Edward Herrmann was one of America’s most respected character actors, remembered for his commanding voice, intellectual screen presence and ability to make even supporting roles unforgettable. He appeared in films, television dramas, stage productions and historical documentaries during a career that lasted for more than four decades. However, outside his professional achievements, many people remain interested in the personal life of the Gilmore Girls actor, particularly the identity of Edward Herrmann’s wife.
Edward Herrmann was married twice during his lifetime. His first wife was actress, playwright and writer Leigh Curran, while his second and final wife was Star Hayner Herrmann, who was also known professionally as Star Roman. Star remained married to Edward until his death on 31 December 2014. Although Edward lived much of his life in the public eye, both of his marriages were generally kept away from constant media attention.
Who Was Edward Herrmann’s Wife?
Edward Herrmann’s wife at the time of his death was Star Hayner Herrmann. She was sometimes credited as Star Roman and had a limited connection to the entertainment industry. Unlike her famous husband, Star did not build a highly public acting career and largely preferred a private lifestyle.
Edward and Star are believed to have married during the early 1990s. Different biographical sources have reported either 1992 or 1994 as their wedding year. Because a widely available official marriage record has not confirmed one exact date, it is more accurate to say that the couple married in the early 1990s.
Their marriage lasted for approximately two decades and ended only with Edward’s death in 2014. During that time, they raised a family and lived a comparatively quiet life away from Hollywood’s most intense publicity.
Who Is Star Hayner Herrmann?
Star Hayner Herrmann is best known as Edward Herrmann’s second wife and widow. She has also been identified by the name Star Roman in film-related records. Public information about her childhood, education and early family life is limited because she did not regularly give interviews or seek celebrity attention.
Star had a minor acting connection before becoming widely known through her marriage. She appeared in the 1981 comedy-drama film Harry’s War, in which Edward Herrmann played the leading role. She was credited as Star Roman.
The film followed an ordinary man who becomes involved in a dispute with the Internal Revenue Service after a family tragedy. Although Star’s part was not a major role, the production is often mentioned when discussing how she and Edward may have first met.
Some biographical accounts suggest that Edward and Star developed a relationship after becoming connected through the film. However, they did not marry immediately. Edward was still married to his first wife during part of the 1980s, while Star also had a life and family before their eventual marriage.
Edward Herrmann and Star Hayner’s Marriage
Edward Herrmann and Star Hayner maintained a relatively private marriage despite Edward’s fame. By the time they married, Edward was already an established actor with important stage, film and television credits.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Edward continued working regularly. He became especially recognised by younger television audiences after joining Gilmore Girls as Richard Gilmore, the wealthy, traditional and sometimes emotionally distant father of Lorelai Gilmore.
While Edward attended premieres, award ceremonies and public events, Star was not constantly photographed or featured in celebrity publications. Their relationship appeared to centre on family life rather than publicity.
They reportedly lived in Connecticut, a location that allowed Edward to remain close to New York’s theatre and media industries while maintaining some distance from Hollywood. Connecticut also became closely associated with Edward’s later life.
Star remained beside Edward throughout the final years of his career and during his illness. Their long marriage made her an important part of his private life, even though she rarely spoke publicly about their relationship.
Did Edward Herrmann and Star Hayner Have Children?
Edward Herrmann’s family included three children: Rory Herrmann, Ryen Herrmann and Emma Herrmann. Public reports sometimes describe all three simply as Edward’s children, although family accounts provide additional detail about their relationships.
Rory was reportedly Star’s son from an earlier relationship. Edward became his stepfather and played an important role in his life. Rory later adopted the Herrmann surname, reflecting the close bond he had with Edward.
Edward and Star also had two daughters, Ryen and Emma Herrmann. Unlike their father, the children generally remained outside the entertainment spotlight. They were occasionally mentioned in obituaries and family reports, but they did not become highly public celebrity figures.
At the time of Edward’s death, reports stated that Rory lived in Los Angeles, Ryen lived in Washington and Emma lived in New York City. Edward was also survived by a granddaughter and his brother.
Edward’s relationship with his family was an important part of his life away from acting. Although he frequently played wealthy fathers, political leaders and powerful authority figures on screen, those roles were different from the private identity he maintained as a husband, father and stepfather.
Edward Herrmann’s Final Illness
Edward Herrmann experienced serious health problems during the final year of his life. He suffered a seizure in December 2013 and was later diagnosed with grade IV glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
His illness was not widely discussed publicly while he was receiving treatment. As a result, many of his colleagues and fans were unaware of how seriously ill he had become.
Edward underwent medical treatment, but his condition eventually worsened. He was hospitalised during the final stage of his illness, and his family remained involved in decisions about his care.
Star played a significant role during this difficult period. She was responsible for informing certain people close to Edward about his condition, including actress Kelly Bishop.
Star Hayner and Kelly Bishop’s Final Visit
Kelly Bishop worked closely with Edward Herrmann on Gilmore Girls. She played Emily Gilmore, the wife of Edward’s character, Richard Gilmore. Their convincing screen chemistry made them one of the most memorable television couples of the series.
Behind the scenes, Edward and Kelly also formed a meaningful friendship. When Edward’s health was failing, Star contacted Kelly and invited her to visit him in hospital.
Kelly later explained that she had not fully understood the seriousness of Edward’s illness before the visit. She went to the hospital and spoke to him while he was unconscious, offering a private goodbye to her longtime friend and screen partner.
Star’s decision to contact Kelly demonstrated her understanding of the importance of their relationship. It also revealed a compassionate side of Edward’s final days, as his real-life wife made it possible for his fictional wife and close friend to see him one last time.
Edward died on 31 December 2014 at the age of 71. His death was widely mourned by fellow actors, theatre professionals, filmmakers and fans of Gilmore Girls.
Who Was Edward Herrmann’s First Wife?
Before marrying Star Hayner, Edward Herrmann was married to Leigh Curran. She is an actress, writer, playwright, novelist and arts educator who developed her own career in theatre and creative writing.
Leigh Curran has stated that she met Edward in 1974. At the time, both were involved in acting and theatre. Their relationship developed during a period when Edward’s career was beginning to gain wider recognition.
The couple moved in together and later purchased a house in Carmel, New York. They married in the autumn of 1978.
Their marriage coincided with an important stage in Edward’s professional life. During these years, he became especially famous for portraying US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in television productions. His physical appearance, voice and formal acting style made him a convincing choice for historical and upper-class characters.
Leigh was also developing her creative interests. She worked as an actress and later became increasingly focused on writing, theatre production and arts education.
Leigh Curran’s Career
Leigh Curran built an independent career that extended beyond her marriage to Edward Herrmann. She became known as a playwright and wrote works including The Lunch Girls, Alterations and Walking the Blonde.
Her play Alterations received an Off-Broadway production and included performers such as Cynthia Nixon and Gretchen Cryer. This reflected Leigh’s position within the New York theatre community.
She also wrote the novel Going Nowhere Sideways and became involved in projects designed to help young people through theatre and creative expression.
After moving to Los Angeles, Leigh founded the Virginia Avenue Project, a nonprofit arts organisation that brought professional artists together with children and teenagers. The programme used theatre, writing and performance to encourage confidence, imagination and communication skills.
Her career shows that she was not simply known as Edward Herrmann’s former wife. She developed her own identity as a writer, educator and supporter of youth arts programmes.
Why Did Edward Herrmann and Leigh Curran Divorce?
Edward Herrmann and Leigh Curran separated in 1986, according to Leigh’s account of her life. However, different secondary sources give different years for when their divorce became legally final.
Some accounts report that their marriage ended in 1991, while others mention 1992. Leigh described herself as newly divorced when she moved to Los Angeles in 1991. Therefore, the safest conclusion is that the couple separated in the mid-1980s and formally ended their marriage around the beginning of the 1990s.
Neither Edward nor Leigh created a highly public dispute about their divorce. Detailed reasons for the breakdown of their marriage were not widely shared, and both continued with their personal and professional lives.
After the divorce, Edward married Star Hayner, while Leigh focused on writing and arts education.
Edward Herrmann’s Acting Career
Edward Herrmann was born on 21 July 1943 in Washington, DC, and grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He studied English at Bucknell University before receiving a scholarship to study acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
His classical training helped him develop the precise speaking style and authoritative presence that later became central to his career.
Edward achieved major recognition for portraying Franklin D. Roosevelt in the television films Eleanor and Franklin and Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years. His performance established him as one of the most recognised actors to portray the American president on screen.
He also appeared in films such as The Lost Boys, Overboard, Richie Rich, The Aviator, The Great Gatsby and The Purple Rose of Cairo. His characters were often intelligent, wealthy, formal or influential, although he was equally capable of comedy and emotional drama.
On television, his most famous later role was Richard Gilmore in Gilmore Girls. Richard was the father of Lorelai Gilmore and grandfather of Rory Gilmore. Although the character could be strict, proud and traditional, Edward brought warmth and vulnerability to the role.
Edward was also an accomplished stage actor. He won a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway revival of Mrs. Warren’s Profession. His theatre work remained an important part of his career even as he became more familiar to film and television audiences.
In addition to acting, Edward was a highly respected narrator. His rich voice was used in documentaries, historical programmes and audiobooks. He won awards for both performance and narration.
How Star Hayner Supported Edward Herrmann’s Legacy
After Edward’s death, Star became an important guardian of his personal legacy. Although she did not build a public platform around being his widow, her actions during his illness and final days showed her commitment to protecting his privacy and maintaining his close relationships.
She helped coordinate contact with important friends and remained involved in family decisions during his hospitalisation.
Edward’s legacy continued through television reruns, film appearances, audiobooks and documentaries. His role in Gilmore Girls gained further attention when the programme reached new audiences through streaming services.
When the revival Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life was released in 2016, Edward’s absence became part of the story. Richard Gilmore had died before the events of the revival, and the programme explored how Emily, Lorelai and Rory were affected by the loss.
The emotional treatment of Richard’s death also acted as a tribute to Edward Herrmann. His photograph appeared prominently, and the characters repeatedly reflected on his importance to the Gilmore family.
Was Edward Herrmann Still Married When He Died?
Edward Herrmann was still married to Star Hayner Herrmann when he died on 31 December 2014. Their marriage had lasted for around twenty years.
Star was identified as his wife in major obituaries, confirming that they remained together until his death. She was present during his final illness and played an active role in communicating with family members and close friends.
There is no reliable evidence that the couple had separated before his death. Star is therefore correctly described as Edward Herrmann’s widow.
The Private Life Behind a Famous Actor
Edward Herrmann spent decades playing powerful and memorable characters, but his private life was far less public than his professional career. He rarely turned his relationships into a source of publicity and appeared to value family privacy.
His first marriage to Leigh Curran connected him to a talented actress and writer who later created an important career in arts education. His second marriage to Star Hayner provided a long-lasting family partnership that continued through the busiest years of his later career and the final stage of his life.
Both women had their own identities beyond their association with Edward. Leigh became a successful playwright, novelist and nonprofit founder, while Star had an early acting credit and later maintained a private family life.
Conclusion
Edward Herrmann’s wife at the time of his death was Star Hayner Herrmann, also known as Star Roman. The couple married in the early 1990s and remained together until Edward died from brain cancer in 2014. Their family included Rory, Ryen and Emma Herrmann, with Edward developing a particularly meaningful relationship with his stepson Rory.
Before Star, Edward was married to actress and writer Leigh Curran. They met in 1974, married in 1978 and separated in 1986 before finalising their divorce around the beginning of the 1990s.
Edward Herrmann’s two marriages were connected to different chapters of his personal and professional journey. Leigh was part of his early rise as a respected actor, while Star shared the later decades of his life, including his success on Gilmore Girls and his final battle with cancer. Together, these relationships offer a deeper understanding of the private man behind one of television and cinema’s most distinguished voices.
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