Updated: September 3, 2026
Gloria Steinem, the pioneering feminist journalist and activist, spent most of her life unmarried by choice. She famously questioned traditional marriage and focused on independence and equality. Yet in September 2000, at age 66, she surprised many by marrying David Bale. Their union lasted only three years until his death, making him her only husband. Understanding who David Bale was offers insight into a quieter, more personal chapter of Steinem’s remarkable life.
Table of Contents
Who Was David Bale?
David Charles Howard Bale was born on September 2, 1941, in South Africa. He grew up across England, Egypt, and the Channel Islands. An entrepreneur, commercial pilot, environmentalist, and animal-rights advocate, Bale dedicated much of his energy to humanitarian and conservation causes. He worked with organizations such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and supported various nonprofit efforts.
Bale was also the father of four children from previous marriages, including the well-known actor Christian Bale. He had been married and divorced twice before meeting Steinem. Friends and those who knew him described him as empathetic, low-key, and deeply committed to causes involving the environment and animal welfare.
How Gloria Steinem and David Bale Met
The couple met in 1999 at a fundraising event for Voters for Choice, an organization Steinem helped lead. Shared values around human rights, animal rights, and progressive causes drew them together. Their relationship developed relatively quickly, and they decided to marry in a private ceremony on September 3, 2000.
The wedding took place in Oklahoma at the home of Wilma Mankiller, the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. It combined Cherokee traditions with a civil ceremony. Steinem later explained that the decision felt right at that stage of her life. She noted that marriage laws had changed over the decades, allowing for a more equal partnership than what had been possible earlier in her career.
Their Marriage and His Passing
Steinem and Bale divided time between New York and California during their marriage. The relationship was often described as companionable and grounded in mutual respect. Steinem has spoken warmly of Bale’s character, once calling him a person with “the greatest heart of anyone I’ve known.”
In late 2003, Bale died of brain lymphoma at the age of 62. Steinem was by his side during his illness. The loss ended their brief marriage after just over three years. She has remained single since that time and continued her activism and writing for many more years.
Key points about David Bale and the marriage include:
- Born in South Africa in 1941; raised in several countries
- Activist focused on environmental and animal rights causes
- Father of actor Christian Bale and three other children
- Married Gloria Steinem on September 3, 2000, in Oklahoma
- Died of brain lymphoma on December 30, 2003
Quick Facts Table
Detail Information Full Name David Charles Howard Bale Birth–Death September 2, 1941 – December 30, 2003 Marriage to Steinem September 3, 2000 – December 30, 2003 Occupation Entrepreneur, pilot, environmental activist Children Four, including Christian Bale Wedding Location Oklahoma (Cherokee and civil ceremony)
Conclusion
David Bale was Gloria Steinem’s only husband—a late-in-life partner who shared her commitment to progressive causes and offered companionship during her later years. Their short marriage, ending with his death in 2003, remains a distinctive chapter in the life of a woman who redefined independence for generations. While Steinem’s public legacy centers on feminism, journalism, and activism, her relationship with Bale shows that personal choice and partnership could still hold meaning even for someone who long resisted traditional expectations. His memory endures through the quiet respect Steinem expressed for the man she called her partner.