Honestly, if you look at most celebrity marriages, they usually last about as long as a drum solo. But Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach? They’ve been together for over 44 years. That is basically a geological era in Hollywood time. People always ask who is Ringo Starr's wife as if she’s just some "Beatle widow" in waiting, but Barbara was a massive star in her own right long before she ever sat behind a drum kit with Richie.
She was a Bond girl. Not just any Bond girl, either. She played Major Anya Amasova in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). She was the Russian spy who gave Roger Moore a run for his money. It’s kinda funny because, back then, she probably had more "cool factor" than Ringo did in the late 70s.
The Shea Stadium Coincidence
Here’s a detail that sounds like total fiction but is actually 100% true. Back in 1965, a teenage Barbara Goldbach (her maiden name) went to see The Beatles play their legendary set at Shea Stadium in New York. She wasn't even there for Ringo. She was chaperoning her younger sister, Marjorie. Barbara actually told People magazine back in 1981 that she was more of a Bob Dylan and Rolling Stones fan.
The Beatles? She thought they were okay, but she wasn't screaming.
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Fast forward fifteen years to 1980. They both get cast in this weird, campy prehistoric comedy called Caveman. Ringo said he fell for her the moment he saw her at the airport in Los Angeles. They were both in other relationships at the time, but by the end of the shoot in Mexico, they were inseparable. It was a whirlwind. Within a year, they were married.
Surviving the 80s Together
It hasn't all been peace and love, though. You've probably heard the rumors, and some of them are pretty grim. In the mid-80s, things got dark. Ringo later admitted he was "a drunk, a wife-beater, and an absent father" during his worst years. Barbara was right there in the spiral with him.
They hit a breaking point in 1988.
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They checked into a rehab clinic in Tucson, Arizona, together. Most couples would have folded under that kind of pressure. Instead, they stayed sober. They’ve been clean for nearly four decades now. They even became strict vegetarians. If you see them on a red carpet today, they look healthier than people half their age. It’s sort of a miracle of modern living, or maybe just a lot of broccoli and clean air.
The First Wife: Maureen Starkey
You can't really talk about Ringo’s domestic life without mentioning Maureen "Mo" Starkey. She was the Liverpool hairdresser who married him at the height of Beatlemania in 1965. She’s the one Paul McCartney is shouting out at the end of the "Get Back" rooftop concert when he says, "Thanks, Mo!"
Their marriage ended in 1975, partly because of Ringo's heavy drinking and an affair with American model Nancy Lee Andrews. But the real kicker? Maureen had an affair with George Harrison. Yeah, the "Quiet Beatle" moved in on his best friend's wife. John Lennon famously called it "virtual incest." Despite all that drama, Ringo was actually at Maureen’s bedside when she passed away from leukemia in 1994. They remained family until the very end.
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What Barbara Bach Does Now
Barbara basically quit acting in the mid-80s. She didn't want the spotlight anymore. Instead, she co-founded the Lotus Foundation with Ringo. They fund projects for substance abuse, cerebral palsy, and domestic violence.
She’s also the sister-in-law of Joe Walsh. Yes, the guitarist for the Eagles. He married her sister, Marjorie, in 2008. So, the holidays at their house must be the loudest, most talented family dinners on the planet.
If you’re looking to understand the longevity of their relationship, Barbara summed it up best in a 2015 interview: "I love the man, and that's it." Ringo usually chimes in with something about being "beyond blessed."
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check out her filmography: If you only know her as Ringo's wife, watch The Spy Who Loved Me or Force 10 from Navarone. She was a serious screen presence.
- Support their cause: The Lotus Foundation is where they put most of their energy these days.
- Listen to the "Stop and Smell the Roses" album: Barbara appears in the music videos and was a huge influence on Ringo’s recovery and return to music in the early 80s.
The story of Ringo Starr’s wife isn't just a footnote in rock history; it's a survival story about two people who found each other at their lowest points and decided to grow up together.