Susan Deixler is best known as Barry Manilow’s first wife, but her life story reaches far beyond their short marriage. She met the future music star while they were students in Brooklyn, married him in 1964 and separated after about one year. Susan later created a private life in California and spent decades helping older adults through West Marin Senior Services.
Susan Deixler Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Susan Deixler |
| Known for | Being Barry Manilow’s first wife |
| Birth year | Approximately 1944 or 1945 |
| Estimated age in 2026 | Around 81–82 |
| Exact birthday | Not publicly confirmed |
| Childhood area | Brooklyn, New York |
| High school | Eastern District High School |
| Former husband | Barry Manilow |
| Marriage year | 1964 |
| Marriage ended | Annulled in 1966 |
| Children | Yes, but details remain private |
| Later career | Senior care manager and community advocate |
| Organisation | West Marin Senior Services |
| Retirement | Honoured upon retirement in 2024 |
| Current relationship status | Private |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Susan was reported to be 19 when she married Manilow in 1964 and 70 when she spoke publicly in April 2015. These reports suggest a birth year around 1944 or 1945, but no dependable public biography confirms her exact date of birth.
Who Is Susan Deixler?
Susan Deixler is a private American woman who became connected with entertainment history through her early marriage to Barry Manilow.
The pair met while attending Eastern District High School in Brooklyn. At the time, Manilow was still known as Barry Pincus and had not yet developed the international career that later made him famous for songs such as Mandy, Copacabana and Can’t Smile Without You.
Susan and Barry were high-school sweethearts. Their relationship began years before record sales, Las Vegas shows, major awards and worldwide recognition entered his life.
However, their marriage lasted only a short time.
After the relationship ended, Susan chose not to chase attention or build a public identity around her former husband. She raised a family, settled in California and developed a long career centred on caring for older adults.
How Did Susan Deixler Meet Barry Manilow?
Susan and Barry met at Eastern District High School in Brooklyn, New York.
Manilow graduated from the school in 1961. Susan was remembered in later reports as his high-school sweetheart, and their young relationship continued after graduation.
This was long before Manilow became a successful recording artist.
During those early years, music already played a major role in his life. He studied music and began finding small professional opportunities, while Susan represented the possibility of a more settled home and family life.
Their relationship eventually led to marriage in 1964.
When Did Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow Get Married?
Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow married in 1964.
She was reportedly 19 years old, while Manilow was around 20 or 21. The ceremony took place shortly after their school years, when both were still very young and Manilow’s professional future remained uncertain.
Some profiles call the wedding an elopement, while others simply describe it as a private civil marriage.
The strongest available sources agree on the most important details:
- They were high-school sweethearts.
- They married in 1964.
- They remained together for approximately one year.
- The marriage was annulled in 1966.
Why Did Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow Separate?
Barry Manilow has said that the marriage ended because he was too young and deeply focused on music.
In a 2017 interview, he said that he loved Susan but was not ready for marriage. He explained that he spent his nights making music and was not prepared to settle into the responsibilities of married life.
Manilow gave a similar explanation during a later interview. He described the marriage positively but said he was away nearly every night playing with musicians and working on creative projects.
According to his account, he could not give Susan the attention and commitment expected from a husband.
Their separation should therefore not be reduced to one dramatic argument.
They had married extremely young, and Manilow was beginning to pursue a demanding career that required long hours and complete focus.
Did Their Marriage End Because Barry Manilow Is Gay?
Manilow has said that his sexuality was not the reason the marriage failed.
When he publicly discussed being gay in 2017, he maintained that he had genuinely loved Susan. He connected the breakup with his age, career ambitions and inability to become a settled husband at that point in his life.
Years later, Manilow formed a long-term relationship with television executive and manager Garry Kief. They met in 1978 and eventually held a private marriage ceremony in 2014.
It would be unfair to claim that Susan’s marriage was completely false or meaningless because of Manilow’s later relationship.
Manilow himself has repeatedly described his love for Susan as real, while accepting that he was not ready to fulfil the role of a husband.
Was Susan Deixler Barry Manilow’s Legal Wife?
Yes.
Susan is consistently identified as Barry Manilow’s first wife.
They married in 1964, remained together for around one year and had the marriage annulled in 1966. Some modern profiles loosely describe the ending as a divorce, but Manilow’s documented relationship history commonly records an annulment.
An annulment and a divorce are not exactly the same.
A divorce ends a legally recognised marriage. An annulment is a legal decision that treats the marriage as invalid under specific conditions.
The complete legal reasoning behind Susan and Barry’s annulment has not been made publicly available.
Did Susan Deixler and Barry Manilow Have Children?
No dependable source reports that Susan and Barry had children together.
People’s family coverage states that Manilow did not have biological children during his marriage to Susan. He later helped raise Garry Kief’s daughter, Kirsten, and became a stepfather figure in her life.
Susan did later have children.
In a rare 2015 statement, she explained that she had children and an established life of her own. However, she did not publicly identify them or reveal how many children she had.
Their names, ages and careers should remain private.
What Did Susan Say About Barry Manilow’s Later Marriage?
Susan spoke briefly after reports emerged that Manilow had married Garry Kief.
She made it clear that she did not hold public anger toward her former husband. She described their relationship as ancient history and said she was happy that Manilow had found love and happiness.
Her response was calm and respectful.
Susan also reminded reporters that she was not a celebrity. By that time, approximately 50 years had passed since their marriage, and she had built a separate family and life.
Her comments showed that she did not want an experience from her teenage years to define her forever.
Did Susan Deixler Remarry?
Susan confirmed in 2015 that she had children and a full personal life, but she did not publicly explain her complete relationship history.
Several online biographies claim she remarried, but dependable sources do not consistently identify a husband.
Her present marital status should therefore be described as private.
Having children does not automatically confirm whether she married again, remained married, divorced or raised her family through another arrangement.
What Did Susan Deixler Do After Her Marriage Ended?
Susan eventually settled in West Marin, California.
A profile published by West Marin Senior Services said she had lived in the region for more than 50 years. She became deeply involved in supporting older residents living in the area’s rural communities.
Her work included helping clients arrange:
- Home care
- Medical equipment
- Transportation
- Meal delivery
- Emotional support
- Medical appointments
- Information about available services
Susan also visited homebound adults and helped families understand how ageing relatives could remain safely and independently in their homes.
This work became a far more important part of her adult identity than her brief connection with celebrity life.
How Long Did Susan Work for West Marin Senior Services?
Susan served the West Marin community for more than 30 years.
An official Marin County resolution says she first worked as a volunteer for 10 years. She then spent another 20 years as a senior care manager with West Marin Senior Services.
Her responsibilities went beyond normal office work.
The county recognised her as a strong advocate who communicated with hospitals, doctors, insurance organisations, social-service agencies and government programmes on behalf of older residents.
Susan’s long career involved practical support as well as personal care.
She worked with individuals who had few nearby relatives and sometimes resisted accepting assistance. Building trust became one of the most important parts of her job.
What Community Programmes Did Susan Deixler Create?
Susan helped create programmes that supported health, food access and social connections among older residents.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors credited her with starting the Senior Swim Program at Heart’s Desire Beach in Tomales Bay State Park. The programme had operated for 18 years by the time the county prepared its retirement resolution.
She also helped establish a supplemental nutrition table in partnership with West Marin Community Services.
The programme offered fresh produce, dairy products and protein-rich foods to older people attending community meals.
In addition, Susan helped guide nursing students completing community placements through Dominican University.
These students gained experience visiting and supporting older, rural and homebound adults.
When Did Susan Deixler Retire?
Susan retired after approximately three decades of community service and was publicly honoured in 2024.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors prepared a resolution recognising her work, dedication and positive influence on older residents and their families.
A local newspaper also reported that the county acknowledged her retirement and long career in March 2024. Susan described the work as a wonderful opportunity to help people she cared about and learn something new each day.
Her retirement represented the conclusion of a meaningful public-service career rather than a disappearance from Hollywood.
Is Susan Deixler Still Alive?
No reliable obituary or family announcement reports Susan Deixler’s death as of July 2026.
The latest strong public update located during research concerned her retirement and recognition by Marin County in 2024.
Because Susan is a private individual, she does not regularly provide health or personal updates.
A lack of recent interviews should not be treated as proof that she has died or become seriously ill.
Where Does Susan Deixler Live Today?
Susan spent more than five decades living in California’s West Marin area, according to West Marin Senior Services.
However, her exact current home should not be published or guessed.
Retirement may have changed her living arrangements, and the available 2024 recognition did not provide a new private address.
The responsible description is that she built her adult life in West Marin and remained connected with the community through her long career.
Is Susan Deixler on Social Media?
No major verified public Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or X account clearly belongs to Susan.
She has repeatedly presented herself as a private person rather than a public celebrity. Her 2015 comments also showed that she did not want to reopen or promote her brief marriage from the 1960s.
Profiles using her name may belong to unrelated people.
Readers should avoid contacting private accounts or assuming that every photograph attached to her name is authentic.
What Is Susan Deixler’s Net Worth?
Susan Deixler’s exact net worth is not publicly known.
She spent many years working in community care rather than entertainment. No verified financial document provides details about her income, property, savings, inheritance or retirement funds.
Online websites that publish precise figures are usually making estimates without reliable evidence.
Barry Manilow’s success also does not establish Susan’s finances. Their marriage ended before his major commercial breakthrough, and no dependable source provides details about a later financial settlement.
Why Is Susan Deixler Still Famous?
Susan remains a subject of interest because she was married to Manilow before he became a global star.
Fans often discover her name while researching:
- Barry Manilow’s first marriage
- His high-school years
- His later marriage to Garry Kief
- His comments about coming out
- Whether he had children
- Why his first relationship ended
However, describing Susan only as an ex-wife overlooks decades of her life.
Her community work lasted far longer than her marriage. The Marin County recognition shows that she became a trusted advocate for older adults and created programmes with lasting local value.
Confirmed Facts and Unverified Claims
Reliably Confirmed
- Susan Deixler was Barry Manilow’s high-school sweetheart.
- They attended Eastern District High School in Brooklyn.
- They married in 1964.
- Susan was reportedly 19 at the time.
- The relationship lasted approximately one year.
- Their marriage was annulled in 1966.
- They did not have children together.
- Susan later had children of her own.
- She lived for decades in West Marin, California.
- She volunteered for 10 years and worked as a senior care manager for 20 years.
- Marin County honoured her retirement in 2024.
Not Reliably Confirmed
- Her exact date of birth
- Her precise current age
- Her parents’ identities
- Her complete education history
- The names of her children
- Whether she remarried
- Her current partner
- Her present address
- Her health
- Her personal net worth
Final Thoughts
Susan Deixler’s public story began with a teenage romance in Brooklyn.
She married Barry Manilow in 1964, when neither of them could have known how dramatically his career would grow. Their marriage ended after about one year because Manilow felt unable to balance married life with his powerful ambition to make music.
Susan did not spend the following decades chasing fame.
Instead, she created a private family life and became an important member of the West Marin community. Her 30 years of service included volunteering, care management, food support, health programmes and strong advocacy for older adults.
When she finally spoke about Manilow in 2015, her response showed acceptance rather than resentment.
She said the relationship belonged to the distant past and expressed happiness that he had found love.
That balanced response reflects the wider truth about her life.
Susan Deixler may remain famous as Barry Manilow’s first wife, but her lasting story is also about family, privacy, service and decades spent helping vulnerable people live with independence and dignity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Susan Deixler?
Susan Deixler is Barry Manilow’s high-school sweetheart and first wife. She later became a senior care manager and community advocate in West Marin, California.
How old is Susan Deixler?
Her exact birthday is not confirmed. She was reported to be 19 in 1964 and 70 in April 2015, placing her estimated age at around 81 or 82 in 2026.
When did Susan Deixler marry Barry Manilow?
They married in 1964.
How long were Susan and Barry married?
They remained married for approximately one year before separating. The marriage was annulled in 1966.
Why did Barry Manilow leave Susan Deixler?
Manilow said he was too young, spent most nights making music and was not ready to become a settled husband.
Did their marriage end because Barry Manilow is gay?
Manilow has said no. He maintained that he loved Susan and connected the breakup with his youth and music ambitions.
Did Susan and Barry have children?
No reliable source reports that they had children together. Susan later confirmed that she had children in her own life.
Did Susan Deixler remarry?
Her later relationship and marriage history has not been reliably confirmed.
What did Susan say about Barry’s marriage to Garry Kief?
She said she was happy that Manilow had found love and described their own relationship as ancient history.
What did Susan Deixler do for work?
She worked with West Marin Senior Services, first as a volunteer and later as a senior care manager supporting older adults.
When did Susan Deixler retire?
Marin County publicly honoured her retirement in 2024 after more than 30 years of service.
Is Susan Deixler still alive?
No dependable obituary or official family statement reports her death as of July 2026.
Where does Susan Deixler live?
She spent more than 50 years in West Marin, California, but her exact current home remains private.
What is Susan Deixler’s net worth?
Her net worth has not been publicly verified.
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