Inside Olivia Newton-John's turbulent love life: From 'first love' Ian Turpie to a 'long breakup' with Lee Kramer
SANTA YNEZ, CALIFORNIA: Grammy-winning star, singer-songwriter and actress Olivia Newton-John, who had a long career of almost six decades, has left behind a rich legacy following the news of her death at 73 on Monday, August 8, after a courageous battle with cancer over several decades. The 'Grease' star was well-known for her life in the limelight, which began with a brief stint in an all-girl group when she was 14.
Olivia had been surrounded by numerous relationships with men throughout her life. She had two marriages, and a number of other relationships she had spoken of openly. Olivia had a busy romantic life, from her first love Ian Turpie to the tragic loss of Patrick McDermott, who mysteriously went missing in 2005 after he went on a fishing trip with 22 other people and never came back, and her husband John Easterling with whom she spent the final moments of life before she died.
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Ian Turpie
Olivia first met actor Ian Turpie in 1965, when she was 16. They co-starred in her first film, 'Funny Things Happen Down Under', and began dating off-set in the late 1960s. Ian died in 2012, at the age of 68, but the two remained in touch at the time. Olivia was reportedly at his bedside during his final days and considered him to be her first true love.
Bruce Welch
Olivia met British rocker Bruce Welch in 1968 while performing as a support act for his band, The Shadows, and the couple soon became engaged. They were in a five-year relationship but never married, with Olivia eventually leaving the relationship amid rumors that she was seeing someone else. Bruce was devastated by the breakup and attempted suicide as a result, which he thankfully survived. “She’ll always be Livvy to me,” he told Mirror. “I’m thrilled for her. As a mere OBE myself, I will have to doff my cap, touch my forelock, and bow next time I see her. Maybe I’ll learn to crusty,” he joked.
Lee Kramer
Olivia met Kramer in 1973 during a vacation in the south of France. “We met, and that was that. I hustled my way back on the same airplane as hers at any cost,” he told Rolling Stone in 1978. Lee was working for a business with his brother that imported and exported cowboy boots to and from London at the time they met, but after meeting Olivia, he was happy to follow her to the US and assist with her business.
He had moved in with her and started working as her manager within five months of meeting her. However, the constant business discussions strained their relationship, and the two divorced in 1976. Though the relationship lasted 5 years, Olivia termed most of it “one long breakup”, Ninja Journalist reported.
“She never dated anyone else or anything, and neither did I,” Lee told Rolling Stone. “We still spoke, and she called me for counselling on her life, and me the same way.”
Matt Lattanzi
Olivia met Lattanzi who was a dancer on the set of 'Xanadu'. They were married for ten years, from 1985 to 1995, and had Olivia's only child, Chloe Rose Lattanzi, in 1986. he couple eventually divorced, but they faced many battles together, including Olivia's first bout with breast cancer in 1992."He was so supportive of her," Olivia's niece Tottie Goldsmith said of her aunt's marriage to Matt. he went on to say that their differences could not be resolved. Tottie said at the time, "The people she chooses to mix with now are very spiritual." "She must find an equal."
Patrick McDermott
Olivia went on to date Hollywood cameraman and lighting technician Patrick McDermott, her most publicized relationship to date. They started dating in 1996, not long after her divorce from Lattanzi. The pair had a very on-and-off relationship. They dated for nine long years. However, things took tragic turn when McDermott went missing in 2005 after an overnight fishing trip in Los Angeles. Olivia had confirmed they were no longer together at the time of his disappearance. McDermott was never found.
John Easterling
After McDermott's disappearance, Olivia moved on with her life by meeting her future husband John Easterling, founder and president of the Amazon Herb Company, and marrying him at an Inca ritual in Peru in 2008.