Richard E Grant pays tribute to late wife Joan Washington on what would have been their wedding anniversary

The Withnail and I actor’s beloved other half died in September 2021, eight months after being diagnosed with lung cancer
Richard E Grant has paid tribute to his late wife, Joan, on their wedding anniversary
Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Tina Campbell1 November 2022
The Weekender

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Richard E Grant has paid a touching tribute to late wife Joan Washington on what would have been their 36th wedding anniversary.

The Withnail and I actor, 65, took to Instagram to share a photo collage of himself and Washington, featuring cherished memories from their time together.

“We were married on the 1st of November 1986. Today is our posthumous 36th Anniversary. To have been truly seen & loved by this extraordinary Human Being, is her ongoing gift to me,” he wrote alongside it,

The Oscar-nominated star signed off his post with six red love-heart emojis.

Washington died aged 71 in September 2021, eight months after being diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer.

Grant confirmed the sad news of her passing online. Uploading a video clip of them dancing together before embracing, he penned: “ONLY YOU! Joan – Love of my Life & Giver of Life to our daughter Olivia. Our hearts are broken with the loss of your Life last night. 35 years married & 38 together.

“To be truly known and seen by you, is your immeasurable gift. Do not forget us, sweet Monkee-mine.”

Grant married voice coach Washington in 1986, after they met when she was teaching an accent session at an acting school in December 1982.

The couple share one daughter, Olivia, together, while Grant is stepfather to Tom, from Washington’s previous marriage.

She suffered three miscarriages in their journey to becoming parents together.

Tragically, Grant and Washington’s first child, Tiffany, died shortly after she was born prematurely.

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