Tom Ford’s beloved husband Richard Buckley died peacefully at the couple’s Los Angeles home on Sunday night. The 72-year-old fashion journalist died from natural causes after a “long illness”.
In a statement from Ford’s representatives, it read: “It is with great sadness that Tom Ford announces the death of his beloved husband of 35 years, Richard Buckley.
Richard Buckley, fashion designer Tom Ford’s husband and partner of over three decades, has died. He was 72.
According to a statement from Ford’s representatives, Buckley, a renowned fashion editor and journalist, “died of natural causes after a long illness” on Sunday night.
“It is with great sadness that Tom Ford announces the death of his beloved husband of 35 years, Richard Buckley,” the statement began.
“Richard passed away peacefully at their home in Los Angeles with Tom and their son Jack by his side,” the statement added.
Ford, 60, met Buckley in 1986 at a fashion show, and the pair eventually wed in 2014 shortly after same-sex marriage was legalised in the United States.
Richard – who underwent surgery for throat cancer in 1989 – was said to have grown up in the States, France, and Germany before attending the University of Maryland in Munich.
Buckley enjoyed a career in fashion journalism that began at New York Magazine in 1979. He went on to publications that included Women’s Wear Daily and Vanity Fair.
He also became the European editor of Mirabella magazine, contributing editor at Italian Vogue, and later the editor-in-chief of Vogue Hommes International.
Buckley and Ford most recently lived in London, New York and Santa Fe. The pair are parents to son Alexander John Buckley Ford, 8.
In 2016, designer and A Single Man director Ford reflected to PEOPLE on the moment he met and fell for his husband.
“Our eyes locked and within a month we were living together,” he said during an appearance on The Jess Cagle Interview. “We have been together ever since.”
Even after three decades, Ford said he could “vividly” remember the first time he met Buckley. The two were riding in an elevator together — and it didn’t take long for their connection to become clear. By the end of the ride, Ford said he knew he would spend the rest of his life with Buckley.
“By the time that elevator landed on the ground floor I thought, ‘You’re the one.’ That’s it. Click. Sold,” he said. “It was literally love at first sight.”
Tributes have begun to pour in for the fashion journalist following the news of his death.
Susan Kirschbaum penned: “It is with profound sadness that I have learned of the death of Richard Buckley. I had the pleasure of real time with him after meeting at an Oscar picnic. He had me in stitches. So wry & intelligent A true gentleman. Condolences @TOMFORD R.I.P. dear Richard.”
Derek Washington commented: “So sorry for your loss but happy for your love @TOMFORD & Jack. Congratulations on 35 years of love.”
Charlotte Trendell wrote: “RIP Richard. Condolences to Tom.”
