The iconic British actress, Glynis Johns has been married four times in the course of her 101 years on earth. Her first marriage was to Anthony Forwood. During the marriage which lasted from 1942 to 1948, she gave birth to her only child, Garreth Forwood. For the next couple of years, the then actress, dancer, and singer continued to enter love relationships that led to three more marriages with David Foster, Cecil Henderson, and Elliot Arnold. Notably, the South African-born entertainer outlived all her ex-husbands as well as her only child.
Prior to her marriages, Glynis started out as a fourth-generation member of her family to act on stage. Apart from this, the number of her marriages may have been as high as five if the marriage plans between her and Antony Darnborough had succeeded in 1951. While many live and die without finding someone to walk down the aisle with, Glynis proved that she is a woman who believes in love and moving on after a failed marriage. As it is, this has only added to the curiosity to take a close look at her marriages.
Glynis Johns Husband: She was Married Four Times Between 1942 and 1962
Anthony Forwood
101-year-old Glynis Johns has lived all her life in the public eye and this includes her marriages. The first time she took a walk down the aisle was in 1942 when she got married to Anthony Forwood. Like Johns, Forwood also had a career in the entertainment industry. He started out as a theatre actor in the 30s before switching to film when he made his debut in Traveller Joy in 1949. He remained active for many years in the roles he took.
Taking a look at Forwood’s relationship with Johns, the pair met in 1941 while practicing for Quiet Wedding. They did not start dating immediately but till a year later when Forwood asked her on a date which she accepted. Their chemistry was so great that they decided to get married a month after they had gone on their first date.
During their marriage, they welcomed a son, Gareth Forwood on October 14, 1945. This child would be the only one for both. Despite having the same career backgrounds, their marriage had its share of scandals including alleged infidelity on Forwood’s part. As it is it would eventually lead to a lengthy divorce proceeding in 1948.
As mentioned earlier, Glynis moved on with her love life and so did Forwood. He moved on with Dirk Bogarde even though they did not publicize the relationship. In fact, Forwood lived with Dirk as his ‘manager’ for about 40 years.
David Foster
Four years after her first marriage ended, the Judgement Day actress got married to David Foster, an officer in the Royal Navy who would later had a flourishing career as a business executive.
They tied the knot on February 1, 1952. Their marriage was not as eventful as her first. It finally ended in divorce on May 17, 1956.
Cecil Henderson
After her second marriage with the Air Force officer turned executive at Colgate-Palmolive ended, Glynis gave marriage another chance again. She got married to Cecil Henderson, a British businessman but the marriage ended two years later.
A close look at why the union ended points to accusations of infidelity. Allegedly, the actress cheated on the businessman with another actor, Robert Fitz Randolph Patten in Los Angeles. Despite such a strong accusation, it was never proven.
Elliot Arnold
The last man that she got married to was Elliot Arnold, a writer who worked for the US Air Force as a captain. Notably, they got engaged in June 1964 and got married in a Los Angeles-held wedding in October. Sadly, the marriage ended in divorce nine years later.
For a woman who had a colorful career, it turns out that she chose to get married instead of just having affairs. Moreso, she made it clear that she would thread carefully before getting into another one. Hence, this might account for her staying single since her last marriage which ended 51 years ago.
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Glynis Johns’ Only Child also Followed her Career Footsteps
As mentioned earlier, Gynis had only one child whom she welcomed with her first husband. Like the actress, her son Gareth also enjoyed a successful career that lasted four decades as a stage and screen actor.
He is notable for his roles in Crown Court, Where Adam Stood, and Blade on the Feather.
Also, she became a grandmother after Gareth and his wife Veronique Lecoq welcomed their son Thomas Forwood. Notably, Thomas is also involved with the entertainment industry and he pursues his craft as a writer and director.
The Disney Actress Outlived all her Ex-husbands and Only Child
After 9 decades on earth and still counting, Glynis has come full circle as one of the oldest British screen actors with stories to tell about a time past. As proven in the lives of many, some of these stories which are about the deaths of her ex-husbands are not so pleasant.
The first to die was her third husband, Cecil Henderson who died in 1978. The next to die was Arnold who died in 1980 at the age of 67.
Her first husband, whom she shares a son with died in 1988 followed by Foster in 2010.
Apart from outliving her former husbands, she also lost her son Gareth to cancer and a heart attack in 2007. Thankfully, the resident of a senior citizens living community located in Belmont Village Hollywood Heights has her grandchild to remind her of her long-gone son.
