Suzanne Pleshette Husband: Her Three Marriages and Love Story With Tom Poston

ByHellen Woody

Searching for “Suzanne Pleshette husband” usually leads to one name—Tom Poston—but her love life included three marriages, each from a very different chapter of her career. The short answer is that Pleshette’s final husband was comedian and actor Tom Poston, and they married later in life after reconnecting as longtime friends. Below is a clear look at all of her husbands, when those marriages happened, and why her last relationship became the one people remember most.

Quick Facts

  • Full name: Suzanne Pleshette
  • Born: January 31, 1937
  • Died: January 19, 2008
  • Age at death: 70
  • Height: About 5’4”–5’5” (around 1.63–1.65 m)
  • Profession: Actress (film, television, theatre, voice work)
  • Best known for: The Bob Newhart Show, The Birds
  • Children: None
  • Estimated net worth: About $5 million (at the time of her death)
  • Husbands: Troy Donahue (1964), Thomas “Tommy” Gallagher III (1968–2000), Tom Poston (2001–2007)

Short Bio: Suzanne Pleshette
Suzanne Pleshette was a celebrated American actress known for her warm wit, distinctive voice, and confident screen presence. She earned lasting fame as Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show, while also building an impressive film résumé that included Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. Off screen, she was known for being sharp, private, and deeply loyal to the people she loved, preferring a real life away from constant celebrity noise.

Short Bio: Troy Donahue
Troy Donahue was a popular American actor and teen idol of the late 1950s and 1960s, known for his blond, all-American leading-man image. He starred in films like A Summer Place and became a major tabloid name during Hollywood’s studio-era celebrity machine. His marriage to Suzanne Pleshette was brief, but it remains one of the most talked-about moments of her early personal life because it happened at the height of his fame.

Short Bio: Thomas “Tommy” Gallagher III
Thomas Joseph “Tommy” Gallagher III was a businessman (often described as an oilman) and Suzanne Pleshette’s second husband. Their marriage lasted more than three decades and was the longest, most stable relationship of her life. He stayed largely out of the public spotlight, and Pleshette rarely treated their relationship like a headline, which made it feel especially grounded compared to typical Hollywood romances.

Short Bio: Tom Poston
Tom Poston was a beloved American comic actor known for his relaxed delivery, sly timing, and a career that spanned classic TV through later sitcom eras. He appeared frequently on The Bob Newhart Show and later became part of the Newhart cast. His relationship with Suzanne Pleshette is remembered as a late-in-life love story, built on friendship, history, and a deep comfort that didn’t need to be performed for the public.

Who Was Suzanne Pleshette’s Husband?

Suzanne Pleshette had three husbands, but the name most people mean when they ask “Suzanne Pleshette husband” is Tom Poston. He was her third and final husband, and their marriage became especially memorable because they reunited after decades, married later in life, and seemed genuinely happy in a way that felt calm and unforced.

Still, to understand her full story, it helps to see all three marriages in order—because each one reflects a different season of her life.

Husband #1: Troy Donahue

Suzanne Pleshette’s first husband was Troy Donahue, an actor who was already famous and heavily photographed at the time. Their marriage took place in 1964 and ended in divorce after about six months.

Because Donahue was a major celebrity, this marriage often gets remembered as the “headline era” relationship—quick, intense, and happening while Pleshette was still rising. But by most accounts, it simply didn’t fit the kind of life she ultimately wanted. Pleshette was known for her independence and sharp intelligence, and she later became far more private about love than people might expect from someone in Hollywood.

Why it still matters

  • It was her only marriage to a high-profile Hollywood heartthrob.
  • It showed how early fame and public pressure can complicate relationships.
  • Its short length contrasts strongly with the long marriage that followed.

Husband #2: Thomas “Tommy” Gallagher III

Suzanne Pleshette’s second husband was Thomas “Tommy” Gallagher III. They married in 1968, and their relationship lasted until his death in 2000. This was the marriage that defined her adult life away from the cameras.

While Pleshette remained a recognizable face on TV and in film, Gallagher lived outside the entertainment spotlight. That difference worked in their favor. Many actors describe the relief of having a partner who isn’t chasing the same public attention, and Pleshette’s long marriage often reads like that kind of balance.

The couple did not have children. Pleshette spoke openly at times about having wanted children, but she also expressed that her nurturing side found outlets in other ways—through close family ties and the “family” feeling that develops on sets and productions.

What people remember about this marriage

  • It lasted more than three decades, making it her longest relationship.
  • It was low-drama and largely private.
  • It gave her a stable home life while her career stayed active.

Husband #3: Tom Poston

Suzanne Pleshette’s final husband was Tom Poston, and their love story is the reason the “husband” search keeps bringing his name up first. They married in 2001 and remained together until Poston’s death in 2007.

What makes this relationship stand out is that it wasn’t brand new. Pleshette and Poston had known each other for decades and were romantically involved briefly in the late 1950s. Life happened, they married other people, and they stayed connected as friends. Then, after both were widowed, they found their way back to each other.

A late-in-life relationship that felt different

Many celebrity relationships feel like a “moment.” This one felt like a “return.” There’s something powerful about choosing someone again after time has passed—especially when the choice comes with less ego and less urgency. Their marriage was often described as affectionate and comfortable, the kind built on shared history rather than constant reinvention.

Poston also had a unique connection to her professional world. He appeared on The Bob Newhart Show, the same sitcom that made Pleshette a household name. That shared TV universe only added to the sense that they truly understood each other’s lives and rhythms.

Why Tom Poston Is the Name Most People Associate With “Suzanne Pleshette Husband”

Even though Pleshette was married for decades to Tommy Gallagher, Tom Poston is often the first answer because:

  • It was her final marriage, so it tends to be the “last chapter” people remember.
  • They were both recognizable TV faces, which made the pairing feel familiar.
  • The story has a romantic arc: early connection, long friendship, then reunion and marriage.
  • It happened later in life, which made it feel meaningful and surprising in a sweet way.

A Clear Timeline of Suzanne Pleshette’s Husbands

  • Troy Donahue: Married in 1964, divorced about six months later.
  • Thomas “Tommy” Gallagher III: Married in 1968, married until his death in 2000.
  • Tom Poston: Married in 2001, married until his death in 2007.

What Her Relationships Reveal About Her Personality

Pleshette’s romantic history often gets reduced to a list of husbands, but the pattern is more interesting than that. Early on, she had a brief, highly visible marriage to a famous actor. After that, she chose privacy and longevity—building a long marriage outside Hollywood’s constant attention. And then, in her later years, she returned to someone from her past when the timing finally made sense.

That arc fits what many fans and co-stars said about her: she was strong, funny, and direct, but also deeply loyal. She didn’t seem interested in performing her personal life for strangers. When she loved, she loved in a way that felt real—and when a chapter ended, she moved forward without turning it into theater.

Final Word

So, if you’re searching “Suzanne Pleshette husband,” the most accurate answer is: her final husband was Tom Poston. But her full story includes three marriages—one brief Hollywood moment with Troy Donahue, one long private partnership with Tommy Gallagher, and one late-in-life love story with Poston that remains the most remembered.

image source: https://d23.com/a-to-z/pleshette-suzanne/

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