Actor Richard E Grant has marked five years since the death of his wife Joan Washington, sharing an emotional video about grief and his new grandson. The Oscar nominee admitted he would have loved for Joan to meet their baby grandson, born earlier this year, but said he is still not ready to find love again.
Joan died in September 2021 at the age of 74 following an eight-month battle with stage four lung cancer, diagnosed two days before Christmas in 2020. Grant and Joan had been married for 35 years and together for nearly four decades.
Filming from his Gloucestershire cottage, the actor recalled the moment Joan passed away at 7:30 in the evening as they held hands. Grant shared that five years felt both incredibly long and simultaneously in the blink of an eye.
Grant expressed unbelievable gratitude for their time together, saying Joan understood him completely. He stated: "because more than anybody in the whole world that I have ever met, she got me, and I got her, and that seems to be the kind of holy grail gift that I never anticipated I would find in my life."
Describing Joan as feisty, challenging and hilarious, Grant explained that his home remains filled with their shared possessions. He said that even though he is physically alone, his life remains there as if Joan might be in the next room.
Addressing well-meaning suggestions from friends about dating again, Grant said: "for that to happen, I've not arrived at that stage, so without sounding morbid, I want to celebrate her fifth anniversary. Happy anniversary." The clip concluded with photographs of Joan and their daughter, Olivia.
Celebrity tributes and support
Friends and fellow actors left messages of support under Grant's Instagram post. Actress Glenn Close wrote: "I have come to believe that if one finds a true soulmate and partner, that is the greatest gift life can offer. I am so deeply moved by the way you talk about Joan and all you have written and shared with us about her - there is boundless joy and love in your grief. Happy Anniversary to you both."
Actress Melissa McCarthy also commented: "I've never met such a big personality in a glorious way..meaning you....until I meet Joan...and then you made even more sense...and I loved you, my friend from the start. But you two together made music. Xoxooxox."
The arrival of a baby grandson
Grant shared his deep sadness that Joan never got to hold their grandson, who was born 12 weeks ago to daughter Olivia and her husband, financier Florian Wirst. Grant tearfully announced the birth in June through an emotional video recorded in his car while waiting near the hospital.
Returning home after the delivery, Grant learned the baby boy had arrived safely. In the video, the Saltburn star said: "So extraordinary to become a grandfather. I'm so grateful for the safe arrival of our grandson. Life truly is miraculous."
Along with throwback images of Olivia as a baby, Grant wrote: "Reflecting on the passage of time from our daughter's birth to her becoming a mother herself!! Is there a feeling any more tender than this?" The family has not disclosed the baby's name.
Messages from friends and fans
Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar, who starred alongside Grant in the television series The Kumars at No. 42 and Mumbai Calling, offered his congratulations on the birth. Bhaskar wrote: "Wowsers. Huge congrats granddad. And to Olivia and Florian. And a huge welcome to the new addition!"
Fans also shared supportive comments on the birth announcement. One fan noted: "Love how you say 'our' not 'my'... she's still his Grandma from up in the sky." Another follower added: "I'm so happy for you. But I know these happy days can be really bittersweet. You long to share it with them."
Perspective on grandparenthood and mortality
Speaking to The Sunday Times Style Magazine, Grant explained that becoming a grandfather has shifted his outlook following Joan's death. He noted that the baby's arrival taught him not to waste time on unimportant matters.
Grant told the magazine: "What everybody will tell you about becoming a grandparent is that the parents do all the nappy changing, feeding, they do all that. I'm spared having to be up all night, which I would love. I'm just handed the baby. I get the best of it."
He continued: "I've felt that overwhelming thing that you're part of the cycle of life. You've gone through death and now there's a birth. I instantly thought, how many Christmases will I have to share with the grandchild? That's the thing that galvanises you - how many years of life you have left."
Grant added that a grandchild underlines personal mortality in a positive way, encouraging him to think forwardly because time is finite. While calling seeing Olivia become a mother the most fulfilling thing, he admitted it remains impossible to get his head around the fact that Joan will never hold her grandson.
Family life in London
Following Joan's death in 2021, Olivia and Florian moved into Grant's west London home to support him. Although they had moved out several years earlier, they later asked to return to the property.
Olivia married Florian in a home ceremony in 2024. Grant revealed two years ago that having the couple in his home led him to take on the role of household concierge, handling most of the cooking and grocery shopping.
A marriage built over four decades
Grant and Joan first met in 1982 at the Actors Centre in Covent Garden. Joan was working as a dialect coach and was ten years his senior at the top of her profession, while Grant was a struggling young actor newly arrived from Swaziland, now Eswatini.
They married in 1986 and went on to welcome Olivia. Their path to parenthood involved significant sorrow, as the couple lost their first child shortly after birth, and Joan suffered multiple miscarriages. Joan remained determined to keep trying, leading to Olivia's birth.
When Joan died in 2021, Grant announced her passing with a video of the couple dancing together, describing her as the "Giver of Life to our daughter Olivia."
Grief and thoughts on future love
In the years since her death, Grant has spoken openly about his daily grief. He revealed that he cries every single day, writes to Joan every night, and maintains an ongoing silent conversation with her.
Earlier this year, Grant shared that a month before Joan died, she went through every woman they knew like a lioness, listing reasons why he should not date any of them. Grant said: "And I knew how much she loved me by doing that."
Appearing on Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast in March, Grant stated that although friends have set him up on dates, he has no inclination whatsoever and is not consciously looking for romance. Asked if finding love again would cause him to feel guilty, Grant answered simply: "No."
