Glenn Close’s life off-screen is as captivating as any Hollywood blockbuster—and far more complex. From a ‘cult’ upbringing to three marriages and a fulfilling single life, her story is a testament to resilience and self-discovery. But here’s where it gets controversial: how much does her early involvement in a religious group still shape her today? Let’s dive in.
For over four decades, Glenn Close, now 78, has been a powerhouse in Hollywood. Rising to fame in the ’80s with iconic roles in Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons, and 101 Dalmatians, she’s earned eight Academy Award nominations and continues to shine, with her upcoming role in Sunrise on the Reaping, the Hunger Games prequel. Yet, her personal life has often stolen the spotlight, offering a narrative as gripping as any film.
Three Marriages and a Late-Life Perspective on Partnership
On-screen, Close has romanced leading men like Robert Redford and Kevin Kline. Off-screen, her romantic journey has been equally dramatic. At just 22, she married musician Cabot Wade in 1969, a union she later described as “basically an arranged marriage” orchestrated through the Moral Re-Armament (MRA) group, a religious organization her parents joined when she was a child. The marriage lasted only two years. Her second marriage, to businessman James Marlas in 1984, ended in 1987. In 2006, she married businessman David Shaw, divorcing in 2015. Since then, she’s remained single, embracing her independence.
In a 2017 interview with The Guardian, Close reflected on marriage: “I think it’s a positive evolutionary component that we are better with a partner… But this is an opinion I’ve come to very late in life, at an ironic moment, where I don’t have any of that.” Is partnership truly a basic human need, or is there strength in solitude? Close’s candid thoughts invite us to ponder.
A Decade of Single Bliss
Appearing on Drew Barrymore’s talk show in January 2025, Close revealed she’s “very