’s breakthrough as a recording artist. His later success with songs including “Mandy” came years afterward, following work as a musician, arranger, and commercial-jingle writer.
That timeline matters because Deixler was part of his life before the fame and public attention that later shaped his career.
Why Did Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow Divorce?
Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow separated after about one year of marriage. Manilow has discussed the reasons in several interviews, describing his youth, his focus on music, and his lack of readiness for married life.
The marriage was annulled in 1966.
What Barry Manilow Said About Their Separation
In a 2017 interview with People, Manilow said he had been in love with Deixler but was not ready for marriage. He described spending his nights making music and wanting to experience life as a young musician.
In a later interview with The Guardian in 2023, he again discussed the strain his music schedule placed on the relationship. He explained that he was away frequently and could not give the marriage the attention it required.
Was Barry Manilow’s Sexuality the Reason for Their Divorce?
Manilow’s sexuality became a subject of public discussion when he spoke about his long relationship with Garry Kief. That led to questions about whether his sexuality explained the end of his first marriage.
His public comments on the subject have not always been framed in exactly the same way. In 2017, he emphasized that he was in love with Deixler but was too young and not ready to settle down. In a 2023 interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace, he also acknowledged that his sexuality was a significant part of his personal experience.
A careful account should not reduce the marriage’s end to a single explanation. Manilow has also spoken about his demanding music schedule and his inability to be the husband Deixler needed.
When Was Their Marriage Annulled?
Their marriage was annulled in 1966, after they had separated. Manilow’s later interviews and biographical reporting describe the marriage as lasting about a year.
What Happened to Susan Deixler After Her Marriage Ended?
After the marriage ended, Deixler stayed out of the entertainment spotlight. Unlike Manilow, who went on to build a highly visible music career, she did not become a regular subject of celebrity interviews or public appearances.
In 2015, after news emerged that Manilow had married his longtime partner Garry Kief, Deixler made a rare public comment. She said she wished Manilow well and was happy that he had found love and happiness. She also described their former relationship as ancient history.
Her comments suggest that she preferred to keep her life separate from the attention surrounding her former husband.
Susan Deixler’s Career in Healthcare and Community Services
A local California newspaper and West Marin Senior Services have published information about a woman named Susan Deixler who worked with older adults in the West Marin community. These records describe a long period of volunteer and professional service. However, the records do not independently establish that this is the same Susan Deixler who was married to Barry Manilow. That identity link should be confirmed before presenting the career as a definite part of the former wife’s biography.
Her Work With West Marin Senior Services
West Marin Senior Services published a profile describing a Susan Deixler who began volunteering with the organization while helping an older neighbor. The profile discusses her work supporting seniors with transportation, home-care arrangements, meals, medical equipment, and emotional support.
Her Role as a Senior Care Manager
The profile describes her work coordinating services for older adults living in a rural area, where transport and access to medical appointments can be challenging. It also discusses her efforts to build trust with clients and help them remain safely in their homes.
Her 30 Years of Community Service and 2024 Recognition
In March 2024, The Point Reyes Light reported on a Susan Deixler’s retirement from West Marin Senior Services after 30 years of involvement. Marin County’s Board of Supervisors also issued a commendation recognizing a Susan Deixler’s community service, including ten years as a volunteer and twenty years as a senior care manager.
These are meaningful local records, but the identity connection to Barry Manilow’s former wife remains unconfirmed in the sources cited here.
Did Susan Deixler Have Children?
Yes. In her 2015 comments to the Daily Mail, republished by IBTimes, Deixler said that she had children and a life of her own. She did not share their names or detailed family information.
Did Susan and Barry Manilow Have Children Together?
There is no reliable public evidence that Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow had children together. Her 2015 comments confirm that she has children, but they do not say that Manilow is their father.
It is important not to confuse Deixler’s family with Manilow’s later family life with Garry Kief.
Did Susan Deixler Ever Remarry?
There is no strong, independently verified public record confirming whether Susan Deixler remarried after her marriage to Barry Manilow ended. Some entertainment websites state that she never remarried, but without reliable supporting documentation, that claim should be treated cautiously.
Deixler has kept her later personal life private, and her 2015 comments made clear that she did not want to revisit a relationship from decades earlier.
What Did Susan Deixler Say About Barry Manilow?
Susan Deixler spoke publicly in 2015 after reports that Barry Manilow had married his longtime partner Garry Kief. In comments reported by the Daily Mail and IBTimes, she said she wished Manilow well and was glad he had found love and happiness.
She also said that their relationship was in the past and that she was a private person. Her comments were brief and did not attempt to reopen the details of their separation.
Her Response to Barry Manilow’s Marriage to Garry Kief
Manilow and Kief married in a private ceremony in April 2014. When the news became public in 2015, Deixler responded positively, saying she was happy for the couple.
Why She Described Their Relationship as Ancient History
Deixler’s phrase reflected the amount of time that had passed since her marriage to Manilow. Their relationship belonged to an earlier period of their lives, and she indicated that she did not want to discuss it in detail.
Her response also reinforced her preference for privacy rather than continued public attention.
Barry Manilow’s Life After His Marriage to Susan Deixler
After separating from Deixler, Barry Manilow continued developing his music career. He eventually became known internationally for songs such as “Mandy,” “Copacabana,” and “Can’t Smile Without You.”
His personal life also changed. In 1978, he met television executive Garry Kief, who later became his husband and manager.
His Relationship With Garry Kief
Manilow has described meeting Kief as an important turning point in his personal life. The two began a relationship in 1978 and remained together for decades.
Manilow has spoken about Kief as both his life partner and a key person in his professional world.
Their Marriage in 2014
Manilow and Kief married in April 2014 in a private ceremony at their Palm Springs home. The marriage became public the following year, and Manilow discussed their relationship more openly in a 2017 interview with People.
Susan Deixler’s Grandchildren and Family Life
There is no reliable public information confirming whether Susan Deixler has grandchildren. She has acknowledged having children, but she has not publicly shared detailed information about their lives or families.
Because she has chosen to keep these details private, it is better not to make assumptions about her grandchildren or wider family.
How Old Is Susan Deixler?
Susan Deixler’s exact date of birth has not been established by a strong, reliable public source. Some online biographies publish an age or birth year, but those figures are not consistently supported by independent records.
Barry Manilow was born in 1943, and reports about their 1964 wedding describe Deixler as 19 at the time. That gives some historical context, but it is not enough to confirm her exact birthday or current age.
Where Did Susan Deixler Live After Leaving Brooklyn?
Public information about Deixler’s later residence is limited. West Marin Senior Services has published a profile of a Susan Deixler who had lived in West Marin for more than 50 years. However, as noted earlier, the available source does not independently confirm that this is Barry Manilow’s former wife.
For that reason, West Marin should not be presented as her confirmed current residence without additional evidence.
What Is Susan Deixler’s Net Worth?
Susan Deixler’s net worth has not been reliably disclosed. There are no established public financial records that confirm her personal wealth, assets, or income.
Barry Manilow’s earnings from his music career should not be confused with Deixler’s finances. Any specific net worth figure published without supporting evidence would be speculation.
Where Is Susan Deixler Now in 2026?
As of 2026, Susan Deixler remains a private individual with limited recent public information. Her most widely reported public comments about Barry Manilow date from 2015, when she said she wished him happiness and considered their past relationship long behind her.
Local records document a Susan Deixler’s retirement from West Marin Senior Services in 2024, but the sources available do not conclusively establish that she is the same person who was married to Manilow. Her exact current location, daily activities, and personal circumstances should therefore remain unconfirmed.
Interesting Facts About Susan Deixler
- She was Barry Manilow’s high-school sweetheart.
- She married Manilow in 1964, before his rise to international fame.
- Their marriage lasted approximately one year.
- The marriage was annulled in 1966.
- She publicly wished Manilow happiness after his marriage to Garry Kief became public.
- She has acknowledged having children but has kept their identities private.
- A woman with the same name was recognized by Marin County for 30 years of community service in 2024; her identity as Manilow’s former wife has not been independently confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Was Barry Manilow’s First Wife?
Barry Manilow’s first wife was Susan Deixler, his high-school sweetheart. They married in 1964 and their marriage ended after about a year.
When Did Susan Deixler Marry Barry Manilow?
Susan Deixler married Barry Manilow in 1964, shortly after they graduated from high school. Parade
How Long Were Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow Married?
Their marriage lasted approximately one year. It was annulled in 1966. The Guardian
Why Did Barry Manilow Leave Susan Deixler?
Manilow has explained that he was young, focused on making music, and not ready for marriage. He has also discussed how often he was away performing and working. washingtonblade.com
Did Susan Deixler Have Children With Barry Manilow?
There is no reliable public evidence that Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow had children together. Deixler did confirm in a 2015 interview that she had children from her life outside that marriage.
Does Susan Deixler Have Children?
Yes. She publicly acknowledged having children but has not shared their names or detailed information about them.
Did Susan Deixler Remarry?
No reliable public source confirms whether she remarried after her marriage to Barry Manilow ended. She has kept her later personal life private.
What Did Susan Deixler Say About Barry Manilow?
In 2015, she said she wished him well and was happy that he had found love and happiness. She also described their former relationship as ancient history.
What Did Susan Deixler Do for a Living?
Public information about her professional career is limited. A woman named Susan Deixler was documented as a volunteer and senior care manager at West Marin Senior Services, but the available records do not conclusively establish that she is Barry Manilow’s former wife.
How Old Is Susan Deixler?
Her exact date of birth has not been reliably confirmed in public sources, so her current age cannot be stated with confidence.
Where Is Susan Deixler Now?
Her current location and personal activities are not reliably documented. She has generally stayed out of the public spotlight.
Final Thoughts
Susan Deixler’s public story is often told through her brief marriage to Barry Manilow, but that relationship represents only one part of her life. They were young when they married, and Manilow later explained that his ambitions and lack of readiness for marriage contributed to their separation.
Years later, Deixler offered a gracious response when asked about his marriage to Garry Kief, making it clear that she had moved on from that chapter. Much of her later life remains private, and a responsible biography should respect those boundaries rather than fill the gaps with unverified details.
