Barry Manilow Kept Romance with Man Hidden — They Secretly Wed When He Used to Be 71 & Share a Child

For many years, Barry Manilow has enchanted audiences with his beautiful singing, winning over countless female fans. Therefore, it came as a surprise when he disclosed his 39-year romance with a man, with whom he shares a child and married at the age of 71.

Barry Manilow, originally named Barry Alan Pincus, was raised by his single mother, Edna Manilow. He gained popularity after releasing his iconic pop-rock ballad ‘Mandy,’ which catapulted him into the limelight, captivating a predominantly female fan base.

Many were taken aback by his announcement regarding a long-term relationship with another man, particularly since he had a well-publicized marriage to his high school sweetheart, Susan Deixler. Their romance had captured the attention of fans and the media alike.

Deixler was Manilow’s first love and was known as the ‘prettiest girl in the class.’ He fondly described her as ‘adorable, small with great legs and a voluptuous figure,’ with jet-black hair and dark brown eyes that sparkled with a radiant smile.

The couple fell in love, and at 21, Manilow married the 19-year-old Deixler in a civil ceremony in 1964, later having a religious ceremony at her family’s request.

However, their marriage was short-lived, ending just two years later. Manilow admitted that they rushed into the wedding and, while he cared for Deixler, he wasn’t prepared for the lifelong commitment that marriage entails.

Manilow revealed that his relentless focus on his music contributed to the downfall of his marriage with Deixler, stating:

I was out making music every night, sowing my wild oats — I was too young. I wasn’t ready to settle down.

Despite the challenges in his personal life, Manilow’s commitment to his music ultimately paid off. He achieved stardom, starting with ‘Mandy’ and followed by timeless classics like ‘Copacabana (At the Copa),’ ‘Can’t Smile Without You,’ and ‘Looks Like We Made It.’

Just four years after the success of ‘Mandy,’ Manilow met Garry Kief, a television executive who became the love of his life. Although he maintained he never struggled with his sexuality during his marriage to Deixler, he eventually recognized that he was in love with a man.

Manilow felt it necessary to keep his sexuality and relationship private to avoid controversy and sensational headlines. He reflected on the difficulty of discussing his life, saying, ‘it was very difficult to do that [back then], to have a conversation like we’re having, because it would have [resulted in] a very negative article.’

Transformative Relationship

Shortly after they met, Kief became not only Manilow’s partner but also his manager, a role he still holds today. Additionally, he serves as the president of Barry Manilow Productions. Manilow has praised Kief, stating, ‘[Kief is] the smartest person I’ve ever met in my life – and a great guy, too.’

Some may think Kief gained a fortune when he entered Manilow’s life in 1978, but the singer believes he was the lucky one. He recognized he had finally found ‘the one,’ saying, ‘I knew that this was it. I was one of the lucky ones. I was pretty lonely before that.’

For over 40 years, Manilow and Kief have delighted in their relationship, though it was not always easy. They had to maintain confidentiality about their union as fans sometimes reacted aggressively.

During the early part of their relationship, Kief attended one of Manilow’s concerts and rode in the car with him afterward. Fans reacted by shaking the vehicle, and Kief quickly realized he couldn’t cope with such situations. Ultimately, Manilow was grateful for their decision to keep their relationship private.

This unsettling experience led Manilow to remain silent about his sexuality, fearing his fans would be disappointed. He has always aimed to create work that his audience could be proud of and to maintain their respect.

While most of the time they discreetly dined out together, one journalist once inquired about Manilow’s sexuality. He felt compelled to lie at that moment but later expressed that he would have been honest if asked again.

Now, there is no need for Manilow and Kief to hide, as they have been joyfully married since 2014. Still, Manilow admitted to being reluctant to discuss their relationship publicly, even following their wedding.

In April 2014, Manilow and Kief tied the knot during a private ceremony at their Palm Springs home, surrounded by their closest family and friends. It wasn’t until a year later that news about their marriage and Manilow’s sexuality emerged.

Manilow described this revelation as both ‘a blessing and a curse.’ He often worried about disappointing his fans once they learned of his true sexuality.

Ultimately, he felt relieved to find that fans were supportive of his relationship with Kief, and he appreciated the kind words they shared about their marriage. To this day, their bond remains strong, and they are raising a child together, Kief’s biological daughter Kirsten.

When Manilow and Kief first met, Kief was still married and had a one-year-old daughter. Manilow embraces his role as a stepfather and has expressed admiration for Kief, stating, ‘That’s the miracle of this relationship. It’s a relationship built on respect, and we’ve never bumped heads about anything.’

Deixler, Manilow’s ex-wife, eventually learned of their marriage and conveyed her happiness for him, referring to their past as ‘ancient history’ and wishing the couple well.

Now that his sexuality is no longer a secret, Manilow notes that nothing has fundamentally changed since his family and friends have always been aware. The significant difference is that he can now openly discuss his sexuality with the wider public. He shared, ‘For me, there’s never been anything wrong with it. I could not be prouder of being a gay man and having a beautiful life and a great partner for 40 years.’

With greater openness surrounding sexuality today, artists like Harry Styles have also embraced their identities, speaking freely about their own experiences. Freed from the burden of hiding, entertainers like Manilow and Styles can now share their authentic selves with the world, both on stage and off.