Gerry Deford: Background, Marriage, Personal Life, and Career

Gerry Deford was the fourth and final husband of American film actress Shelley Winters. The couple defined their relationship by getting married after 19 years of courtship. Despite Gerry being gay, Shelley considered Gerry Deford her soulmate. They married on January 13, 2006, hours before Shelley Winters died on January 14, 2006. Keep reading on this page for more on Gerry Deford’s biography.

Early Life and Education

Gerry Deford is a very private man. There is no information about his early life and education on the internet. However, we could gather something about his late wife. Shelley Winters was born Shirley Schrift in 1920. She was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. Despite the obstacles, she always dreamed of acting and appeared in school plays and local productions.

Gerry Deford’s Personal Life and Family

As an extremely private person, Gerry Deford’s personal and professional affairs is not in the public. On the other hand, Shelley had a dramatic private life compared to her screen roles. She was married four times, and had a daughter, Vittoria Gassman. But even in her marriages, she never lost focus on her career.

Previous Marriages of Shelley Winters

Shelley Winters was married three times before finding Gerry Deford. Her first husband was Capt Mack Paul Mayer, whom she married in 1943 and divorced in 1948. In 1952, she married Italian actor, Vittorio Gassman. Eventually, they had a daughter named Vittoria. Her third husband was Anthony Franciosa; they got married in 1957 and separated in 1960.

The Death of Gerry Deford’s Wife – Shelley Winters

Shelley Winters passed away Jan 14, 2006, from heart failure in the Rehabilitation Center in Beverly Hills. Gerry Deford married her one day before she died.

Shelley Winters’ Life: From Broadway to Hollywood

Shelley studied acting at New York City acting schools and appeared in local theater as a teen. Her talent got her Broadway parts and by the late 1940s, she was a versatile performer in Hollywood.

A Successful Career

Gerry Deford’s wife acted for seven decades. She won Best Supporting Actress Academy Awards for roles in The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) and ‘A Patch of Blue’ (1965). These honors made her Hollywood royalty.

Shelley Winters moved audiences with powerful performances. She played victims and villains. She made her reputation with “A Double Life” (1947) and later in “A Place in the Sun” (1951) and “The Night of the Hunter” (1955).

Activism and Writing

Gerry Deford’s late wife was also socially active. She worked for civil rights and women equality. Her three autobiographical books were humorous reflections on life and career.

A Legacy of Power & Poignancy

In 2006, Shelley Winters died. Her story teaches talent, determination and the ability to dream big. Her husband, Gerry Deford continued to live a private and peaceful life away from the public’s unsolicited attention