This ’70s Star Got a Second Chance with a ‘Sex and the City’ Heartthrob After Her Husband’s Death — Their Love Story
The Hollywood icon found herself in a whirlwind romance with a man thirty years her senior as she ascended to fame. After his passing, her heart opened once more in her mid-forties when she fell for a renowned actor. Their enduring love story continues to captivate.
This esteemed star in the 1970s, who just turned 68, is best known for her unforgettable performance in the 1979 romantic comedy “10.” Her swimsuits and iconic cornrows in the film instantly cemented her status as a global sex symbol.
The actress on the set of the movie “10,” 1979 | | Source: Getty Images
However, her path to stardom started much earlier. At just 17, she made her debut in the film “Fantasies,” shot in Greece. During filming, she fell in love with her director, John Derek, who was 30 years older. Their relationship led to the end of his marriage to actress Linda Evans.
The duo’s romance eventually led to marriage in 1976, and they remained devoted to one another for 22 years until the actor’s passing in 1998 from congestive heart failure.
The actress and John Derek pictured on January 1, 1983 | Source: Getty Images
The veteran actress later opened up about the profound impact of her husband’s passing, reflecting on the emotional toll it took.
“I’ve always been a fairly optimistic person, but it was a huge change, an enormous loss,” she shared. “The air just gets sucked out of the room when you lose your partner. So I wallowed in that for a while.”
The actress and John Derek pictured on February 1, 1987 | Source: Getty Images
Despite the grief, she admitted she didn’t expect to find love again. “Some women want to pair up again right away. I didn’t,” she explained. Instead, she drew inspiration from single friends who embraced fulfilling lives through family, friendships, and personal projects, finding joy in their independence.
However, five years after her spouse’s passing, the former...