Tom Ford’s husband and partner of 35 years Richard Buckley dies, aged 72, of natural causes
Tom Ford’s husband and partner of 35 years Richard Buckley dies, aged 72, of natural causes
The 60-year-old designer-filmmaker and their eight-year-old son Jack were by the fashion journalist’s side when he passed away peacefully at their LA homeFord originally met Buckley in 1986 at a New York fashion show and they wed in 2014 shortly after same-sex marriage was legalized in the StatesRichard previously underwent surgery for throat cancer in 1989
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Tom Ford’s beloved husband, fashion journalist Richard Buckley, passed away peacefully from natural causes at their Los Angeles home on Sunday night.
‘It is with great sadness that Tom Ford announces the death of his beloved husband of 35 years, Richard Buckley,’ a statement from the family read.
‘Richard passed away peacefully at their home in Los Angeles last night with Tom and their son Jack by his side. He died of natural causes after a long illness.’
Ford, 60, originally met Buckley, 72, at a New York fashion show in 1986.
They wed in 2014 shortly after same-sex marriage was legalized in the U.S. and share a son, Alexander John ‘Jack’ Buckley Ford.
RIP: Tom Ford’s (L, pictured in 2017) beloved husband – fashion journalist Richard Buckley (R) – passed away peacefully, aged 72, from natural causes at their LA home on Sunday night
Buckley was born in 1948 in Binghamton, N.Y. and grew up in a military family that lived in the U.S. France and Germany.
He attended the University of Maryland in Munich and following graduation pursued a career in journalism.
His journalistic career began in 1979 at New York Magazine and in 1982 he moved to Paris to serve as the European editor of Fairchild Publications’ Daily News Record, according to Women’s Wear Daily.
Buckley was recognized in the professional community for his ‘uncanny ability’ to spot the ‘next big thing’ and had spotted talented several designers, musicians, actors and actresses right before they began stars.
He spent also worked with several other world-renown publications including Women’s Wear Daily, Vanity Fair, Mirabella, Italian Vogue, and Vogue Hommes International where he served as editor in chief.
Tragic: The 60-year-old designer-filmmaker and their son Alexander John aka ‘Jack’ – turning 9 this Thursday – were by Richard’s side when he died (pictured in 2017)
35 years strong: Ford originally met Buckley in 1986 at a New York fashion show and they wed in 2014 shortly after same-sex marriage was legalized in the States (pictured in 1997)
Richard – who underwent surgery for throat cancer in 1989 – was said to have grown up in the States, France, and Germany before attending the University of Maryland in Munich (pictured in 2014)
The couple met in 1986 when Ford, who took over the reigns at Gucci before launching his own successful company, was just 25 and Buckley was 38.
Ford previously described the encounter as ‘love at first sight’.
‘Our eyes locked and within a month we were living together,’ Ford said during a 2016 television interview reported on by People Magazine.
‘We have been together ever since.’
According to Ford, he and Buckley were riding in a New York elevator together and had an instant connection.
He claims by the end of the ride, he knew he had found the man he would spend the rest of his life with.
‘I am an intuitive person – but also a rational person – and we were in an elevator and we went down about 10 floors and Richard was patting his eyes and talking a lot. And I remember just sort of standing back and looking him up and down – taking him in – and by the time that elevator landed on the ground floor I was like, “You’re the one; that’s it; Click! Sold,”‘ Ford shared.
‘It was literally love at first sight.’
Three years later, Buckley was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent surgery. Despite being told it could be fatal, he pulled through and the couple’s luck changed for the better.
They welcomed their son, Jack, who is turning 9 on Thursday, into their lives in 2012. He was born via a surrogate.
The tastemaking couple – who shared residences in London, Richard’s native New York and Tom’s Santa Fe hometown – were wed in 2014 in a what is assumed to be a private, intimate ceremony.
‘I know that was just made legal in the UK, which is great. We were married in the States,’ Ford told MailOnline at the time, giving no further details as to the where and when the wedding occurred.
Ford was last pictured on September 13 serving honorary chair duties at the Met Gala alongside Adam Mosseri, Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman, Anna Wintour, Timothée Chalamet and Naomi Osaka.
The CFDA chairman of the board launched his eponymous luxury brand in 2005, having previously served as the creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent.
Tom also received acclaim for writing, producing and directing the 2009 drama A Single Man and the 2016 psychological thriller Nocturnal Animals.
Newsman: Buckley worked for publications like New York Magazine, Women’s Wear Daily, Vanity Fair, Mirabella, Italian Vogue, and Vogue Hommes International where he served as editor in chief (pictured in 2013 with Gwyneth Paltrow)
Super Bowl of style: Tom (R) was last pictured on September 13 serving honorary chair duties at the Met Gala alongside (from L-R) Adam Mosseri, Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman, Anna Wintour, Timothée Chalamet, and Naomi Osaka
