It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly five decades since the musical film Grease, an adaptation of the 1971 stage musical of the same name, dominated the box office and became a cultural phenomenon.
The timeless love story made stars of its leads, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, although both had made significant strides in the industry by that point (Olivia had three Grammys to her name by then, John had appeared in films like Carrie).
One of the project’s biggest breakouts, though, turned out to be Stockard Channing. By that point, Stockard had appeared on stage several times and co-starred with Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson in 1975’s The Fortune, although none of those made a significant impact.
Since then, the actress has been working consistently, and has her first film project in four years set to hit screens later this year. Take a deeper look at her life since Grease…
© Getty ImagesStockard on TV
Stockard began receiving recognition in TV for her Emmy-nominated work in the 1987 miniseries Echoes in the Darkness and the 1989 miniseries Perfect Witness. In 1999, she was cast as First Lady Abby Bartlet in the political drama The West Wing, a role she played until 2006, winning her an Emmy from three nominations.
She won another Emmy in 2002 for the miniseries The Matthew Shepard Story, plus a Daytime Emmy in 2005 for her work in the made-for-TV film Jack. Her work in The West Wing and The Matthew Shepard Story also earned her two SAG Awards. From 2012-16, she also played the recurring character of Veronica Loy in The Good Wife.
© Getty ImagesStockard on stage
After making her Broadway debut with a bit part in 1971’s Two Gentlemen of Verona, Stockard continued consistently appearing on stage, earning particular notice for 1981’s They’re Playing Our Song. She then appeared in a 1985 revival of the play A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, winning her a Tony for Best Actress in a Play.
© Getty ImagesShe originated the role of Ouisa Kittredge in the 1990 play Six Degrees of Separation, the movie version of which earned her the Oscar nod, and also marked her West End debut. She received six more Tony nominations after her 1985 win, the most recent being for the 2012 play Other Desert Cities. She most recently appeared in 2025’s Elektra opposite Brie Larson.
© Getty ImagesStockard’s personal life
By the time Grease was released, Stockard was married to her third husband, writer and producer David Debin. Previously, she was married to Walter Channing Jr. from 1963 to 1967, and then Paul Schmidt from 1970 to 1976.
Her marriage to David ended in 1980, the same year she married her fourth husband, David Rawle. They got divorced in 1988, and soon after, Stockard entered into a relationship with cinematographer Daniel Gillham, who she met on the set of A Time of Destiny. They remained together until his death in 2014.
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