It's rare in show business (and in life in general, really), to see a couple that lasts as long as The Beatles' Ringo Starr and his wife Barbara Bach. They haven't only stayed together, they have remained as hopelessly in love as they were when they first met.Four decades is a long time to be with only one person, so of course there were tough moments, but there was never any doubt in their minds that they were destined to be together. Time seems to have proved them right, because they couldn't be happier. Let's learn a bit about their relationship!
7 Who Is Barbara Bach?
For Beatles fans, Barbara Bach might just be Ringo Starr's wife, but she is so much more than just Lady Starkey. While she doesn't have the same international recognition as her husband, Barbara had made a name for herself in show business long before she married Ringo. She started her career modeling in the 60s, and she was featured in some of the most important fashion magazines such as Vogue and Elle. She then moved on to acting, and despite being from New York, her career as an actress really took off in Europe. Her first TV series was L'Odissea, in Italy in 1968, but it wasn't until 1977 that she would score her greatest role: spy Anya Amasova in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.
6 How They Met
Ringo Starr met the woman who would become the love of his life in 1980. The Beatles had broken up ten years before, and Ringo was taking a temporary break from music to pursue a different passion: acting.
One of the movies he participated in was Caveman, and his co-star was none other than Barbara Bach. When reviewing the timeline of their relationship, it was obvious that it was love at first sight. They got married the following year.
5 A Near-Death Experience Made Them Rethink Everything
Just a few months into their relationship, Ringo and Barbara were convinced that they were meant to be together. The two of them hadn't necessarily planned anything for the future, but they knew they loved each other more than anything. It was a horrible car accident that could have been a tragedy that made them realize they didn't want to waste a single day. They crashed against a lampost after swerving to avoid hitting an oncoming lorry. Barbara thankfully wasn't hurt, and Ringo only had a few minor injures. Just weeks after that, they decided to get married.
4 They Were Both Married Before
When they met, Ringo was 40 and Barbara was 33. The two of them had had previous relationships that had ultimately not worked out, and they were happy to finally find each other. Ringo had been married to his long-time girlfriend Maureen Cox from 1965 to 1975, and he had admittedly not treated her right. He had been unfaithful and neglectful, and has said many times how much he regretted the way he acted back then. Barbara, for her part, was married to Italian businessman Augusto, Count Gregorini di Savignano di Romagna in 1968, and they divorced the same year Ringo divorced his first wife.
3 They Don't Have Any Children Together
Barbara and Ringo never had any kids together, but they have made a big blended family, and they love each other's children as their own.
Barbara and her first husband, Augusto, had two children, Francesca and Gianni, while Ringo and Maureen had three, Zak, Lee, and Jason. The kids love each other and their step-parents, and while they have all made their own lives, they are still very close as a family.
2 They Struggled With Addiction But Got Each Other Through It
Being in show business, it's easy to get carried away and buy into the myth of a life of excess. Ringo had been using drugs and drinking before meeting Barbara, but it got increasingly worse during the '80s. Barbara herself was also struggling, and it was a matter of time before they both reached rock bottom.
"It was their drugs heyday. Their troubles made me a better academic. I was always hidden away in a room reading because Mum and Dad were out of it," shared Barbara's daughter, Francesca.
In 1988, they finally gathered the courage to face their problems and checked themselves into rehab in Arizona. They made a serious commitment, and haven't touched drugs or a drop of alcohol ever since.
1 Forty Years Later, They Love Each Other More Than Ever
This year marks the fortieth wedding anniversary of Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach, and after all these years, they are as in love as ever. The couple married in 1981 in Marylebone Town Hall, the same place where his fellow Beatle Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman in 1969 and Nancy Shevell in 2011. Paul and Linda attended the wedding, along with George Harrison and his wife Olivia. The couple has encountered many obstacles through the years, but their love never wavered. In fact, Ringo says he doesn't think he could stop loving her even if he tried.
"There's no escape," he said about it. "I think I love Barbara as much (today) as I did (when we met). And I'm beyond blessed that she loves me and we're still together."