Celebrities Marriages: Once and For All Vs. Those Who Changed Spouses Not Even Twice

Celebrity marriages grab our attention with their public love stories and breakups. These relationships can be very short or last a long time, often showing the stress that comes with being famous. Let’s look at why some of these high-profile marriages end quickly, the rare ones that last, and what makes them so fascinating to the public.

Once and For All: Stars Who Tied the Knot Only Once

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick

• Years Married: 27

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick have been married for 27 years, often defending their relationship against rumors. These Hollywood stars are clearly best friends and deeply committed to each other.

Parker and Broderick’s shared love of theater brought them together in 1991, and they married in 1997, just before Parker’s iconic HBO series premiered. Married for nearly 30 years, they have three children: James Wilkie, Tabitha Hodge, and Marion Loretta Elwell.

When asked about the secret to their long marriage, Broderick said, “I don’t know the secret at all, but I, you know, but I’m very grateful, and I love her and, it’s amazing. I mean, I can’t believe that it’s been that long. It doesn’t feel like it.”

Kevin Bacon and Kira Sedgwick

• Years Married: 36

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick met on the set of “Lemon Sky” in 1988 and married the same year. Now, 36 years later, they are still going strong.

In Hollywood, where breakups are common, people often ask for their secret. According to the couple, the key is to prioritize the marriage, celebrate anniversaries, and share household chores.

Multiple bells: Stars who’ve had multiple weddings.

Harrison Ford

• Number of Marriages: 3

Ford has been married three times and has five children: four biological and one adopted. His first marriage was to Mary Marquardt, lasting from 1964 until their divorce in 1979. He then married screenwriter Melissa Mathison in March 1983, they separated in 2000 and divorced in 2004.

And after sharing 8 years together, Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford exchanged vows, marking 14 years of marriage. Ford even went a step further by formally adopting Flockhart’s son, Liam, solidifying their bond.

Despite Ford’s reputation as a charmer, his affection for Flockhart was undeniable from the start. He openly declared his love for her, emphasizing the timeless nature of romantic love.

“I’m in love. Romantic love is one of the most exciting and fulfilling kinds of love and I think there is a potential for it at any stage of your life,” Ford declared, “I was not surprised that I was able to fall in love, and I wasn’t surprised that I did.”

Nicolas Cage

• Number of Marriages: 5

Nicolas Cage has been married five times, making him one of the celebrities who have been married the most. His first marriage to Patricia Arquette lasted from 1995 to 2001. He then married Lisa Marie Presley in 2002, but they separated after 107 days.

Cage’s third wife was Alice Kim, with whom he has a son and was married for 12 years. His fourth marriage to Erika Koike in 2019 was annulled within the same year. Most recently, he married Riko Shibata in 2021, celebrating in Las Vegas. Cage hopes this marriage will be different from the past.

Gary Oldman

• Number of Marriages: 5

Gary Oldman, married to writer Gisele Schmidt since 2017, has had several previous marriages. He was married to actress Lesley Manville from 1987 to 1990, with whom he has a son, Alfie. He then married actress Uma Thurman from 1990 to 1992. In 1997, Oldman married model Donya Fiorentino, and they had two sons before divorcing in 2001. His 2008 marriage to singer and actress Alexandra Edenborough ended in divorce in 2015.

Pamela Anderson

• Number of Marriages: 6

Pamela Anderson, the Canadian-American actress and model, first married Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee in 1995 after a whirlwind romance. Their highly publicized relationship, marked by a stolen and leaked honeymoon video, produced two sons before ending in divorce in 1998.

Anderson’s later marriages included a brief union with singer Kid Rock in 2006, two marriages to poker player Rick Salomon (2007, annulled, and 2014, divorced), a short-lived marriage to film producer Jon Peters in 2020, and a marriage to bodyguard Dan Hayhurst from 2020 to 2022. Each of her marriages attracted significant media attention, reflecting the public’s ongoing fascination with her personal life.

Strongest celebrity marriages.

Victoria and David Beckham

• Years Married: 25

Victoria and David Beckham’s relationship began in a truly modern fairy tale fashion. They met in 1997 at a Manchester United soccer game, where Victoria, known as Posh Spice from the Spice Girls, was instantly charmed by the young soccer star. Their courtship captured the hearts of fans worldwide, leading to a lavish wedding in 1999.

Since then, the Beckhams have built a brand that transcends their careers, becoming global icons of fashion, sports, and entertainment. Their marriage has been a journey of growth, with the couple raising four children and frequently renewing their vows, showcasing their dedication to each other.

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks

• Years Married: 36

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s love story is a testament to the enduring power of love in Hollywood. Meeting on the set of the sitcom Bosom Buddies in 1981, their friendship blossomed into romance over the years.

Despite the challenges that come with life in the limelight, they have navigated their journey together with grace and humor. Married since 1988, they have shared both personal and professional milestones, including their battles with health issues and their triumphs on the silver screen. The celebrity couple has been together for over 35 years now and is one of the longest celebrity marriages.

Pauletta Pearson and Denzel Washington

• Years Married: 41

Denzel and Pauletta Washington’s marriage is a rare Hollywood romance that has stood the test of time. The couple first met on the set of the television film Wilma in 1977, where their initial professional relationship evolved into a deep and lasting bond.

They tied the knot in 1983 and have since become one of the industry’s most respected and admired couples. With a family of four children, they have managed to keep their relationship strong and private, away from the prying eyes of the public.

Shortest celebrity marriages.

Britney Spears and Jason Alexander

• Days Married: 2,3

The whirlwind marriage of Britney Spears and Jason Alexander in 2004 is one of the most notorious short-lived celebrity couple unions. The childhood friends married impulsively in Las Vegas, only to have their marriage annulled 55 hours later. Spears later described it as “innocent fun.” The event was a significant moment in Spears’ life, as it highlighted her desire for independence and control over her decisions.

Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman

• Days Married: 9

Carmen Electra cautioned against getting married in Vegas, reflecting on her own experience after a spontaneous Sin City wedding to former NBA star Rodman. The couple exchanged vows at the Little Chapel of the Flowers on Nov. 14, 1998, but Rodman filed for an annulment nine days later, citing “fraud” and an “unsound mind”.

Drew Barrymore and Jeremy Thomas

• Days Married: 19

Drew Barrymore and Jeremy Thomas shocked many when they married just six weeks after starting to date on March 20, 1994.

“Usually people live together first and then get married,” Barrymore remarked after the wedding. “I guess we’re doing it the old-fashioned way. Kind of.”

Despite the unconventional start, their romance quickly fizzled, leading to a split just 19 days later. Their divorce was finalized in 1995, with Barrymore jokingly referring to Thomas as “the devil” in a Rolling Stone interview published that June.

Why do celebrity marriages fail so often?

Celebrity marriages often fail due to the intense scrutiny and pressure from the media, infidelity, time apart, and personal and professional stresses. Societal expectations can paint an unrealistic picture of perfection, while the reality is far more complex. For example, the high-profile breakups of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, and Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, showcase how personal issues are amplified under public scrutiny.

Over time, how these marriages are shown has changed. Before, it was all controlled by studios. Now, it’s all about what’s shared on social media, mixing up what’s public and what’s private.

Celebrities’ private lives are constantly in the spotlight, which means that news of their weddings or divorces spreads rapidly. The public often gains access to intimate details of these events, thanks to the constant scrutiny and coverage of celebrity relationships by the media and social platforms.