Kelly McGillis was married to Fred Tillman, with whom she has two daughters, per Philadelphia Gay News. But the marriage began to disintegrate due to McGillis’ drug and alcohol misuse, as well as her struggles with coming out. “I met Fred, and I thought, Fred will protect me. Nobody will ever hurt me again,” she explained. “And that only worked for so long because the fact is that I wasn’t being true to who I was and what I am.”
Due to his ex’s personal issues, Tillman was awarded custody of the children and McGillis went to rehab. Too unwell to act on screen, she took a long hiatus from the industry. During this period, McGillis began working in the hospitality industry, having bought a restaurant in Florida, per The Guardian. The outlet notes that diners were shocked to see Charlie Blackwood from “Top Gun” serving them.
After recovering from addiction, she devoted her life to her kids, realizing that they were more important to her than preserving her acting career. “It didn’t become a priority; what became the priority initially was raising my girls and being the best sober parent I could be,” she told Entertainment Tonight. Speaking with The Oklahoman, she explained that she felt incredibly fortunate to have been given opportunities in Hollywood, but reconnecting with her kids gave her a fresh start: “You know, I haven’t worked in so long because I took 10 years to raise my kids, and for me, it’s starting over.”
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Nicki
