The pair first acted together in the film “The Lady In Question” in the 1940s and went on to star in several other movies, including the iconic “Gilda” in 1946, which propelled Hayworth to stardom.
Despite their deep connection, they never married due to being involved with other people at the time, as revealed by Peter Ford.
Peter Ford, the only child of Glenn Ford, recently disclosed in an interview with Closer Weekly that his father and Hayworth had a relationship that lasted for decades.
Glenn Ford passed away at the age of 90 in 2006, and in 2011, Peter published a book about his famous father titled “Glenn Ford: A Life.”
Glenn Ford was previously married to dancer Eleanor Powell from 1943 to 1959.
According to reports, Glenn Ford was known for his relationships with numerous Hollywood stars, including Gene Tierney, Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Judy Garland, and Marilyn Monroe.
However, it was Rita Hayworth who left a significant impact on him.
In 1960, Ford purchased the lot next to Hayworth's Beverly Hills home, which she shared with her then-husband James Hill.
This gesture led to their reconciliation after Hayworth filed for divorce upon Ford's completion of his dream house.
They spent a lot of time together, with Hayworth frequently visiting Ford's house and sitting by the pool.
In a documentary released in 1990, Ford admitted that he deeply loved Hayworth during their time together.
Sadly, Hayworth passed away in 1987 at the age of 68 due to complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Ford was one of the pallbearers at her funeral.
During her final years, Hayworth resided in New York City, where her youngest child, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, became her conservator in 1981.
Khan founded the annual Rita Hayworth Gala through the Alzheimer's Association to honor her mother's legacy and raise funds for Alzheimer's research.
Despite pursuing her passions for painting, playing the castanets, and golfing, Hayworth's Alzheimer's disease continued to progress.
Khan shared that her mother's decline from the middle stage to the end took approximately 4-5 years.
She provided care for Hayworth and even brought her newborn son to visit, hoping that somewhere Hayworth could still hear and understand.
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan continues her crusade to find a cure for Alzheimer's, driven by her personal experience with her mother's illness and the widespread impact of the disease.
She remains hopeful that a cure will be discovered in her lifetime.
The memories of Hayworth as a loving mother and dedicated actress have remained with Khan.
She remembers Hayworth fondly, including her work with Fred Astaire and her introduction of sports like tennis and golf to her daughter.
Khan emphasizes the sadness of her mother's story and the devastating effects of Alzheimer's disease.
