Rick Springfield is a famous Australian musician and actor who rose to fame in the 1980s. He is best known for his Grammy Award-winning song “Jessie’s Girl” and for playing Dr. Noah Drake on the popular soap opera General Hospital. Though Rick Springfield has had a successful career in music and acting for over four decades, less is known about his personal life and romantic relationships. This article will explore the question: Who is Rick Springfield’s partner?
Rick Springfield’s Early Life and Career
Rick Springfield was born Richard Lewis Springthorpe on August 23, 1949 in Sydney, Australia. From a young age, he was interested in music and acting. In the 1960s, Springfield dropped out of high school to pursue his passions and joined several bands in Australia, including Wickedy Wak and Zoot.
In 1972, Springfield released his debut solo album Beginnings under his full name, Richard Springthorpe. However, he decided to use the stage name “Rick Springfield” moving forward in his career. His early albums combined pop rock with country rock influences.
In the early 1970s, Springfield moved to the United States to further his music career. He released the album Comic Book Heroes in 1973, which yielded his first hit single “Speak to the Sky.” More albums followed throughout the mid to late 1970s, but mainstream success still eluded him.
In 1981, Springfield finally achieved breakthrough success with his album Working Class Dog. It featured the Grammy Award-winning #1 hit song “Jessie’s Girl” as well as the top 10 hit “I’ve Done Everything for You.” With his music career taking off, Springfield also decided to pursue acting. From 1981-1983, he played Dr. Noah Drake on the daytime soap opera General Hospital, becoming hugely popular with viewers.
After this breakthrough into music and TV stardom in the early 1980s, Springfield went on to release several more hit albums and singles, such as “Affair of the Heart” and “Love Somebody.” He also continued accepting acting roles in TV and film. Though his popularity cooled in the 1990s, Springfield remains an iconic figure in 80s pop rock and a multi-talented entertainer.
Rick Springfield’s Relationship History
Prior to achieving fame, Rick Springfield was married to his first wife, South African-born Michaela Duwe. They wed in 1971 when Springfield was 21 years old. The couple had one son together, Liam Springthorpe, born in 1976. However, Springfield’s rising music career and time spent away from home took a toll on their marriage. Springfield and Duwe divorced in 1985 after 14 years of marriage.
After this divorce, Springfield dated actress-photographer Barbara Porter for over a decade between 1985-1999. They met when Porter was photographing Springfield for an album cover shoot. Though they never married, Springfield described Porter as “the one who got away” in his 2010 autobiography Late, Late at Night.
In 1984, during Springfield’s relationship with Porter, he had an affair with actress and singer Bernadette Whelan. This brief fling resulted in the birth of his second son, Joshua Garland Springthorpe, in 1985. Joshua was raised by Whelan and did not meet Springfield until he was 18 years old.
Marriage to Barbara Porter
In 1984, shortly after his affair with Bernadette Whelan, Springfield proposed to Barbara Porter, wishing to commit fully to her. However, their wedding plans were postponed when Porter became pregnant with another man’s child. She gave birth to a son, Dominic, in 1985.
Though their relationship endured this challenge, Springfield and Porter ultimately never made it down the aisle. They finally ended their long-term relationship in 1999 after over a decade together.
Marriage to Silvia Matteson
In 2000, Rick Springfield met his future wife Silvia Matteson. Matteson worked in the music industry arranging promotional events, which allowed her to connect with Springfield. The two married on June 22, 2001 when Springfield was 51 years old and Matteson was 43.
Springfield and Matteson went on to have two sons together via surrogacy – Liam Springthorpe (born in 2003) and Joshua Springthorpe (born in 2007). Choosing the first name “Liam” for his child with Matteson was a nod to the name of Springfield’s eldest son from his first marriage.
By all accounts, Springfield’s marriage to Matteson has been a happy and lasting relationship. As of 2023, they remain married after over 20 years together. Though 25 years younger, Matteson offered stability in Springfield’s life after his two failed long-term relationships.
In interviews, Springfield has praised his wife for her unwavering support. Matteson has also spoken about weathering difficult times together, including Springfield’s battles with depression and a suicide attempt in 2013. Their evident commitment and bond has stood the test of time.
Analysis of Rick Springfield’s Romantic History
Reviewing Rick Springfield’s relationship history, some patterns emerge:
Young Marriages in His 20s
Springfield married his first wife, Michaela Duwe, at just 21 years old. They divorced within 14 years. Springfield has said he was too young at the time of their wedding to fully understand what it meant to commit to someone. This early marriage did not go the distance.
Long-Term Unmarried Relationships
After his divorce, Springfield did not marry again until 2001. However, he had two significant unmarried relationships that lasted over a decade – with Barbara Porter and prior to that, Michaela Duwe. It seems Springfield preferred common law relationships for many years before finally re-marrying.
Multiple Affairs Resulting in Children
Springfield had affairs during his more serious relationships, both with Michaela Duwe and Barbara Porter. These resulted in the births of his two now adult sons – Liam Springthorpe and Joshua Garland Springthorpe. This pattern suggests Springfield struggled with commitment in relationships.
Lasting Second Marriage Later in Life
It was not until the 2000s, in his 50s, that Springfield seemed to find a stable, committed marriage. His relationship with wife Silvia Matteson stands in contrast to his younger relationships and marriages. The significant age gap between them may have also contributed to more maturity and readiness for commitment.
Current Status of Rick Springfield’s Marriage
By all accounts, Rick Springfield remains happily married to wife Silvia Matteson as of late 2022 and early 2023.
In May 2022, Springfield shared a touching tribute to Matteson on Instagram for her birthday. His post stated:
“She has been the light that guides me home when I am lost and confused. My life’s compass that points me back to true north when I’ve gone astray. She is the inspiration to do the work I need to do to become the man I want to be. I thank God for her every day. Happy birthday my angel.”
This heartfelt message indicates their marriage remains on solid ground after over 20 years together. Fans of Springfield are also quick to praise his wife Silvia and the steadiness she has brought to his life.
Though now in his 70s, Springfield keeps up a busy schedule filled with touring and making new music. It seems he relies on Matteson’s support to maintain his grueling pace. In interviews as recently as 2021, Springfield has confirmed he and Matteson are still happily together.
Rick Springfield’s Family Today
Rick Springfield has a rather large family from his multiple relationships over the decades:
– Wife: Silvia Matteson (married 2001-present)
– Sons with Silvia Matteson: Liam Springthorpe (b. 2003), Joshua Springthorpe (b. 2007)
– Son with Michaela Duwe: Liam Springthorpe (b. 1976)
– Son with Bernadette Whelan: Joshua Garland Springthorpe (b. 1985)
– Stepson through Silvia Matteson: Gabriel Matteson
Though now in his 70s, Springfield continues to have young children at home with wife Silvia Matteson – sons Liam and Joshua Springthorpe at ages 19 and 15 as of 2023. He also remains close with his two older sons from previous relationships, now in their 40s.
Springfield has often said that fatherhood brings him great joy and purpose in life. Despite his rockstar image, he seems to be a dedicated family man. His wife Silvia anchors their family as a grounding force in Springfield’s otherwise chaotic show business lifestyle.
Rick Springfield’s Infidelity Issues in Relationships
As evidenced in this relationship history overview, Rick Springfield struggled with infidelity and commitment early in his romantic life. Both of his long-term unmarried relationships – first with Michaela Duwe and later Barbara Porter – involved Springfield being unfaithful and conceiving children with other women.
This pattern suggests that in Springfield’s younger days, he encountered difficulty staying devoted to one partner. His rock and roll lifestyle of touring, attention from female fans, and time away from home may have contributed to these infidelity issues. Having affairs appeared to be a temptation Springfield could not always resist.
However, after finally marrying again in his early 50s, Springfield seems to have left his infidelity behind and focused on his wife and family. This maturity likely came with age, combined with finding the right partner in Silvia Matteson.
Though fans may know Springfield for his 80s heartthrob status, in his personal life behind the scenes, he admits to mistakes in the way he treated the women he loved. But in the end, he did find lasting love, even if it came later in life.
Conclusion
Rick Springfield has led an eventful romantic life full of ups and downs – marriage, divorce, long-term affairs, and finally contentment in a second marriage to wife Silvia Matteson. Though the path to finding the right partner brought challenges, heartbreak, and missteps along the way, Springfield seems to have emerged with a solid marriage in his later years. Fans can still catch him performing his iconic 80s hits on tour, but behind the scenes of the spotlight, Springfield has a supportive wife and family to provide him stability. After the turbulence of his younger relationships, it’s reassuring to know Springfield has found peace and commitment in married life.