10 Hollywood Marriages and 10 Scandalous Breakups
In a world where anything can happen—viral pandemics, climate change, ecological disasters, a full-scale war in Ukraine, or military operations against terrorists in Gaza—the downtime for our favourite Hollywood stars is predictably filled with grand weddings and scandalous divorces.
It might be surprising, but even in war-torn Ukraine, local celebrities find time amid volunteering, serving in the armed forces, and facing rocket attacks from the now completely fascist Russian Federation to conduct some personal affairs. For instance, the renowned Ukrainian writer, publicist, poet, and musician Serhiy Zhadan not only managed to split up with his wife but also stirred up a lively public romance with popular singer Khrystyna Soloviy. The affair was not only media-friendly and scandalous but also short-lived—the couple has already announced their breakup.
And what can we say about Hollywood! As the worldly 2024 gains momentum, let's look back at 2023, which proved to be quite eventful in Hollywood in terms of marital adventures. On one hand, there were disillusioned older movie patriarchs caught by ambitious starlets, exhausting alimony battles, and ideological disputes that surfaced unexpectedly only after the marriage certificate. On the other hand, there were new lavish (and sometimes secretive) weddings in various Genevas and Venices, as well as on idyllic Greek islands. Let's start with the divorces before moving from the gloomy to the joyful.
Hugh Jackman (55) and Deborra-Lee Furness (68)
Source: Hugh Jackman Facebook
These Australian actors met in 1995 on the set of "Correlli," where Furness played a prison psychiatrist conducting experiments on inmates, one of whom was the young Jackman. Despite a 13-year age gap, the couple married and moved to the USA to pursue their Hollywood careers. Unable to have biological children, they adopted a boy named Oscar in 2000 and a girl named Ava in 2005. Throughout their 27-year marriage, Jackman and Furness seemed unbreakable, but in the fall of 2023, without delving into details, they filed for divorce.
Kevin Costner (68) and Christine Baumgartner (49)
After 18 years of marriage, American handbag designer Christine Baumgartner filed for divorce from actor Kevin Costner. Initially, she wanted $250,000 per month for their three children. Costner refused, stating Baumgartner planned to spend the alimony on plastic surgery. Furthermore, his lawyers convinced her that a lost court case would cost her a million dollars. So she agreed to a pre-trial settlement and a more reasonable $63,000 in alimony.
Meryl Streep (74) and Don Gummer (77)
Source: Gettyimages
The marriage of the most outstanding contemporary Hollywood actress and an American sculptor—parents of four children—lasted 45 years. Or maybe slightly less. They were last seen together at the 2018 Oscars ceremony. In autumn of 2023, Meryl Streep's official representative announced that the actress had been living apart from her husband for a long time, although they continue to care warmly for each other. Whatever the case, Streep, judging from some photos, hasn't stopped wearing her ring.
Al Pacino (83) and Noor Alfallah (29)
In early summer 2023, it was reported that the young American-Kuwaiti socialite Noor Alfallah (known for relationships with men significantly older) gave birth to a son named Roman with Al Pacino, who is 54 years her senior. By early autumn, news broke that the actor had split from Alfallah, suspecting her of infidelity. Now she's suing him for custody of the baby and going on dates, including with her ex-boyfriend, 62-year-old billionaire Nicolas Berggruen.
Sophie Turner (27) and Joe Jonas (34)
In 2019, "Game of Thrones" star Sophie Turner married DNCE frontman Joe Jonas in a Las Vegas ceremony wearing attire from the Ukrainian brand Bevza. The couple had two daughters, but their family fell apart in 2023. Rumour has it they split due to ideological differences—Turner reportedly partied while Jonas, a homebody, spent time with the kids. Realizing the irreconcilable situation, Jonas filed for divorce.
Natalie Portman (42) and Benjamin Millepied (46)
Source: Gettyimages
Natalie Portman met choreographer Benjamin Millepied on the set of "Black Swan." They married in 2012, and their marriage of 11 years resulted in two children. Portman filed for divorce in 2023, reportedly due to her husband's affair with a young French eco-activist, Camille Étienne, who fights against climate change and social injustice (interesting to consider from an environmental perspective—was it fair?)
Reese Witherspoon (47) and Jim Toth (53)
Also married for 11 years, "Legally Blonde" star Reese Witherspoon and Hollywood agent Jim Toth split in 2023. They have a son together, and Toth was instrumental in motivating Witherspoon to start a successful producing career. The couple met when Toth rescued Witherspoon from a drunk at a party; she admired that despite his influence in Hollywood, he wasn't part of her celebrity circle. However, last year they decided to divorce.
Shannen Doherty (52) and Kurt Iswarienko (49)
Once again, an 11-year marriage ended—this time between "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Charmed" star Shannen Doherty and photographer Kurt Iswarienko. In 2015, they tried to have a child, but during a check-up, Doherty was diagnosed with a tumor. Since then, she has been battling cancer, which seemed to remit once but returned in 2020. In the summer of 2023, Doherty revealed the cancer had spread to her brain, and by late autumn, to her bones. When news leaked that Doherty was divorcing her husband, she posted a veiled message on social media: "The only people who deserve to be in your life are the ones who treat you with love, kindness and total respect."
David Lynch (77) and Emily Stofle (45)
Source: Gettyimages
"Twin Peaks" director David Lynch has been married four times, most recently to actress Emily Stofle, whom he met during the filming of "Inland Empire." They married in 2009, and in 2012, they had a daughter named Lula Boginia, named after the character from the film "Wild at Heart," for which Lynch received the Palme d'Or in Cannes in 1990. Last year, Stofle began legal disputes with her ex-husband, seeking child support and sole custody.
Vincent Cassel (57) and Tina Kunakey (26)
After his divorce from Monica Bellucci in 2013, each new girlfriend of Vincent Cassel underwent a predetermined comparison. However, when the Frenchman met the model Tina Kunakey, who is half his age, in 2018, he decided to marry her despite public opinion. The couple had a daughter named Amazonie, but last spring, Cassel suddenly deleted all photos with his wife from his social media. Rumour has it that the reason for the divorce was Kunakey's infidelity.
Well, the world is balanced – sometimes there is less, and sometimes there is more. Therefore, for every bitter and sad divorce in Hollywood, there is inevitably one bright and joyful marriage. In 2023, the following couples saved the somber marital statistics.
Naomi Watts (55) and Billy Crudup (55)
Another Hollywood actress who postponed marriage for her career is Naomi Watts. In the summer of 2023, the star of "Mulholland Drive" finally married actor Billy Crudup, best known for his role in "The Morning Show." The couple met in 2017 on the set of the Netflix drama "Gypsy," where they played husband and wife.
Anya Taylor-Joy (27) and Malcolm McRae (29)
Source: Gettyimages
After meeting the star of "The Queen's Gambit," Anya Taylor-Joy, musician Malcolm McRae presented her with a song dedicated to her the next day. Their relationship was further strengthened by their shared love for reading. Eventually, the couple "began a new chapter of their book" and married in the historic Venetian Palazzo Pisani Moretta. The charming ceremony was attended by Cara Delevingne, Nicholas Hoult, Julia Garner, and over a hundred other celebrity guests.
Dolph Lundgren (66) and Emma Krokdal (27)
Action star Dolph Lundgren, known for films like "Rocky IV," "Universal Soldier," and "The Expendables," wanted to marry yoga instructor Emma Krokdal back in 2020. However, their wedding was postponed several times due to the pandemic and the actor's battle with cancer over the last eight years. After another round of treatment, doctors told Lundgren he had 2-3 years left, so he realized there was no more delaying family happiness. The couple held their wedding on the Greek island of Mykonos, where the actor has a private villa.
Hulk Hogan (70) and Sky Daley (45)
Source: Gettyimages
Generally, if you're a young woman who wants to marry a Hollywood star from past decades, the best option is to get a yoga instructor certificate and work as an instructor nearby. Sooner or later, your dream object will come to you. First, to stretch muscles and tendons nicely, and then – with a proposal of hand and heart. When wrestling star Hulk Hogan gave his trainer Sky Daley a 6-carat diamond ring worth $100,000 – she, of course, joyfully said "Yes!"
Michelle Yeoh (61) and Jean Todt (77)
French sports official Jean Todt proposed to the star of the film "Always and Forever" Michelle Yeoh back in 2004 – only after a month of knowing each other. But the couple kept putting off their wedding. Todt was busy as the President of the International Automobile Federation and heading Ferrari's Formula 1 team, while Yeoh was determined to lead in her career. In 2023, after Yeoh won an Oscar, and Todt had been retired for two years, the couple finally gathered their families in Geneva and celebrated a small, intimate wedding after 19 years since Yeoh said "Yes!" to her beloved.
Chris Evans (42) and Alba Baptista (26)
Source: Gettyimages
The wedding of "Captain America" Chris Evans and Portuguese actress Alba Baptista took place in strict secrecy. Guests who arrived in September this year at Evans' home on Cape Cod in Massachusetts were forced to surrender their mobile phones before the wedding ceremony. However, the actor couple didn't plan to hide their status for long – soon they confirmed rumors about their marriage by showing their rings.
John Hamm (52) and Anna Osceola (35)
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Actors John Hamm and Anna Osceola met in the picturesque Anderson Canyon on the Pacific coast of Big Sur, California, when they both participated in the final filming of the popular drama "Mad Men" in 2015. It's no wonder that when the couple decided to formalise their relationship, they chose the same symbolic place for their wedding ceremony. The young wife not only made the old bachelor Hamm a family man but also helped him through therapy and to overcome drug abuse problems.
Justin Long (45) and Kate Bosworth (40)
Actor Justin Long, known for his role as the Mac computer in the "Get a Mac" ad series, could have tied his life with Drew Barrymore, Amanda Seyfried, or singer Lauren Eve Mayberry. However, whether all these women are PC fans or something else – in 2023, Long finally chose famous actress and model Kate Bosworth as his wife.
Margaret Qualley (29) and Jack Antonoff (39)
For a long time, the star of "Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood" Margaret Qualley preferred life with her sister Rainey and their dog Bux. However, last year, the actress married Grammy-winning producer and musician Jack Antonoff. The wedding party took place in New Jersey among friends (although all these friends – the entire A-list: Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Channing Tatum, Zoë Kravitz, and many other stars).
Macaulay Culkin (43) and Brenda Song (35)
Source: Gettyimages
At 43, Macaulay Culkin is finally not home alone – the actor presumably married the mother of his two sons, Brenda Song (London Tipton from "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody"). The engagement of the couple was announced in January 2023, and in December, when Culkin received a personal star on the Walk of Fame, he was photographed with his beloved – fans of the star couple collectively agreed that the second ring on Song's ring finger indicated a secret wedding.