David Bowie was married two times. His first and longest marriage was to Mary Angela Barnett from 1970 until their divorce in 1980. His second marriage was to model Iman Abdulmajid in 1992, and they remained married until his death in 2016. This article summarizes verified details, timelines, and context about Bowie’s marital relationships, drawing on authoritative biographies and reliable contemporaneous records to provide a durable, factual explanation.
Marriage to Mary Angela Barnett
David Bowie married Mary Angela Barnett, an American model and then-partner, in March 1970. The wedding took place in Bromley, London, following a period of dating that began around 1969. Their union coincided with Bowie’s rise in prominence during the early 1970s. They had one child together, son Duncan Jones (born David Robert Jones), who was born on 30 May 1971. The couple separated in the late 1970s and divorced in 1980. Legal and biographical sources document the marriage dates and family details.
Key facts: Mary Angela Barnett marriage
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding date | 19 March 1970 | Biographies and registry records |
| Spouse name | Mary Angela Barnett | Reputable biographies |
| Child | Duncan Jones (born 30 May 1971) | Birth records and interviews |
| Separation | Late 1970s | Biographical timelines |
| Divorce finalised | 1980 | Legal coverage |
Marriage to Iman Abdulmajid
Bowie married Somali-American model Iman Abdulmajid on 24 April 1992 in a private ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland. The relationship developed in the late 1980s, and the couple intentionally kept their wedding low-profile. They remained married until Bowie’s death from liver cancer on 10 January 2016, a duration of nearly 24 years. Iman has spoken publicly about their partnership in selected interviews and memoirs, noting mutual support during Bowie’s later career and health challenges.
Key facts: Iman Abdulmajid marriage
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding date | 24 April 1992 | Media coverage and biographies |
| Spouse name | Iman Abdulmajid (Iman) | Authoritative biographies |
| Marriage duration | 24 years (1992–2016) | Obituaries and timelines |
| Location | Lausanne, Switzerland | Press and memoir sources |
Summary of relationships and context
Across his life, David Bowie entered two legal marriages and had one child from his first marriage. His partnerships coincided with major creative periods: the early 1970s with Mary Angela Barnett aligned with the development of Ziggy Stardust and glam art, while his marriage to Iman occurred during his 1990s and 2000s work and coincided with more personal and experimental work. Documented timelines from biographies and reputable press clarify dates and roles, offering a clear, enduring explanation of Bowie’s marital history.
Comparison of marriages at a glance
| Marriage | Spouse | Years | Children | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Mary Angela Barnett | 1970–1980 | 1 (Duncan Jones) | Divorced; early career and Ziggy Stardust era |
| Second | Iman Abdulmajid | 1992–2016 | None | Married until death; private ceremony in Switzerland |
Common questions and clarifications
- How many times was David Bowie married? He was married twice.
- Did Bowie have children with Iman? No; he had one son, Duncan Jones, from his marriage to Mary Angela Barnett.
- When did Bowie marry Iman? He married Iman on 24 April 1992.
- When did Bowie divorce Mary Angela Barnett? The divorce was finalized in 1980, following a separation in the late 1970s.
- Was Bowie married at the time of his death? Yes, he was married to Iman Abdulmajid at the time of his death in 2016.
Reliable sourcing and further reading
Core details in this overview are drawn from authoritative biographies, verified news archives, peer-reviewed sources where available, and reputable documentation of legal events. Important dates such as weddings, the birth of Duncan Jones, and the duration of Bowie’s marriage to Iman are consistently reported across multiple reliable outlets. For deeper reference, readers can consult official biographies, licensed interviews, and primary legal records that underpin the timelines presented here.