Who is Paul O’Grady’s husband Andre Portasio and did he have children?
Who is Paul O’Grady’s husband, Andre Portasio, and did he have any children? As the comedian dies at 67, a look at his relationship and family history.
News of Paul O’Grady’s death shocked the entertainment world after it was announced that he died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on Tuesday, March 28.
The passing of the pioneering comedian at age 67 was announced by her husband Andre Portasio in a statement issued at 3 a.m.
Paul became a household name in the early 2000s, known for his wit and love of animals, and hosted a number of television shows including his self-titled daytime chat show, The Paul O’Grady Show, which began airing in 2004
The cause of death was not immediately known, but he had previously spoken of surviving heart attacks in 2002, 2006 and 2014, and also kidney failure.
As various stars from the world of entertainment pay tribute, MailOnline takes a look at the story of Paul’s relationship with Andre and his role as the father of their daughter Sharon.
Couple: Paul O’Grady and husband Ande Portasio tied the knot during a low-key wedding ceremony in 2017 (pictured together in 2018)
Family: Paul’s daughter Sharon was born in 1974, her mother is the comedian’s close friend Diane Jansen.
Who is Paul O’Grady’s husband, Andre Portasio?
Andre is a former professional ballet dancer who previously danced with the English National Ballet.
Paul and Andre got married during a low-key wedding ceremony in 2017 and dated for 11 years before that.
Guests at the idyllic wedding reportedly included great actor Ian McKellen, comedian Julian Clary, and actor-turned-politician Michael Cashman.
Paul, who found widespread fame as her transvestite alter ego Lily Savage, revealed her relationship with dancer and ballet teacher Andre in her 2012 biography, Still Standing, where she said, “Our relationship just got the better of us.” It took us by surprise when we least expected it.
The comedian was previously candid about his relationship with Andre, revealing that the couple often didn’t share a bed.
Relationship: The comedian was previously candid about his relationship with Andre, revealing that the couple often didn’t share a bed
Backstory: In his autobiography, Paul said that his and Andre’s relationship “surprised us” and neither of them “expected”.
He told The Sun: ‘I remember Joan Collins on my show saying that the secret to a happy marriage was different bathrooms. He was right, and separate rooms work great too. I don’t like sharing a bed.
‘What if I want to read? I also have to listen to the shipping forecast before I sleep.’
The couple shared a large property in Kent where they lived with their rescued dogs.
He had children?
Paul’s daughter, Sharon, was born in 1974, her mother is the comedian’s close friend, Diane Jansen. He gave Sharon away at her wedding and was overjoyed when she gave him two grandchildren.
Speaking about Sharon’s nuptials, Paul previously said: ‘It was a great day. Sharon looked fabulous and Philip is a terrific guy. They fit together like a pan and a lid.
“Sharon was wearing a lovely flowing pale pink dress, because it looks stunning in white. She looked like a Disney princess.
Touching: Paul gifted Sharon at their wedding and was overjoyed when she gave him two grandchildren (pictured with Andre, his sister Sheila and Sharon)
Paul and Diane never married, but he married when he was 22, a Portuguese lesbian waitress whom he agreed to marry to avoid deportation.
He said: ‘She was from a very strict Catholic family and they always teased her, ‘Why don’t you get married?’
‘So I said, ‘Come on then, we’re getting married,’ and we did. We were married for 28 years.
He also once said that she “looked like David Cassidy.”