Gerry Turner’s Children Encouraged Him To Go On The Golden Bachelor

He’s the groundbreaking new reality TV star who won the hearts of audiences the world over. As it turns out Gerry Turner’s children—and grandchildren!—encouraged him to become The Golden Bachelor; ABC’s new Bachelor spin-off featuring an older gentleman looking for love.

The series, which was announced in May 2023, is one of several Bachelor spin-offs including The Bachelorette, Bachelor Pad, Bachelor in Paradise, Bachelor Winter Games, and The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart. “After more than 20 years of fostering love on The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, The Golden Bachelor showcases a whole new kind of love story – one for the golden years,” ABC’s description of The Golden Bachelor reads.

“On this all-new unscripted series hosted by Jesse Palmer, one hopeless romantic is given a second chance at love in the search for a partner with whom to share the sunset years of life. The women arriving at the mansion have a lifetime of experience, living through love, loss and laughter, hoping for a spark that ignites a future full of endless possibilities. In the end, will our Golden man turn the page to start a new chapter with the woman of his dreams?” 

Gerry, the first Golden Bachelor, is a 71-year-old retired restaurant owner, father, and grandfather from Indiana. His Instagram handle is @goldengerryturner. “It’s never too late to fall in love again,” Gerry said on Good Morning America in July 2023, announcing him as the first Golden Bachelor. 

Gerry is a widower. He married his wife and high school sweetheart, Toni, in 1974. Gerry and Toni were married for 43 years until her death from an illness in 2017, six weeks after her retirement. “She got robbed,” Gerry told Good Morning America about Toni. “Every day that goes by, that’s the thought I have.”

When asked what Toni would think of him starring on The Golden Bachelor, Gerry told Good Morning America that he believed his late wife would be “rooting” for him. “I have her picture on a dresser in my closet,” he said. “Every morning I give her the nod, ‘So what do you think about this?’ For a while it was like I was having a hard time figuring out if she would be OK. But we always told each other, when one of us goes, we want the other one to be happy.” He continued, “She’s saying, ‘Yeah Gerry, do this.’”

As for what he’s looking for, Gerry told Good Morning America that he wants a partner who matches his personality and loves sports. “I’d love it if I found a partner who was high energy, someone who’s fairly competitive, that they enjoy sports,” he said. “Someone that maybe plays pickleball, someone that maybe plays golf.” Gerry Turner’s children include two daughters that he shares with Toni and two grandchildren. Here’s all we know about them.

Gerry Turner’s children

Here’s everything we know about Gerry Turner’s children and grandchildren.