The widow of Gene Kelly ‘never thought’ about her husband’s 47-year age difference: “His heart was so young.”

In 1985, Patricia Ward Kelly got to know Gene Kelly while she was contributing to a Smithsonian Museum television presentation that he was hosting.

“When I first met Gene Kelly, I had no idea who he was. Patricia Ward Kelly, speaking to News from her home office, where memories of their romance abound, said, “That always surprises people.” “In fact, some people think I’m making it up.”

The iconic star of hits like “Singin’ in the Rain,” “On the Town,” and “An American in Paris,” Kelly was 47 years older than her when she was in her mid-20s.

“I didn’t find the age thing to be a problem,” she clarified. The ironic part is that I never gave it much attention because She claimed that until the media began making such a huge deal out of it, she had not given their age difference any thought. And until they made a huge deal, I didn’t even figure out the difference.”

Her parents were unconcerned about the age gap as well. “My parents accepted it and didn’t think there was a problem. They were aware that I had always drawn a little bit outside the lines.