Ringo Starr and wife Barbara Bach have been happily together since the ‘80s.
The couple met while on the set of their 1980 film, Caveman. Before getting together, Starr (real name Richard Starkey) was previously married to Maureen Cox from 1965 to 1975. The exes share three children: Zak, Jason and Lee.
Bach, for her part, wed Italian businessman Augusto, Count Gregorini di Savignano di Romagna in 1966. During their marriage, Bach welcomed daughter Francesca and son Gianni. They divorced in 1975.
Despite connecting during the slapstick comedy, Starr and Bach didn’t start their romance until the filming was nearly over.
“The truth is, we weren’t together until the very end of Caveman. Working, we got along fine, but we each had other people, our respective friends,” Bach said in a 1981 interview with Playboy. “Then, all of a sudden, within a week — the last week of shooting — it just happened. We changed from friendly love to being in love.”
One year later, Starr and Bach tied the knot in London. They’ve been by each other’s side ever since.
Keep scrolling for Starr and Bach’s complete relationship timeline:
1980
Starr and Bach met on the set of their film Caveman. The Beatles drummer starred as prehistoric man Atouk while Bach portrayed Lana, one of his love interests.
April 1981
The pair tied the knot at Marylebone Town Hall in London after nearly dating for one year.
1988
Bach and Starr entered treatment together at the Sierra Tucson Rehabilitation Clinic. Starr opened up about how seeking treatment for substance abuse helped him stay on his path.
“I didn’t tour in the ’80s, and not a lot in the ’70s. I sort of got involved in a lot of substances and they became more important than anything else,” he told People in 2017. “In ’88 I ended up in rehab and in ’89 I put the first All-Starr Band together. I got back on track, and that’s what I’ve done ever since.”
February 2010
Bach was by Starr’s side when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
January 2014
Barbara Bach Ringo Starr at the 56th Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Starr brought Bach as his plus-one to the Grammys as he and Paul McCartney received a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award for their work in The Beatles.
November 2015
The drummer and former Bond Girl celebrated 35 years together. In an interview with People, Starr opened up about how their spark hasn’t dulled after all these years.
“There’s no escape … I think I love Barbara as much [today] as I did [when we met],” Starr gushed. “And I’m beyond blessed that she loves me and we’re still together.”
December 2015
Starr and Bach decided to auction off some of their personal items, including some special Beatles collectibles via Julien’s Auctions. The pair raised $9 million for their charity, the Lotus Foundation.
July 2016
Bach and Starr attended the Cirque du Soleil’s The Beatles LOVE show, which was celebrating its 10th anniversary.
September 2016
The twosome attended the premiere of the documentary The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring. Starr and Bach were joined on the red carpet by McCartney and his wife, Nancy Shevell.
March 2018
Bach was by Starr’s side when he was knighted by Prince William.
December 2022
Starr and Bach stepped out for the London premiere of If These Walls Could Sing. The documentary, which was filmed by McCartney’s daughter Mary, told the history of Abbey Road Studios and included cameos from McCartney, Starr and more A-List musicians.
March 2024
The duo were reunited with Paul and Shevell during Paris Fashion Week to support Stella McCartney’s show.
July 2024
Bach and Starr celebrated the 11th anniversary of Ringo’s Peace & Love Birthday Celebration in Los Angeles.
“Peace & Love from Ringo, family, and friends in Beverly Hills, California! ,” Star wrote via Instagram alongside a video from the event.