Barry Diller, the super-successful businessman, left a trail of hits from “Roots” at ABC, to Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Terms of Endearment and Beverly Hills Cop from his time as CEO of Paramount Cheers, before moving onto Fox and The Simpsons and thence into a blizzard of influential, money-making companies. At 83 he has published an autobiography Who Knew? in which he reveals he thought he was gay until aged 33 when he met fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. Their first meeting was pass remarkable and even after they got together it was on and off until they reunited in 1991 and married in 2001.
He says: “ There are many complex aspects of my relationship with Diane von Fürstenberg: romantic love and deep respect, companionship and world adventuring.”
“I’m well aware that this part of my life has caused confusion and lots of speculation. A relationship that began with indifference, then exploded into a romance as natural to us as breathing, surprised us and everyone else. It really is the miracle of my life.”
“We weren’t just friends. We aren’t just friends. Plain and simple, it was an explosion of passion that kept up for years.”
“Yes, I also liked guys, but that was not a conflict with my love for Diane. I can’t explain it to myself or to the world. It simply happened to both of us without motive or manipulation. In some cosmic way we were destined for each other.”
He was born 2 February 1942 San Francisco (no birth time) and has a Sun Venus in Aquarius opposition Pluto Chiron square Mars in Taurus – charming, friendly and ultra-determined, a real go-getter. He also has an innovative and creative Saturn Uranus in Taurus trine Neptune in Virgo. His Moon is Leo/Virgo.
Diane von Furstenberg, 31 December 1946 3.30 am Ixelles, Belgium (astrotheme), has a quick-witted and ambitious 3rd house Sun Mars conjunction in Capricorn square a 5th house Aries Moon and inconjunct Saturn Pluto in Leo. Her Moon also opposes Neptune and trines Saturn Pluto – so a complicated emotional and domestic life. She has a charming and fashion-oriented Jupiter Venus conjunction in Scorpio in her 1st house inconjunct Uranus in her 8th house which rules sexuality. Which latter will give her an unconventional and individualistic approach to intimate relationships. Her Chiron on her Ascendant will have given her a confused sense of self and identity from early on.
His Jupiter falls in her 8th house for a deep sense of connection emotionally and financially. With his Sun Venus opposition her Pluto for a strong bond. His Mars and Saturn Uranus fall in her 7th house which looks fractious and unpredictable which may point to the recurring rumours about his sexuality but would also have a difficult internal dynamic as well.
Their relationship chart has two yods: Sun Mercury inconjunct Neptune sextile Saturn; and Mars inconjunct Neptune sextile Pluto – yods occur where people are drawn together in a ‘fated’ way which feels meant and changes the destiny of both. It may not always be happy, viz Wallis Simpson and the Duke of Windsor, but they do feel preordained. Diane and Barry also have a composite Venus opposition Saturn, giving longevity if not warmth; and a needs-space, uncompromising Mars square Uranus. It would not be quite as seamless a togetherness as he makes it sound but it has lasted.
Their wedding chart, 2 February 2001, New York, has an Aquarius Sun sitting on the Uranus/Neptune midpoint which is fairly highly-strung – plus a difficult Mars in Scorpio opposition Saturn in Taurus square Uranus suggesting one partner had to grit their teeth and fit in to make the relationship run smoothly.
Good on them for making it work even if it was not always an idyll of romantic bliss.
The post Barry and Diane – drawn together by destiny first appeared on Astroinform with Marjorie Orr – Star4cast.
