Who Was Susanne Gregard? Inside Her Marriage and Relationship With Dodi Fayed

Susanne Gregard is best known for her brief marriage to Egyptian film producer and businessman Dodi Fayed, but her story extends beyond being remembered simply as Dodi Fayed’s ex-wife. An American model and actress, Gregard appeared in the 1985 film Key Exchange and was also associated with the television program Star Search. Her relationship with Dodi became one of the more intriguing chapters in his personal life because their marriage took place years before his highly publicized romance with Diana, Princess of Wales. Public records and biographical sources identify Gregard and Fayed as married from December 31, 1986, until 1987.

Quick Bio: Susanne Gregard

1. Who Was Susanne Gregard?

Susanne Gregard was an American model and actress who became connected to international celebrity circles during the 1980s. Her entertainment credits include Key Exchange, a 1985 comedy film, and an appearance as a spokesmodel on Star Search. Although information about her early life and professional career is limited compared with that of Dodi Fayed, her modeling career placed her in social environments where she eventually met the wealthy film producer. Today, much of the public interest surrounding Susanne Gregard comes from her relationship with Dodi, but her own work in modeling and entertainment deserves recognition when examining her biography.

2. Susanne Gregard’s Early Career

Gregard entered the public eye primarily through modeling and entertainment rather than through her association with Dodi Fayed. A 1990 Vanity Fair article also identified her as a Ford model, confirming that she had established herself professionally in the fashion world. Her acting credits remained relatively limited, but Key Exchange and Star Search demonstrate that she was active around the entertainment industry during the same period in which she became romantically involved with Dodi. This background helps explain why their relationship developed within the glamorous international social world surrounding Hollywood, fashion, and wealthy business families.

3. How Did Susanne Gregard Meet Dodi Fayed?

Accounts of their relationship generally place their meeting in the mid-1980s, when Gregard was working as a model. Reports published about the couple describe Dodi as becoming interested in her and pursuing her with elaborate romantic gestures. One widely repeated account says that he invited her to London and arranged modeling work for her at Harrods, the famous department store associated with his father, Mohamed Al-Fayed. While some details come from later media accounts rather than primary documentation, the central fact is well established: Susanne Gregard and Dodi Fayed became romantically involved before marrying in 1986.

4. Susanne Gregard and Dodi Fayed’s Marriage

Susanne Gregard married Dodi Fayed on December 31, 1986. IMDb lists the marriage as beginning on New Year’s Eve and ending in 1987, while multiple biographical accounts describe the marriage as lasting approximately eight months. Their wedding brought Gregard into the world of one of Britain’s most prominent business families. Dodi was the son of Mohamed Al-Fayed and was already building a reputation through film production and his connections to international high society. Despite the glamour surrounding their relationship, the marriage proved to be short-lived.

5. Why Did Susanne Gregard and Dodi Fayed Divorce?

The precise private reasons for their divorce are not extensively documented in reliable public records. However, later accounts commonly describe differences in lifestyle and personality as important factors. Gregard reportedly preferred a comparatively quieter existence, while Dodi was accustomed to an intensely social lifestyle involving luxury, travel, celebrities, and constant attention. Their marriage ended in 1987, approximately eight months after the wedding. It is important not to overstate speculation about their private disagreements, because neither spouse left behind a comprehensive public explanation of every reason for the separation.

6. What Was Dodi Fayed Like as a Husband?

One of the most interesting aspects of the Susanne Gregard story is that she reportedly remembered Dodi with affection even after their divorce. In comments later published about their relationship, Gregard characterized him as romantic, thoughtful, and someone who did not take life too seriously. A memorable anecdote involved a candlelit dinner during which the table collapsed and the meal ended up on the floor; instead of turning the incident into a disaster, the couple reportedly laughed about it. These recollections present a more personal picture of Dodi than the later headlines surrounding his relationship with Diana.

7. Did Susanne Gregard Have Children With Dodi Fayed?

Susanne Gregard and Dodi Fayed did not have children together. Their marriage lasted only several months, and their relationship ended years before Dodi became internationally famous for his romance with Diana. This detail is important when discussing Dodi Fayed’s family history because Gregard was his first and only wife, according to several biographical sources, but their marriage did not result in children. Later reports about Gregard’s family life concern relationships after her divorce from Dodi rather than her marriage to him.

8. Susanne Gregard’s Connection to Dodi’s Famous Family

Through her marriage, Gregard became connected to the Al-Fayed family, one of the most recognizable wealthy families associated with Britain during the late twentieth century. Dodi’s father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, was a prominent businessman who owned Harrods and later became closely associated with the Ritz Paris. Dodi himself worked in film production and helped produce projects including the Oscar-winning Chariots of Fire and Hook. For Susanne Gregard, marriage to Dodi therefore meant entering a highly affluent and internationally connected environment.

9. Dodi Fayed’s Career and Why It Matters to Gregard’s Story

Understanding Dodi Fayed’s career provides useful context for Susanne Gregard’s biography. Dodi was not simply a wealthy socialite; he also had substantial involvement in filmmaking through his family’s production company. His credits included executive-production work connected with Chariots of Fire, Breaking Glass, F/X, and Hook. His professional activities brought him into contact with Hollywood personalities and helped make his name recognizable outside his family’s business world. Gregard’s own modeling and acting background made their relationship a natural meeting point between fashion, entertainment, and international high society.

10. Susanne Gregard and Dodi Fayed After Divorce

After their divorce in 1987, Dodi continued to have relationships with several women connected to entertainment and fashion. His later relationships became increasingly public, particularly as his celebrity profile grew. Gregard, meanwhile, largely remained outside the intense media spotlight that followed her former husband. This distinction is important because many modern searches for “Susanne Gregard” begin with Dodi Fayed, even though her life did not end with their divorce. Her brief marriage became a notable historical chapter rather than the entirety of her identity.

11. Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana

Dodi Fayed’s name became globally recognized in 1997 because of his relationship with Diana, Princess of Wales. The pair’s romance developed during the summer of 1997, more than a decade after Dodi’s marriage to Gregard had ended. Dodi and Diana were together when both died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. Because Gregard was Dodi’s former wife, her name sometimes appears in biographies discussing his romantic history before Diana. However, there is no reason to suggest that Gregard played a role in Dodi’s later relationship with the princess.

12. Susanne Gregard’s Life After Dodi Fayed

Publicly available information indicates that Gregard later built a life separate from the international attention surrounding Dodi Fayed. Reports identify her as having continued creative interests and eventually marrying Philippe Quilici in 1992. Some biographical sources also report that the couple have two sons. Because Gregard has maintained a relatively private public profile, detailed information about her later professional and personal life is considerably less documented than information about Dodi. That privacy is one reason her biography should be approached carefully and without relying on unsupported online claims.

13. Why Is Susanne Gregard Still Remembered?

Susanne Gregard remains a subject of interest because her short marriage to Dodi Fayed connects two fascinating periods of his life. She was his wife more than ten years before his final relationship with Diana, and her recollections offer a rare glimpse into the private personality behind Dodi’s public image. Her story also illustrates how someone can become historically connected to a major public figure without seeking the same level of publicity. For readers researching Susanne Gregard’s biography, the most reliable picture is that of a former model and actress whose marriage to Dodi was brief but memorable.

Final Thoughts

Susanne Gregard’s story is much more than a footnote in Dodi Fayed’s biography. She was a model and actress who entered an international social circle through her relationship with Dodi and became his wife in 1986. Although their marriage lasted only about eight months, Gregard later remembered aspects of their relationship warmly. Dodi’s subsequent connection with Diana transformed his public legacy, but Gregard represents an earlier and comparatively private chapter of his life. For anyone searching for Susanne Gregard, Dodi Fayed’s ex-wife, her biography offers an interesting look at the personal history behind one of the most famous names associated with Diana’s final year.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who was Susanne Gregard?

Susanne Gregard is an American former model and actress who became widely known because she was married to Dodi Fayed. Her entertainment credits include Key Exchange and Star Search.

2. When did Susanne Gregard marry Dodi Fayed?

Susanne Gregard married Dodi Fayed on December 31, 1986. Their marriage ended in 1987 and is generally reported to have lasted about eight months.

3. Why did Susanne Gregard and Dodi Fayed divorce?

Public accounts generally point to differences in lifestyle and personality, although the couple did not provide a detailed public explanation covering every aspect of their divorce. Their separation occurred in 1987 after a short marriage.

4. Did Susanne Gregard and Dodi Fayed have children?

No. Susanne Gregard and Dodi Fayed did not have children during their marriage. Their relationship ended only months after their wedding.

5. What happened to Susanne Gregard after Dodi Fayed?

Gregard continued her life away from the intense publicity surrounding Dodi. Later biographical reports say she married Philippe Quilici in 1992 and had two sons. She has generally maintained a much more private profile than her famous former husband.