Before Barry Manilow became an international star, he was a young musician in New York trying to decide what kind of future he wanted. Susan Deixler was part of that early chapter. The two were high-school sweethearts who married in 1964 and separated about a year later. Their marriage remains a subject of interest, but Deixler’s story did not end there.
Unlike her former husband, Deixler has not pursued a public career in entertainment. Her public comments suggest a life centered on family and privacy.
Who Is Susan Deixler?
Susan Deixler came to public attention through her marriage to Manilow, although the relationship began long before he was famous. They met at Eastern District High School in Brooklyn, before recording contracts and major tours.
That timing matters. Looking back at their marriage through the lens of Manilow’s later success can make it seem like a celebrity romance. They were two young people whose adult plans had not yet settled.
A Young Marriage in 1964
Deixler and Manilow married in 1964. She was reported to be 19 at the time, and both were still very young. Their marriage was short, and they separated after roughly a year. The marriage was subsequently annulled in 1966.
These dates are sometimes confused. The relationship had already broken down before the legal process was completed. It ended before his breakthrough with “Mandy” in 1974, when his career entered an entirely different phase.
Why Did Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow Separate?
Manilow has been unusually candid about his own part in the breakup. In interviews, he has described himself as young, absorbed in music, and unprepared for the responsibilities of marriage. He spent his evenings with musicians and theatre people rather than settling into domestic life.
In a May 2026 interview, he again explained that the musical world he was discovering had become central to his life. His account frames the separation as a conflict between an emerging professional ambition and being present as a husband. That is his perspective, not necessarily Deixler’s.
Manilow later spoke publicly about his sexuality and his long relationship with Garry Kief. But he has not presented his first marriage as a deliberate attempt to conceal his identity. Reducing the breakup to that explanation overlooks what he has actually said about his youth and his priorities.
What Susan Said Years Later
Deixler rarely speaks about the relationship. When reporters contacted her in 2015, after news of Manilow’s marriage to Kief, she said she was happy he had found love. She also made clear that their relationship belonged to the distant past and that she did not want to revisit it in detail.
Her response offers a valuable counterbalance to accounts told entirely from the singer’s perspective. She did not offer a fresh version of the breakup or invite further discussion of their private history. Instead, she emphasized that she had children, a life of her own, and no interest in becoming a celebrity. Her boundary matters: an early marriage to a future star does not make her entire private life public property.
Family and a Life Outside Entertainment
Deixler has acknowledged having children, but she has not made their identities or personal lives part of her public story. No well-established public record shows children from her marriage to Manilow. Her later family life should not be confused with Manilow’s life with Kief and their family.
Biographical reporting has also connected Deixler with decades of work supporting older adults in California’s West Marin region. A local senior-services organization described Susan Deixler’s care management work, including helping older residents find transport, meals, and practical assistance. In March 2024, Marin County publicly recognized a woman of that name for 30 years of service as she retired from West Marin Senior Services.
Those records offer a potentially fuller view than celebrity gossip. They describe sustained work in a small community, where helping someone reach a medical appointment or regain a favorite activity can matter enormously. However, the connection between these local records and Manilow’s former wife deserves careful verification rather than relying solely on the shared name.
Where Is Susan Deixler Today?
Deixler has been associated with West Marin in past reporting, but that does not confirm where she lives in 2026. She offers few public updates about her personal life, and her earlier comments suggest that she prefers to keep it that way.
Claims about an exact birthday, a current partner, or a specific net worth should be treated with equal caution. No dependable public financial disclosure establishes her wealth. Curiosity is not a reason to invent details.
A Story That Deserves Its Own Perspective
Susan Deixler will always appear in accounts of Manilow’s early years, but their marriage lasted only a small part of her adult life. The historical record shows a youthful relationship that ended and a rare public statement wishing him happiness. Other reporting points toward a life spent far from the entertainment spotlight.
Her story isn’t interesting because of an imagined secret behind the breakup. It is the contrast between a brief connection to fame and the many ordinary years that followed. She deserves recognition as a person, not merely a footnote in another biography.
FAQs
Who was Barry Manilow’s first wife?
Susan Deixler, his high-school sweetheart, married him in 1964.
How long were Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow married?
They separated after roughly one year. Their marriage was annulled in 1966.
Why did their marriage end?
Manilow has said he was too young and too focused on music to be ready for married life.
Did Susan Deixler have children?
She publicly acknowledged having children, although no established record shows children from her marriage to Manilow.
Where is Susan Deixler now?
She has kept her current personal circumstances private. Public records document Susan Deixler’s community-care work in West Marin, but her present circumstances are not publicly established.
Also Read: Sonya Nicole Hamlin
