Kelly Bishop Says Reaching out to a Psychic Medium After Her Husband of 37 Years Died Gave Her ‘Hope’ (Exclusive)

The ‘Gilmore Girls’ actress, whose new memoir ‘The Third Gilmore Girl’ is out this month, was married to former ESPN and CNN host Lee Leonard

Kelly Bishop’s husband Lee Leonard, a former host on ESPN and CNN, died in 2018 from cancer, but the Gilmore Girls actress has found ways to feel connected with him, including through the use of a psychic medium — even if she's not totally sure whether the afterlife exists.

“Of course, we have no idea whether it's true or not ... But I want it to be," Bishop, 80, tells PEOPLE for this week’s print issue. “It gives me hope. It gives me hope for the soul, and it gives me hope to reconnect with people who've been so deeply important to me,” she adds. “I should contact [the medium] and see what he's up to. Probably still playing golf.”

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Bishop is looking back on her 37-year marriage to Leonard in her new memoir, The Third Gilmore Girl, out this month from Gallery Books. A thorough trip through her acclaimed career on stage and screen, with credits including the Broadway musical A Chorus Line and beloved films and TV shows like Dirty Dancing and Gilmore Girls, Bishop also recounts the deep bond she had with Leonard, who she wed in 1981 after her first marriage ended in divorce.

“One of the things I think that actually helped with us is the fact that he wasn't an actor,” Bishop says. “I'd always try to avoid actors … Even if you support each other in whatever the endeavor is, one is probably going to work more than the other or have a more successful job.”

The pair's careers — and dedication to them — also meant they mutually supported each other.

“There are a lot of men, even in today's world, who would feel threatened if their wives were more successful or making more money than they did,” Bishop adds. “And he had a lot of confidence, a lot of self-confidence, and he meant it sincerely.”

Related: Kelly Bishop Opens Up About 'Very Private' Abortion, Says She Always Knew She Didn't Want Kids (Exclusive)

Following her first marriage, Bishop says that she was initially hesitant to begin another relationship.

“I was not going to get myself involved, seriously involved, with anyone unless I was pretty darn sure,” Bishop says. “And I remember thinking to myself, ‘I think there's someone out there for me … I think so, but I may never find him. He might be out there wandering around looking for me too, and we'll never meet.’ So I was really very specific when Lee and I started dating about what I wanted in a man, a boyfriend, a mate, that I was not going to settle for less than what I found truly important.”

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“I looked at him and I thought, ‘This man will never bore me. Okay, you can fall in love.’” Bishop says. “And I really did."

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Aside from contacting Leonard through a medium, Bishop honors his memory with her own rituals at home, too.

“I do light my little candle,” Bishop says. “I always burn a white one because I want to draw in good spirits … I light the candle, and go, ‘Hi, Lee, how you doing?”

Related: Kelly Bishop Says Amy Sherman-Palladino Advocated for Her Role in Gilmore Girls: ‘I Have My Emily’ (Exclusive)

Looking back on their long marriage, the actress says that its strength was due to their understanding of one another.

“The beautiful thing about him, he was incredibly honest,” Bishop says. “He didn't lie. He just told you the truth. So I think it was mutual respect and a tremendous amount of love on both sides. We just really loved each other, so we were blessed.”

“It was wonderful,” Bishop adds. “I'm lucky I had him for as long as I did, and I will probably miss him every single day for the rest of my life.”

The Third Gilmore Girlwill be published on Sept. 17 and is now available for preorder, wherever books are sold.

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