Helen Reddy's Ex-Husbands: Get to Know Jeff Wald and More

Helen Reddy was known for her hit songs “I Am Woman,” “Angie Baby” and more, but you might not know the Australian songstress was married three times throughout her career. The late entertainer previously tied the knot with her ex-husbands, Kenneth Weate, Jeff Wald and Milton Ruth.

Helen walked down the aisle with her first spouse, Kenneth, in 1961. Throughout their marriage, the former couple welcomed their daughter, Traci Donat, but it wasn’t long before they called it quits. Helen and Kenneth’s divorce was finalized in early 1966.

The Pete’s Dragon actress is grateful to the musician for giving her a beautiful baby girl, but Helen knew her relationship with Kenneth wasn’t meant to be. She once referred to their marriage as “a very brief, very tempestuous affair” during an interview with The New York Times years following their divorce.

Fortunately, Helen found love again with her second husband, Jeff, in October 1966. At the time, Helen’s close friend threw a party and charged $5 dollars for admission. It was there that the former Rosie O’Donnell Show producer crashed the celebration and crossed paths with the “No Way to Treat a Lady” songstress.

“[Jeff] didn’t pay the $5 dollars, but it was love at first sight,” Helen once gushed to People in 1975. Just months after meeting for the first time, the duo exchanged vows and welcomed the star’s second child, Jordan Sommers, four years later in 1972.

Sadly, the Grammy winner’s second marriage didn’t last as she and Jeff went their separate ways following 18 years together in 1983. However, her status went from single to back in a relationship when she fell in love with Milton shortly after.

Helen and the drummer said “I do” later that year in 1983. Although the couple didn’t welcome any children together, Milton stepped in as the stepdad to Helen’s daughter, Traci, and son, Jordan. It didn’t work out, though, as the pair split up following almost 12 years of marriage in 1995.

The beloved songstress was enjoying her life as a single mother and grandmother when she sadly died at age 78 in September 2020. Helen’s children announced the tragic news shortly after their mother’s death, which came just five years following her dementia diagnosis.

“She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and a truly formidable woman,” the statement read. “Our hearts are broken. But we take comfort in the knowledge that her voice will live on forever.”

Despite being diagnosed with dementia in 2015 and living in a Los Angeles retirement home for performers, Helen was still making the most of her legendary life. Just weeks before her death, the star’s teenage granddaughter, Lily Donat, said her grandmother was “happy.”

“She’s still singing,” Lily exclusively shared with Closer Weekly weeks before Helen’s death.

Scroll through the gallery below to learn all about Helen’s ex-husbands.

Kenneth Weate

While she was working her way up as an entertainer in clubs and restaurants around Australia in the early 1960s, Helen’s first husband, Kenneth, came along. When she was just 19 years old, the Midnight Special actress exchanged vows with her lover.

Following their marriage, Helen gained full custody of their child, Traci, and the mother-daughter duo moved out of Australia and relocated to Los Angeles.

According to reports, Kenneth worked as a musician and singer at the time of their relationship. However, there isn’t much else known about it.

Jeff Wald

Following her first marriage, Helen moved on with her second spouse, Jeff. At the time of their romance, the hunk worked as his wife’s manager.

Jeff is also known for his work as a film producer. According to IMDb, he’s produced countless films and TV shows, including The Roseanne Show, Pensacola: Wings of Gold, The Contender, Switched at Birth and many more.

Aside from his Hollywood credits, Jeff is also the founder of WorkMarket, an enterprise software platform that enables companies to manage freelancers. He even founded other technology companies, including Spinback.

Following his marriage with Helen, Jeff tied the knot with his second wife, Candy Clark, in 1987, but the two split the next year.

At the time of Helen’s death, Jeff paid tribute to his late wife. “I am [very] sad to announce that my first wife of 18 years and the mother of my two oldest, Traci and Jordan,” has died, he said, according to Variety. “Traci spent the morning with Helen and she passed soon after under the excellent care of the Motion & Television Home.”

Milton Ruth

Helen’s third and final husband, Milton, came into her life months following her second divorce in 1983. Although the Airport 1975 actress and her former husband — who is reported to be a professional drummer – often attended red carpet events together throughout their marriage, they kept their lips sealed about their romance.

As a result of this, there isn’t much we know about Helen’s third beau.