Golden Bachelor Star Gerry Turner Opens Up About His Divorced Life and Lessons Learned

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Gerry Turner, a prominent figure from ABC’s “Golden Bachelor,” recently shared reflections on his tumultuous marriage to Theresa Nist. Just three months after their televised nuptials, their relationship unraveled, prompting Turner to call the union a ‘monumental mistake.’

The 74-year-old Indiana native made headlines when he became the inaugural senior star of “The Golden Bachelor,” where he met fellow widow Nist. Their whirlwind romance culminated in a live wedding broadcast in January 2024, only for the couple to announce their separation by April. As Turner navigates this painful chapter, he offers insights into his journey of love, loss, and personal growth in his memoir, “Golden Years.”

Turner expressed his feelings candidly, saying, “Well, I do admit that it was a monumental mistake, but it’s always easy to have 20/20 hindsight.” He acknowledged that both Nist and his family suffered due to his actions. According to Turner, there was no single event that signaled the end of their marriage. Instead, it was a gradual realization that things couldn’t work.

Nist, 71, also voiced her feelings about their marriage. When contact was made before the book’s release, she mentioned to Us Weekly that it saddened her to know Turner felt empty and trapped. She wished he had been more upfront about his feelings, asserting, “Those in glass houses should not throw stones. I do wish him all the best.”

Before marrying Nist, Turner experienced love and loss with his late wife, Toni, whom he married in 1974. Their marriage lasted until Toni’s untimely passing in 2017, shortly after she retired. Their two daughters encouraged him to pursue happiness once more, leading to his participation in “The Golden Bachelor.”

Unexpected Obstacles and Misunderstandings

Initially reluctant, Turner warmed to the idea of finding love again. He explained, “I was not interested. I rebelled at the idea originally. But after a night of sleep, I thought, ‘I’ve got nothing going on here. Hopefully, this’ll work out for me.’” This decision led him to be designated as the first “Golden Bachelor,” a title that brought both joy and unforeseen challenges.

Turner and Nist faced immediate compatibility issues, despite sharing similar backgrounds and family values. Early in their courtship, Nist had indicated her intention to stop working to embrace a new life together. However, as weeks passed, Turner felt her plans shifted, with Nist expressing a desire to continue her career for another year or more. He respected her ambitions but wished that he had been made aware of them sooner.

He elaborated, “I’d try to shorten that time span because I really looked at what I wanted out of that relationship and what she wanted in her job as mutually exclusive. It really told me that there was no way I was going to be able to enjoy what I wanted to do, which was travel, have adventures, and have fun.”

Building Tension

As disagreements mounted over living arrangements, finances, and even prenuptial agreements, the couple’s tensions escalated. Turner claimed Nist had little interest in moving to Indiana, while he viewed her New Jersey roots merely as a vacation destination. Days before their wedding, a scramble ensued when his lawyer informed him about Nist’s missing signature on the prenup, a document they ultimately agreed upon before their ceremony.

With efforts to find common ground stymied, cracks in their bond began to appear as the cameras turned off. Reports indicate that Nist and Turner never cohabitated during their brief marital union. Reflecting on a difficult goodbye at the airport, Turner felt they shared a connection akin to “distant cousins,” a stark contrast to the intimacy he sought in his second act of life.

He shared, “That experience was very painful. I wanted moments of intimacy, shared experiences, and memories we could cherish together. Those things didn’t happen; they just weren’t there.” Turner acknowledged that instead of growing closer, the couple seemed to force a relationship that lacked natural comfort and chemistry. This led him to confront a painful truth—they simply were not compatible.

He conveyed his thoughts, saying, “What made us go forward with the wedding? Theresa and I shared a lifetime commitment to a partner. We knew the importance of commitment and the value of setting an example for our children and grandchildren.”

A Quiet End

The couple’s marriage quietly dissolved during a walk in California, where they had convened for an event. In this final conversation, Turner posed the candid question about calling it quits, to which Nist responded affirmatively. This facilitated a conclusion neither had initially anticipated.

In the aftermath of the split, Turner faced scrutiny and even admitted to experiencing fleeting suicidal thoughts. Reflecting on a dark moment, he recalled a night when despair seeped into his mind. He thought about self-harm but quickly dismissed the idea when he focused on his children. “Just as quickly, though, I thought of Jenny and Angie. I could never do that to my daughters.”

Finding Hope and New Beginnings

Recently, Turner revealed a cancer diagnosis, which added further complexity to his already challenging situation. He shared that he felt a lack of concern from Nist regarding his health issues, a disappointment compounded by the brevity of their marriage.

As of today, Turner is ready to embrace new beginnings. He recently announced his engagement to Lana Sutton, just 15 months after finalizing his divorce from Nist. Turner remarked on the resilience he’s developed during this tumultuous period, reflecting on how he overcame the profound sadness and disappointment he felt following the end of his marriage.

Summarizing his experiences, Turner stated, “I refer to it as my marathon mentality. You can endure anything for a certain period of time, but once the pain is over, you need to pick yourself up and move on with life.” With renewed vigor, Turner looks forward to crafting a hopeful future built on love and resilience.