You may see odd claims about Burt Bacharach’s marital life. Fans get mixed stories online. You might ask, who was burt bacharach married to? You need crisp, clear answers.
He wed four times. His first match was Paula Stewart. Then he married Angie Dickinson. Next came Carole Bayer Sager. His last bride was Jane Hansen. We list each marriage with dates and notes.
Keep reading.
Key Takeaways
- Burt Bacharach married four times: Paula Stewart (1953–1958), Angie Dickinson (1965–1980), Carole Bayer Sager (1982–1991), and Jane Hansen (1993–2023).
- All four wives had show-business ties: Stewart was a performer, Dickinson an actress, Sager a lyricist, and Hansen his manager.
- He had four children: daughter Nikki (with Dickinson, b. 1966), adopted son Christopher (with Sager, b. 1984), and sons Oliver and Raleigh (with Hansen).
- His final marriage brought him stability for 30 years and lasted until his death at age 94 on February 8, 2023.
Burt Bacharach’s First Marriage
Paula Stewart, a performer, became Burt’s first wife in early 1953. She sat by his piano at late-night gigs, but road fatigue split their duo by 1958.
Who was Paula Stewart and when were they married?
Stewart came from show business and wed Burt Bacharach in 1953. Her support steered him out of Army service into band arranging.
Their five year marriage ended in 1958, before Bacharach scored his first Grammy awards. They shared no children, but she played a key part in his early songwriting.
What led to their separation?
Burt Bacharach and Paula Stewart ended their marriage in 1958, as his studio bookings rose sharply. They split without drama, no big disputes, just friendly terms. Their separation aligned with Bacharach’s growing work, demo sessions and arranging gigs.
She returned to her stage roles, while Burt Bacharach dove into songwriting at the Brill Building. He soon formed the Bacharach & David team, paving the way for Grammy awards and pop hits.
That divorce cleared the path for his first major collaborations and fame.
Burt Bacharach’s Second Marriage
Bacharach wed actress Angie Dickinson in 1965, by then he held six Grammy Awards and they rode red carpet highs while he worked late-night sessions at A&M Records. Their dreams clashed when his world tours bumped into her crime show shoots, leaving their duet out of tune.
Who is Angie Dickinson and how long were they married?
Angie Dickinson rose to fame as an actress. She wed Burt Bacharach in 1965. Their marriage lasted fifteen years, until 1980. A daughter, Nikki Bacharach, joined their lives soon after.
Those songs topped charts and won awards. Dickinson stood by him at Grammy Awards ceremonies, as Hal David spun words into songs.
Hollywood life mixed with studio work in New York. Dickinson fit into Brill Building sessions. She offered support during his creative peak. Quiet moments and photos marked time between award shows.
The split ended a high profile marriage.
What were the highlights of their relationship?
Burt Bacharach wed Angie Dickinson in 1965, just as he scored hits with Dionne Warwick and Hal David. Paparazzi tracked their every move through the 1970s. Daughter Nikki Bacharach arrived in 1966, and she joined their whirlwind on tour.
Busy schedules forced them to juggle studio sessions with preschool playdates.
Red carpets called at Grammy Awards and Academy Award galas, and they smiled for dozens of cameras. Critics cheered Bacharach’s film scores, and Dickinson basked in the praise. Reporters trailed them between music studios and press rooms.
The spotlight kept chasing this star pair.
What challenges did they face during their marriage?
Actor Angie Dickinson and Burt Bacharach raced between Hollywood sets and concert halls. Extended periods apart left them lonely. They chased Grammy awards and film roles across the globe.
They missed birthdays and dates. Their phone calls ran into the night.
Fans and press shadowed the couple at every turn. They felt a flood of cameras at premieres, red carpets, and studio sessions. Emotions flared over forgotten calls and missed dinners.
Press clippings piled on their kitchen table. Their stress led to a final split in 1981.
Burt Bacharach’s Third Marriage
He married lyricist Carole Bayer Sager in 1982, and they sketched tunes in a home studio that mixed his instrument lines with her lyric pages. They won big awards and spun pop gold, but their duet lost harmony and they split in 1991.
Who is Carole Bayer Sager and what was their marriage period?
Carole Bayer Sager is a prominent lyricist and songwriter. She became Burt Bacharach’s third wife in 1982. Their marriage lasted nine years, until 1991. They adopted a son, Christopher Elton Bacharach, in 1984.
Carole won Grammy Awards before she wed. Both came from the Brill Building tradition.
They co-penned hit songs like Painted from Memory, God Give Me Strength, and That’s What Friends Are For. Recording at Burt’s Los Angeles studio sparked creative magic. Critics praised their synergy and key awards kept rolling.
What collaborative projects did they work on together?
Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager teamed up in the early 1980s. That pair wrote “Making Love” and handed singer Roberta Flack a new hit. Then they crafted “Heartlight” for singer Neil Diamond.
Next, Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) hit the big screen in the film Arthur; that track won an Oscar in 1982.
The duo shaped several high-profile tunes, keeping Bacharach alive in pop music. They mixed smooth melodies with sharp lyrics. Their joint work drew critical praise and chart success.
Why did their marriage end in divorce?
Carole Bayer Sager merged her life with Burt Bacharach in 1982. Fans saw them craft hits for almost ten years. The couple filed for divorce in 1991, without a public reason. His personal life took a new turn after that split.
Christopher remained an adopted son in both homes. The breakup also ended their creative collaboration.
Burt Bacharach’s Fourth Marriage
He wed his manager Jane Hansen in 1989, she cheered him on at the Grammy Awards as they raised two children—read on to learn more.
Who is Jane Hansen and how long were they married?
Jane Hansen became Burt Bacharach’s fourth wife in 1993. The couple stayed married for 30 years, until his death in 2023. Her calm support kept him going through long tours and studio sessions.
Fans saw her cheering at Grammy Awards and concerts.
She helped raise his youngest kids, Christopher and Oliver, in a warm home. Fans know Bacharach for Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head, and Hansen backed every note. Their steady life matched his busy schedule, it brought balance to a fast moving career.
What was their family life like and did they have children?
Hansen and Burt Bacharach built a private family nest in his later years while Jane Hansen stayed by his side through world tours. They welcomed son Oliver Bacharach and daughter Raleigh Bacharach.
The kids grew up with recording sessions and Grammy Awards invites.
Family life stayed low key and heartfelt, off camera and away from red carpets. She cheered his music, as he composed tracks like Dancing With Your Shadow about home. Oliver and Raleigh found home in music manuscripts more than school halls.
How did Bacharach reflect on this marriage?
Interview tape from 2015 shows Burt Bacharach reflecting on four marriages and the lessons each taught him. He admitted his final union with Jane Hansen brought him real contentment.
This marriage offered stability after long tours and late nights in studio. It marked a key era of personal growth for the composer.
Quiet family life with Hansen and children Christopher Elton Bacharach and Oliver Bacharach fueled his creative spark. He linked morning walks in their California house to new melodies and fresh lyrics.
Hansen’s support at music awards and a major music prize kept him grounded. The composer credited this bond with lasting peace and fulfillment.
Insights Into His Marital Life
His marriages flip like musical arrangements, they hold joy, tension, and resolution that even top songwriters seek. Each union tuned him like an instrument, shaping the man who stood under music award spotlights.
What common themes appear in Burt Bacharach’s relationships?
Each of Burt Bacharach’s four marriages included a partner tied to show business. He wed Paula Stewart in 1953, Angie Dickinson in 1965, Carole Bayer Sager in 1982, and Jane Hansen in 1993.
Studio sessions and lyric writing wove through every household. Music production demands blurred lines between home and work. This mix fueled emotional highs and lows in each union.
He often sought creative sparks in songwriting sessions and TV scoring, which brought both joy and stress. Family life grew tense when daughter Nikki faced mental health struggles.
Touring schedules and recording deadlines added extra strain. He chased stability among Grammy nights, Academy Awards moments, and endless travel.
How did his career impact his marriages?
His demanding work led Burt Bacharach to spend months on tour. He chased hits like “Walk on By” and “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.” Paula Stewart and Angie Dickinson felt the strain of his songwriters hub projects.
His Grammy Awards celebrations clashed with home life, and long flights made distance grow.
He honed new songs at a music academy and in Hollywood studios, and Carole Bayer Sager joined him in many sessions. Their creative blur spilled from studios to home. Touring alongside Aretha Franklin or Dionne Warwick put extra strain on that marriage.
Relocations for film work on “Arthur’s Theme” and “Casino Royale” added more pressure.
Is Burt Bacharach Still Alive?
Burt Bacharach died on February 8, 2023 at age 94. Many news sites, from BBC Electric Proms coverage to The New York Times, carried the report. He earned multiple Grammy Awards and an Academy Award in a long, creative run.
Jane Hansen, his wife, survived him along with sons Oliver and Raleigh Bacharach. Christopher Bacharach, his son with Carole Bayer Sager, also grieved. His daughter Nikki Bacharach passed away before him.
Fans still play hits like Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head. BBC Electric Proms and other events honored his music.
Takeaways
You saw four very different chapters in his love life. Paula Stewart kicked things off, Angie Dickinson brought Hollywood glam. Carole Bayer Sager fueled his songwriting passion and they raised son Christopher.
Jane Hansen added family warmth, and they welcomed Oliver and Raleigh. Heartbreak and joy shaped his melodies, and Grammy awards tell their own tale.
FAQs
1. Who was Burt Bacharach’s first wife?
He wed Paula Stewart, an actress from Kansas City, Missouri, in 1953, they split in 1958. They had a son, Christopher Elton Bacharach.
2. Who became his second wife?
He tied the knot with Angie Dickinson, the film star, in 1965, their marriage ended in 1981.
3. Who did he marry in 1982?
He said “I do” to Carole Bayer Sager, a Grammy Award winner, in 1982. They co-wrote hits like “Make It Easy On Yourself,” “On My Own.” They divorced in 1991.
4. Who was his fourth spouse?
In 1993, he married Jane Hansen. She helped him on songs at this time, they stayed together until his death in 2023. They had two children, Oliver Bacharach and Raleigh Bacharach.
5. Did he ever marry Dionne Warwick?
No, Dionne Warwick never became his wife. She sang Hal David’s lyrics to his tunes, on songs like “Walk On By,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “I Say a Little Prayer.”
6. Who are his children and grandchild?
His son is Christopher Elton Bacharach. His daughters are Oliver Bacharach and Raleigh Bacharach. His granddaughter is Nikki Bacharach.
