Meryl Streep’s Ex Stayed with 4 Kids While She Worked Before They Moved to Massive Penthouse – Pics Inside
- Meryl Streep and Don Gummer had been together for over four decades before their separation.
- During their earlier years together, Gummer looked after their four kids as Streep pursued her acting career.
- After all their kids moved out from their Connecticut farm, Streep and Gummer moved into a gorgeous Manhattan penthouse.
Meryl Streep and Don Gummer at the 2012 Made In NY Awards at Gracie Mansion in New York City on June 4, 2012 | Source: Getty Images
Meryl Streep is a phenomenal actress who has been married to Don Gummer for over four decades. The couple met when Streep was mourning her boyfriend of two years, John Cazale, who died after a battle with bone cancer in March 1978.
Streep was living with Cazale, but after his death, she sublet Gummer's loft. He was a good friend of her brother, Harry William. Streep lived in Gummer's apartment while he was off for an extended vacation in Pakistan.
Meryl Streep and Don Gummer in London on March 25, 1980 | Source: Getty Images
However, his vacation was cut short when he was involved in a motorcycle accident, forcing him to return home to recuperate. This set the stage for him and Streep to end up falling in love. They eventually wed in September 1978, just a few months after Cazale's death.
Meryl Streep and Don Gummer at the gala dinner in honor of Streep during the 4th International Rome Film Festival in Rome, Italy on October 23, 2009 | Source: Getty Images
The couple kept their married life private, unlike many Hollywood couples. They briefly lived in Los Angeles for three years in the early '90s, but resided mostly in northwest Connecticut since 1985. There they made a home in an 89-acre estate with a private 47-acre lake.
The penthouse's open plan and floor-to-ceiling windows invite light in all rooms.
Don Gummer and Meryl Streep at the 84th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on February 26, 2012 | Source: Getty Images
While Gummer was a respected sculptor, Streep achieved much more success than him. Still, he supported her career and their family life. The pair have four kids together, Henry, Mary, Grace, and Louisa, and Streep acknowledged her husband's contribution to the stability of their family:
"I couldn't even dream of being a mother and making movies without Don."
Don Gummer and son Henry at Heathrow Airport on January 25, 1980 | Source: Getty Images
Streep embraced motherhood and her acting career so much that she learned to integrate them. The actress revealed that she accepted a role in the movie "The River Wild" to show her three daughters that action heroes in movies don't have to be named Arnie, Sly, or Bruce to be great. The movie was about a mom who took her family on a trip but ended up saving them from sociopathic robbers.
Meryl Streep and son Henry at JFK Airport in New York on January 9, 1980 | Source: Getty Images
The movie star also took a step back from acting when she welcomed her first child, Henry. Just like her acting career, Streep took motherhood seriously and strived hard to raise her kids well with Gummer by her side. The actress admitted that there isn't a road map to raise kids, but she often played bad cop to Gummer's good cop and used a lot of negotiation with their children.
Don Gummer and Meryl Streep with their daughters Grace and Mamie at the Fifth Annual "A Time for Heroes" Celebrity Carnival in Brentwood, California on June 4, 1994 | Source: Getty Images
Streep said she and Gummer used teamwork to raise their children. She was a tiger mom, while Gummer, who was hands-on in parenting, was a bit relaxed. Streep added that Gummer was always happy to look after their kids and didn't make her feel guilty for missing out whenever she was away for long periods of time filming.
Meryl Streep, Don Gummer, and Henry Gummer at the 68th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California on March 25, 1996 | Source: Getty Images
Today, Streep is grateful for the vibrant and independent-minded kids they raised and pushed to develop their talents to the maximum from a young age. Streep and Gummer relocated to the Tribeca area in New York City after the last of their kids moved out of the house. However, years later, news that they had separated had come to light.
Meryl Streep, Don Gummer, and their kids Henry, Mary, Grace, and Louisa attend the USA Network Presents AFI Lifetime Achievement Award - A Tribute to Meryl Streep - in Hollywood, California on June 10, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
Streep and Gummer's Separation and Their Tribeca House
It was revealed recently that Streep and Gummer have been living separate lives for years now. A representative for the actress disclosed that the two separated more than six years ago. While they still cared for each other, they chose to live their lives apart.
Meryl Streep and Don Gummer on the red carpet during the Rome Film Festival in Rome, Italy, on October 23, 2009 | Source: Getty Images
Meryl Streep and Don Gummer at the 90th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 4, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
Streep's separation from her husband comes as their kids have grown up. Henry, 43, is now a singer and songwriter. Grace, 40, and Mamie, 37, are actresses. Lastly, Louisa is now aged 38. The actress and her husband also have five grandchildren.
The 74-year-old and Gummer shared their Connecticut home and the Tribeca home during their time together. However, they sold the Tribeca loft in 2020 for $15.8 million, after initially listing the property for $24.6 million in 2018. In July 2020, Streep bought a $4 million home in Pasadena, California.
Streep and Gummer's Tribeca penthouse was located in the Bazzini Building, which was converted to a residential building from a nut processing facility. The building's sixth floor was integrated with a large rooftop addition to create two penthouse duplexes.
One of the penthouses became Streep and Gummer's after it was sold to them at $9.95 million. The four-bedroom and five-bath penthouse is located high above the Hudson River. It is surrounded by a 10-foot-wide terrace that is approximately 2,232 square feet. The penthouse's open plan and floor-to-ceiling windows invite light in all rooms.
The loft is accessed via a private elevator vestibule. The entry points are the living room, multiple dining areas, and a sky-lit gallery. The interior has an elegant ambiance created by a modern wood-burning fireplace and Brazilian walnut-planked floors. The intimate pocket-door rooms lead to luxurious entertaining spaces. The kitchen is a chic white Varenna.
The interior of the kitchen hosts two Miele ovens, a six-burner cooktop, a double-wide sub-zero fridge, a Bosch dishwasher, and a dark kitchen block. The penthouse also has a private den that can serve as an office. It gives a stunning view of the skyline.
The penthouse, designed by architects Tsao & McKown, has a large master suite with two separate bedrooms and dressings. A sitting parlor in the master suite gives incredible views of the Hudson River, the Statue of Liberty, and uptown skyscrapers.
Another bedroom, which is ensuite, overlooks the Hudson River, while the other two bedrooms have a shared bathroom and face the Eastside skyline. The penthouse's interior and exterior are magnificent, and its views are stunning.
While Streep and Gummer are now living separate lives, their marriage was a testament to how well they supported each other over the years and raised their kids. Still, even in their separate lives, Streep and Gummer continue to care for each other.