Kjell Rasten was a Swedish television producer and production manager who became widely known through his long marriage to entertainer Charo. While Charo built a successful career as a singer, guitarist, actress, and television personality, her husband worked mostly behind the scenes in the entertainment industry. His professional credits included television specials and production roles that stretched across the 1970s and 1980s.
The couple married on August 11, 1978, in South Lake Tahoe, California, and remained together for more than 40 years. Rasten later became Charo’s manager, making him an important part of both her personal life and professional career. They also had one son, Shel Rasten, who followed his parents into the entertainment world.
This article looks at Rasten’s early life, television career, relationship with Charo, family, final years, and the legacy he left behind.
Kjell Rasten Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kjell Rasten |
| Born | May 1, 1940 |
| Birthplace | Stockholm, Sweden |
| Profession | Television producer and production manager |
| Wife | Charo |
| Marriage Date | August 11, 1978 |
| Son | Shel Rasten |
| Known For | Television production and managing Charo’s career |
| Died | February 18, 2019 |
| Place of Death | Beverly Hills, California |
| Age at Death | 78 |
Early Life and Background
Kjell Rasten was born on May 1, 1940, in Stockholm, Sweden. Publicly available information about his childhood, parents, education, and early family life is limited. Unlike his famous wife, he generally kept his private background away from the media.
What is better documented is his professional journey. Rasten developed a career in television production, working in an industry that required strong organizational skills and experience behind the camera. IMDb identifies him as both a producer and production manager, with credits dating back to the early 1970s.
His work shows that he was not simply known because of his marriage to Charo. He had an established career of his own before and during their years together.
Age and Public Profile
Kjell Rasten was born in 1940 and died in 2019 at the age of 78. The Los Angeles Times specifically clarified his age following reports that had incorrectly listed him as 79.
There is very little reliable public information about his height, weight, eye color, hair color, or other physical features. Because he worked mainly behind the scenes, entertainment publications did not focus heavily on those details.
Instead, his public identity became strongly connected with television production, his marriage to Charo, and his role in helping manage her career.
Career and Major Achievements
Rasten’s television career included several notable production credits. IMDb lists him as a producer for The 35th Annual Golden Globe Awards, which aired in 1978. He was also credited as executive producer for International Championship of Magic in 1985.
Another important credit was ABC’s Wide World of Entertainment, where he worked in production management. He also received a production-management credit for Robert Young with the Young.
These roles demonstrate the range of his work. Rather than being associated with a single type of show, he took part in television specials and larger entertainment productions.
His career may not have brought him the same level of public recognition as performers, but production professionals play an important role in bringing television projects together. Rasten’s credits place him firmly within that behind-the-scenes side of the entertainment business.
Who Was Kjell Rasten?
Kjell Rasten was a Swedish-born television producer who became even more recognizable because of his relationship with Charo. After their marriage, he also became involved in managing her professional career.
Charo was already a recognizable entertainer, known for her music, acting, television appearances, and energetic public personality. Rasten’s experience in television made their professional partnership a natural extension of their personal relationship.
Their story was unusual because husband and wife were connected not only emotionally but also through the entertainment business. This helped make Rasten an important figure in Charo’s life, even though he generally remained away from the spotlight.
Relationship With Charo
The relationship between Kjell Rasten and Charo lasted for more than four decades. They married on August 11, 1978, in South Lake Tahoe, California, after Charo’s previous marriage had ended. Rasten later became her manager and remained closely involved in her career.
Their marriage continued through major changes in the entertainment industry. While Charo remained active as a performer, Rasten largely worked behind the scenes and supported the family away from the camera.
Their long relationship also became notable because it lasted much longer than many celebrity marriages. Charo later described her husband as an amazing man, a great husband, and a devoted father to their son.
Marriage and Family Life
Rasten and Charo had one child, a son named Shel Rasten, who was born in 1981. Shel later developed his own career in entertainment as an actor, producer, and musician.
Family remained an important part of the couple’s life. Although both parents had connections to television and entertainment, they maintained a family life that was not constantly in the public eye.
The family eventually became more visible when they appeared together on the television show Celebrity Wife Swap in 2015. Rasten’s appearance on the program offered viewers a rare glimpse of him in a family setting rather than only as a producer or manager.
Kjell Rasten and Celebrity Wife Swap
In 2015, Rasten appeared with Charo and their family on Celebrity Wife Swap. The episode gave audiences an opportunity to see the couple’s home life and family dynamic.
Because Rasten was usually associated with work behind the scenes, his appearance attracted interest from viewers who knew Charo but were less familiar with her husband.
The program also highlighted how closely Rasten remained connected to Charo after decades of marriage. By that point, the couple had already spent nearly 40 years together.
Health Problems and Final Years
In the later years of his life, Rasten experienced serious health problems. Charo said publicly that he had developed bullous pemphigoid, a rare and painful skin disease, and that his health had deteriorated significantly. She also described the depression he experienced during this difficult period.
According to Charo’s statement reported at the time, his illness and the medications he needed had become extremely difficult for him to manage. Her comments helped explain the emotional and physical challenges he had faced before his death.
It is important to approach this part of his story with sensitivity. Chronic illness and depression can affect both individuals and families in profound ways, and Rasten’s final years were marked by significant health struggles.
Death of Kjell Rasten
Kjell Rasten died on February 18, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. He was 78 years old. Authorities and contemporary news reports confirmed that his death was a suicide.
Following his death, Charo released an emotional statement describing him as the love of her life and expressing her devastation at losing her husband after more than 40 years of marriage. She also spoke about his illness and depression and encouraged people dealing with serious emotional or physical difficulties to seek help and support.
His death was widely reported because of his relationship with Charo, but it also brought attention to the serious effects that long-term illness and mental health struggles can have.
Social Media Presence
Kjell Rasten lived most of his adult life before social media became a major part of celebrity culture. As a result, he did not maintain the kind of public online presence associated with modern entertainers.
Much of the social media attention surrounding him came after his death, particularly through posts and statements shared by Charo. His family connections and appearances on television remain the main ways modern audiences encounter his story.
There is no strong evidence of an official personal social media account operated by Rasten himself, so claims about unofficial profiles should be treated carefully.
Personality and Interests
Rasten generally kept his personal life private, which means there is limited information about his hobbies and interests outside television and family.
However, Charo’s public comments following his death offered an important personal perspective. She described him as an amazing man, a great husband, and a caring father. She also emphasized how deeply he supported his family throughout their marriage.
His long career in television suggests an interest in entertainment and production, while his decades-long partnership with Charo shows how closely family and professional life were connected for him.
Net Worth and Income
There is no reliably documented public figure for Kjell Rasten’s net worth. Unlike major on-screen celebrities, he worked primarily behind the scenes, and detailed records of his salary, investments, assets, and business income were not widely published.
His income would have come largely from his television production and management work. His credits included producer and production-management roles on several television programs and specials, which indicates a substantial professional career in entertainment.
Because there is no verified public financial record, websites that provide a precise net worth estimate should be viewed cautiously.
Public Image and Legacy
Kjell Rasten’s public image was shaped by two sides of his life: his television career and his marriage to Charo.
In professional circles, he was a producer and production manager with credits dating back to the 1970s. In the public eye, however, he was best known as Charo’s longtime husband and manager.
His legacy also includes his role as the father of Shel Rasten. The family’s appearance on Celebrity Wife Swap became one of the clearest public snapshots of their life together.
Today, people searching for his name are often interested in the story behind his marriage to Charo, his television career, and what happened during his final years. His life remains part of Charo’s broader personal and professional story.
Conclusion
Kjell Rasten lived a life that combined television production, entertainment management, marriage, and family. Born in Stockholm in 1940, he built a career behind the scenes before becoming closely associated with Charo, whom he married in 1978. He later managed her career and remained her partner for more than four decades.
He was also the father of Shel Rasten and appeared with his family on Celebrity Wife Swap in 2015. Although he stayed largely outside the celebrity spotlight, his professional work and long partnership with Charo made him a notable figure in entertainment history.
Rasten’s final years were sadly affected by serious illness and depression. His death in 2019 ended a marriage that had lasted more than 40 years, but his contributions to television and his place in Charo’s life continue to keep his story in the public conversation.
FAQs About Kjell Rasten
1. Who was Kjell Rasten?
Kjell Rasten was a Swedish television producer and production manager. He was also the longtime husband and manager of entertainer Charo.
2. When did Kjell Rasten marry Charo?
Kjell Rasten married Charo on August 11, 1978, in South Lake Tahoe, California.
3. How long were Kjell Rasten and Charo married?
They were married for more than 40 years, from 1978 until his death in February 2019.
4. Did Kjell Rasten and Charo have children?
Yes. They had one son, Shel Rasten, who later worked as an actor, producer, and musician.
5. What did Kjell Rasten do for a living?
He worked in television as a producer and production manager. His credits include The 35th Annual Golden Globe Awards, International Championship of Magic, and ABC’s Wide World of Entertainment.
6. How old was Kjell Rasten when he died?
He was 78 years old when he died on February 18, 2019.
7. What happened to Kjell Rasten?
Rasten died by suicide in Beverly Hills in 2019. Charo said he had been dealing with a serious skin disease and depression before his death.
8. What is Kjell Rasten best known for?
He is best known for his television production career, his long marriage to Charo, and his role as her manager and supporter throughout their decades together.
