Richard E. Grant’s Wife Ruled Out Eligible Women for Him Before She Died
Richard E. Grant reminisced about the time when his wife, Joan Washington, humorously vetoed potential suitable partners for him prior to her passing.
In September 2021, at the age of 74, dialect coach Joan sadly lost her life, eight months following her diagnosis with stage four lung cancer.
67-year-old actor who played in “Withnail and I,” has openly shared his feelings of sorrow following Joan’s passing, expressing his emotions candidly over the years.
And on Wednesday Richard shared what made him realise his late wife really loved him.
On The Lulu Podcast: Turning Points, Richard described Joan as incredibly funny. In the month leading up to her passing, she playfully scrutinized all the women in our social circle who were single, divorced, or available, and essentially warned me off pursuing any of them like a protective lioness.
‘And I knew how much she loved me by doing that…’ he added.

Instead, Richard recounted Joan’s response upon encountering her beloved idol, the legendary Barbra Streisand, for the first time.
‘People often advise against meeting your heroes… After chatting with her and returning to London, Joan asked – despite being 79 at the time – “If I weren’t married to James Brolin, would you still be tempted to flirt with me?”, Richard replied.’
In response, I gently reminded her, “My dear, I believe you already know the solution.” To which she playfully retorted, “Oh, I see through your attempts to escape, for you are always mine.
Regarding the possibility of falling in love again, Richard stated: “I don’t harbor any hopes of finding love again, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible or unlikely; I’m simply not actively seeking it out on dating platforms.
‘I feel fulfilled and sustained without feeling like I’ve lost my better half, which I have.’
The couple met in 1986 and married later that year. They shared a daughter Olivia, 34.
Following the disclosure, it was discovered that Richard continues to be deeply in love with his deceased spouse, as indicated by him sending her emails every evening.
Richard expressed: ‘Although I don’t harbor any fuzzy spiritual beliefs that she can hear this, or that I will receive a reply, speaking as if she were here maintains some sense of connection.’


I pen a note to J today, ‘Dearest J, I believe you’d find this day most amusing…’ In doing so, it seems as if our dialogue continues – keeping the connection alive.
Richard has openly expressed his sorrow following the loss of his beloved partner, and he’s acknowledged that some friendships have been strained due to him dealing with the pain of heartache.
The pair had been together for 38 years at the time of her death.
After her passing, it seems that instead of conversing with me, people have chosen to walk across the street. He made this statement during a discussion at the Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival last year.
‘I am unsure if they believe you’ll break down emotionally, but I’ve decided not to engage with them anymore.’
Additionally, he remembered a time when a pair residing close to their Provençal vacation residence failed to acknowledge him as he waved.
As I approached them, they each glanced away. In my mind, I muttered, “I can’t believe this.” I believed that I was being unfairly penalized since Joan had passed away.
‘They had never acknowledged it. Maybe they didn’t know how to deal with it.’
In September 2021, Richard publicly shared the sad news about the passing of his beloved wife, and he posted a deeply emotional video showcasing their dance moments.


Last year, during an interview, Richard shared that he pens a letter to his spouse, who passed away 35 years ago, on a daily basis, as the idea of her absence is unbearable for him.
The actor added while he has tried dating but ‘nobody else has even come near’ to Joan.
Regarding his sorrow, Richard shared with The Telegraph: “I’ve come to terms that I can never comprehend it; contemplating the absence of existence exceeds my mental abilities.
Every evening, I pen a letter to Joan updating her on recent events. This correspondence provides me with an almost palpable, continuous, written dialogue with her, which I find incredibly beneficial and comforting.
Wondering about her thoughts on this matter, or seeking her viewpoint on that topic, even when it comes to the most ordinary things.
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2025-04-02 19:04