Donnie Iris was married to Linda Grimm, also known as Linda Ierace, for decades, although the couple spent much of their later lives living separately. Their relationship began long before the Pittsburgh-area rock singer became nationally famous for hits such as Ah! Leah! and Love Is Like a Rock.
The couple married around 1968, raised two daughters, and maintained a family connection even after their romantic relationship changed.
Following reports of Donnie Iris’ death on October 26, 2026, at age 83, renewed attention has turned to the musician’s private life, particularly his marriage, children, and the unusual circumstances of his separation.
Unlike many rock stars whose marriages became public spectacles, Iris kept most details of his family life away from the spotlight.
Who Was Linda Grimm?
Linda Grimm was Donnie Iris’ longtime wife and the mother of his two daughters.
She has also been referred to as Linda Ierace, using the singer’s family surname.
Iris was born Dominic Ierace in New Castle, Pennsylvania, before becoming widely known by his professional name.
Linda was part of his life during the early stages of his musical journey, years before his breakthrough as a solo rock artist.
Although her husband became a familiar name on American rock radio, Linda did not pursue a public entertainment career.
Reliable biographical details about her childhood, education, and professional life remain limited, reflecting the privacy she maintained throughout their marriage.
When Did They Marry?
Donnie Iris and Linda Grimm reportedly married around 1968.
At the time, Iris was still developing his career in Pennsylvania’s music scene.
He had performed with local groups and was building a reputation as a singer capable of moving between rock, pop, and soul-influenced music.
Their marriage began before his best-known recordings brought him national recognition.
The late 1960s were an important period for Iris, particularly through his involvement with the Jaggerz, a Pittsburgh-area band that would soon achieve chart success.
Linda experienced the earlier, less glamorous years of his musical career, when recording opportunities and live performances were far removed from the attention that followed his later hits.
Their Two Daughters
Donnie Iris and Linda Grimm had two daughters, Erin and Addie, whose name is also rendered as Addy in some accounts.
The family maintained strong ties to western Pennsylvania, the region where Iris spent much of his life and built his musical following.
Despite his success, Iris rarely made his daughters the subject of publicity.
Details about their careers and personal lives have largely remained private.
That separation between professional fame and family life became a consistent feature of the singer’s public image.
He was known to audiences for his powerful voice, energetic performances, and distinctive glasses, but his role as a father received far less media attention.
Why Did They Separate?
Iris and Linda lived apart for many years but reportedly never completed a divorce.
Their separation was not accompanied by a major public dispute or a widely covered legal battle.
The exact date is unclear. Some accounts place it in the early 2000s, while Iris’ later description of approximately three decades apart suggests the separation may have begun earlier.
The musician did not provide a detailed public explanation of what caused the relationship to change.
Rather than making assumptions about their private circumstances, the clearest account comes from Iris himself.
He acknowledged that the marriage had effectively ended as a romantic partnership while the legal relationship remained intact.
What Donnie Iris Said
During a June 2025 appearance on The Bob Lefsetz Podcast, Iris discussed his personal life with unusual openness.
He explained that he and Linda had been separated for roughly 30 years.
Despite that lengthy period apart, he said they had never formally divorced.
Iris also indicated that both had moved on to other relationships and continued to get along.
His remarks offered a rare glimpse into a marriage that had largely remained outside entertainment headlines.
They also clarified an important distinction: Linda could still be described as his wife in a legal sense, even though the couple no longer lived together as romantic partners.
Was Donnie Iris Divorced?
According to Iris’ own 2025 account, he and Linda were still legally married despite their long separation.
A separation does not automatically end a marriage.
Couples can establish separate households and pursue independent lives without obtaining a formal divorce.
That appears to have been the arrangement Iris described.
There is no reliable public confirmation that the couple subsequently finalized a divorce before his reported death in October 2026.
For that reason, describing Linda simply as an ex-wife would overlook the distinction Iris himself made.
His Grandchildren
Donnie Iris was also a grandfather of five, adding another generation to the family he and Linda began together.
Although the singer occasionally discussed his affection for his family, he generally avoided revealing extensive personal information about his grandchildren.
Their names and everyday lives have not been central to his public biography.
His connection to his daughters and grandchildren became especially meaningful in later discussions about retirement, aging, and his life beyond the stage.
For a performer whose career stretched across several decades, family remained an important part of his identity away from music.
His Final Days
Donnie Iris died on October 26, 2026, at the age of 83, just weeks after announcing his retirement from live performances.
He had been receiving treatment for bladder cancer, diagnosed in 2023.
His final concert took place in Pittsburgh on September 28, 2026, and he publicly announced his retirement on October 9. <Cite refs={[“turn515883search1″,”turn515883news13”]}/>
In his farewell message, Iris expressed gratitude to his daughters, family, fellow musicians, and longtime supporters.
The statement demonstrated how important his family remained to him as he approached the end of his career.
A Lasting Legacy
Iris’ musical journey included success with the Jaggerz, whose song The Rapper reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and a period with Wild Cherry.
He later formed Donnie Iris and the Cruisers with keyboardist Mark Avsec.
Their recordings, including Ah! Leah! and Love Is Like a Rock, established Iris as a defining voice of Pittsburgh-area rock. <Cite refs={[“turn515883search9″,”turn515883news13”]}/>
Behind that public career was a much quieter personal story.
Linda Grimm remained an important part of Donnie Iris’ family history, even after their decades-long separation.
Together, they raised two daughters, and Iris later enjoyed life as a grandfather.
Their marriage, which reportedly began around 1968 and was never formally dissolved, reflected a personal arrangement that the singer rarely discussed publicly.
As fans remember his music following his death, his family remains another significant part of the life he built beyond the stage.
