Stockard Channing's Life and Career in Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

Stockard Channing.Photo:Nancy R. Schiff/Getty

Nancy R. Schiff/Getty

Stockard Channing, who turns 81 on Feb. 13, 2025, has an acting career that spans more than half a century and has taken her around the world.Best known for her turns as Rizzo inGreaseand Dr. Abbey Bartlet onThe West Wing,the 13-time Emmy nominee has had a storied career, and she’s not slowing down. At 81 years old, she is currently starring alongsideBrie Larsonin the West End production ofElektra.To celebrate the Oscar-nominated star, we’re looking back at some of her most iconic roles.

Stockard Channing, who turns 81 on Feb. 13, 2025, has an acting career that spans more than half a century and has taken her around the world.

Best known for her turns as Rizzo inGreaseand Dr. Abbey Bartlet onThe West Wing,the 13-time Emmy nominee has had a storied career, and she’s not slowing down. At 81 years old, she is currently starring alongsideBrie Larsonin the West End production ofElektra.

To celebrate the Oscar-nominated star, we’re looking back at some of her most iconic roles.

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Stockard Channing inThe Girl Most Likely To…

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02of 17Stockard Channing as Rizzo inGreaseCBS/GettyFive years later, Channing skyrocketed to stardom as Rizzo, the edgy and jaded leader of the Pink Ladies inGrease.Starring alongsideOlivia Newton-JohnandJohn Travoltain the movie musical, the actress famously showed off her pipes with the emotional ballad “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.” Channing revealedtoBroadway Worldthat she fought for the song after it was nearly cut due to it being “a downer.”

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Stockard Channing as Rizzo inGrease

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Five years later, Channing skyrocketed to stardom as Rizzo, the edgy and jaded leader of the Pink Ladies inGrease.Starring alongsideOlivia Newton-JohnandJohn Travoltain the movie musical, the actress famously showed off her pipes with the emotional ballad “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.” Channing revealedtoBroadway Worldthat she fought for the song after it was nearly cut due to it being “a downer.”

03of 17Stockard Channing inHeartburnGettyChanning played Julie in 1986’sHeartburn, a friend of a food writer (Meryl Streep) and a womanizing D.C. columnist (Jack Nicholson) going through an acrimonious divorce, based on the Nora Ephron novel.“All we have, especially as film actors, is the process of the day: you work on the scene and do the scene. And so it’s really important and satisfying to work with people of such caliber,” ChanningtoldThe New York Timesof working alongside Streep and Nicholson.

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Stockard Channing inHeartburn

Channing played Julie in 1986’sHeartburn, a friend of a food writer (Meryl Streep) and a womanizing D.C. columnist (Jack Nicholson) going through an acrimonious divorce, based on the Nora Ephron novel.

“All we have, especially as film actors, is the process of the day: you work on the scene and do the scene. And so it’s really important and satisfying to work with people of such caliber,” ChanningtoldThe New York Timesof working alongside Streep and Nicholson.

04of 17Stockard Channing’s Love LifeRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection/GettyThe actress has been married four times: to Walter Channing Jr., from 1964 to 1967; Paul Schmidt, from 1969 to 1976; David Debin (pictured here with her atThe China Syndromepremiere in 1979) from 1976 to 1980; and David Rawle, from 1982 to 1988.Speaking about her relationships toThe Guardianin 2006, she explained, “What have I learned from my divorces? I know that nobody gets married to get divorced. I don’t think I’ll get married another time.”

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Stockard Channing’s Love Life

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty

The actress has been married four times: to Walter Channing Jr., from 1964 to 1967; Paul Schmidt, from 1969 to 1976; David Debin (pictured here with her atThe China Syndromepremiere in 1979) from 1976 to 1980; and David Rawle, from 1982 to 1988.

Speaking about her relationships toThe Guardianin 2006, she explained, “What have I learned from my divorces? I know that nobody gets married to get divorced. I don’t think I’ll get married another time.”

05of 17Stockard Channing’s First Big AwardCBS/GettyThe actress received the 1979 People’s Choice Award for best supporting actress for her beloved turn as Rizzo in the mega-hitGrease.Channing has been nominated for and won numerous awards for her work through the years, with two Primetime Emmys, two Screen Actors Guild awards, a Tony and more to her name.

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Stockard Channing’s First Big Award

The actress received the 1979 People’s Choice Award for best supporting actress for her beloved turn as Rizzo in the mega-hitGrease.

Channing has been nominated for and won numerous awards for her work through the years, with two Primetime Emmys, two Screen Actors Guild awards, a Tony and more to her name.

06of 17Stockard Channing’s SitcomCBS/GettyHere, Channing posed for a promotional shot for her eponymous sitcom,The Stockard Channing Show, which ran for one season in 1980 and saw the actress portraying a divorcée named Susan Goodenow. With 13 episodes produced, the short-lived series also starred Ron Silver, Sydney Goldsmith, Max Showalter and Jack Somack.

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Stockard Channing’s Sitcom

Here, Channing posed for a promotional shot for her eponymous sitcom,The Stockard Channing Show, which ran for one season in 1980 and saw the actress portraying a divorcée named Susan Goodenow. With 13 episodes produced, the short-lived series also starred Ron Silver, Sydney Goldsmith, Max Showalter and Jack Somack.

07of 17Stockard Channing on the Cover of PEOPLEStockard Channing on the cover of PEOPLE.Channing gracedthe cover of PEOPLE in July 1979with a story about her New York City upbringing, rise to fame and love life.“I have a good life,” she said at the time. “It would be horrible to have it all, but I’m close. I’m happy with my husband (David Debin), my home, my show, my friends — and in general.”

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Stockard Channing on the Cover of PEOPLE

Stockard Channing on the cover of PEOPLE.

Channing gracedthe cover of PEOPLE in July 1979with a story about her New York City upbringing, rise to fame and love life.

“I have a good life,” she said at the time. “It would be horrible to have it all, but I’m close. I’m happy with my husband (David Debin), my home, my show, my friends — and in general.”

08of 17Stockard Channing at the Met GalaRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection/GettyHere, Channing dressed to the nines with her fourth husband, businessman David Rawle, for the 14th Annual Met Gala, themed “Costumes of India,” in New York City in 1985.SpeakingtoThe New York Timesabout her four marriages, Stockard shared: “These weren’t things that were entered into casually. It’s not like I woke up in a motel in Oklahoma with a ring on my finger and said, ‘Who the hell are you?’ I would learn from each one and not make the same mistakes again.''

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Stockard Channing at the Met Gala

Here, Channing dressed to the nines with her fourth husband, businessman David Rawle, for the 14th Annual Met Gala, themed “Costumes of India,” in New York City in 1985.

SpeakingtoThe New York Timesabout her four marriages, Stockard shared: “These weren’t things that were entered into casually. It’s not like I woke up in a motel in Oklahoma with a ring on my finger and said, ‘Who the hell are you?’ I would learn from each one and not make the same mistakes again.''

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Stockard Channing’s Oscar Nomination forSix Degrees of Separation

Channing was nominated for Best Actress at the 1994 Academy Awards for her memorable role inSix Degrees of Separation —a roleshe initially originated on Broadway in 1990.

Will Smith, who starred alongside her in the film, has spoken out about howhe fell in love with Channing while filmingdue to method acting.

“WithSix Degrees of Separation,I got a taste early of the dangers of going too far for a character,“he toldEsquirein 2015. “My character was in love with Stockard Channing’s character. And I actually fell in love with Stockard Channing.”

“Well, I’m very flattered,“Channing responded toPage Six. “That’s a wonderful thing … I adored him from the first time I laid eyes on him because I thought he was genuinely sweet. I felt very protective of him, because it was his first big job. It’s amazing for me to hear that he felt that way, I’m delighted.”

On a 2024 episode ofThe Hollywood Reporter’sIt Happened in HollywoodpodcastChanning added that she “felt very motherly towards him.”

10of 17Stockard Channing and Daniel GillhamRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection/GettyAfter her four marriages, Channing met cinematographer Daniel Gillham, whom started dating in the early 1990s and was with until his death in 2014.Speaking toThe Guardianin 2006, Channing revealed she didn’t see herself ever marrying again. “I’ve been living with my partner [Gillham] for over 20 years, so… It would feel quite silly, actually.“Here, she’s pictured with Gillham in 1993, at the premiere party for her filmSix Degrees of Separationat Tavern on the Green in N.Y.C.

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Stockard Channing and Daniel Gillham

After her four marriages, Channing met cinematographer Daniel Gillham, whom started dating in the early 1990s and was with until his death in 2014.

Speaking toThe Guardianin 2006, Channing revealed she didn’t see herself ever marrying again. “I’ve been living with my partner [Gillham] for over 20 years, so… It would feel quite silly, actually.”

Here, she’s pictured with Gillham in 1993, at the premiere party for her filmSix Degrees of Separationat Tavern on the Green in N.Y.C.

11of 17Stockard Channing’s Many RolesOrion/GettyWith around 100 acting credits to her name, it’s hard to pick Channing’s most notable roles. Here, she’s seen toasting costars Mary Stuart Masterson andCybill Shepherdin a scene from 1991’sMarried To It.The comedy-drama centers on three dissimilar couples who get to know each other through a committee at a private NYC school.

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Stockard Channing’s Many Roles

Orion/Getty

With around 100 acting credits to her name, it’s hard to pick Channing’s most notable roles. Here, she’s seen toasting costars Mary Stuart Masterson andCybill Shepherdin a scene from 1991’sMarried To It.The comedy-drama centers on three dissimilar couples who get to know each other through a committee at a private NYC school.

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Bill Davila/FilmMagic

13of 17Stockard Channing onThe West WingMichael O’Neil/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/GettyBesides her role inGrease, Channing is best known for her seven-year turn as Dr. Abbey Bartlet onThe West Wing,from 1999 to 2006. As First Lady to President Jed Barlet (Martin Sheen), Channing was Emmy nominated for best supporting actress six times.She took home the award in 2002; that same year, she also won the Emmy for best supporting actress in a miniseries or movie for her turn in NBC’sThe Matthew Shepard Story.

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Stockard Channing onThe West Wing

Michael O’Neil/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

Besides her role inGrease, Channing is best known for her seven-year turn as Dr. Abbey Bartlet onThe West Wing,from 1999 to 2006. As First Lady to President Jed Barlet (Martin Sheen), Channing was Emmy nominated for best supporting actress six times.

She took home the award in 2002; that same year, she also won the Emmy for best supporting actress in a miniseries or movie for her turn in NBC’sThe Matthew Shepard Story.

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Stockard Channing at the 2000 Emmys

LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty

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Stockard Channing onThe Good Wife

Paul Sarkis/CBS via Getty

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Stockard Channing on Stage

Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

The Tony-winning actress reprised her starring role as Kristin Miller, a 1960s political activist who is facing repercussions of her past, in the Alexi Kaye Campbell playApologia.After a successful run in London, the play debuted Off-Broadway at the Roundabout Theatre Company in September 2018. Here, Channing is pictured withHugh Dancy, who played the double role of her two sons.

17of 17Stockard Channing TodayStockard Channing and Brie Larson.Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/GettyAhead of her 81st birthday,Channing is back on the stageand back across the pond. Channing is starring alongsideBrie Larsonin a production ofElektraat the Duke of York’s Theatre in London, where she now lives full-time.“I enjoyed living here [in London], the friendships I had, I kept. I was spending months at a time here. And then I was here during COVID, and that sort of cemented everything,” she toldThe Timesof her move from Maine.“I realized that I was happier here,” she continued. “Also at my age people get sick and people die and people move away. And that started to happen. Now I live here, and I’m really grateful that I was able to pull it off.”

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Stockard Channing Today

Stockard Channing and Brie Larson.Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty

Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty

Ahead of her 81st birthday,Channing is back on the stageand back across the pond. Channing is starring alongsideBrie Larsonin a production ofElektraat the Duke of York’s Theatre in London, where she now lives full-time.

“I enjoyed living here [in London], the friendships I had, I kept. I was spending months at a time here. And then I was here during COVID, and that sort of cemented everything,” she toldThe Timesof her move from Maine.

“I realized that I was happier here,” she continued. “Also at my age people get sick and people die and people move away. And that started to happen. Now I live here, and I’m really grateful that I was able to pull it off.”

source: people.com