#30. Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth’s Marriage, 1943
Ever heard of the saying that opposites attract? Well, when it comes to Orson and Rita's passionate love story, this couldn't be truer. The Citizen Kane star was born into a wealthy family who encouraged his Hollywood career from the start, while Rita was born into a family of Spanish dancers and was forced to drop out of school in order to become his father's partner on the road.
As you can imagine, Orson was a self-confident young man while Rita was plagued with insecurity. To make matters worse, they always suffered endless scrutiny from journalists who would always magnify their weak points. In 1946, Rita decided to take a break from her marriage and moved out with her daughter to a rented house. Sadly, Orson's erratic behavior was too much for her to bear, so she ended up divorcing him.
#29. Bette Davis and William Grant Sherry’s Marriage, 1945
Oscar-winner Bette Davis went down in history for her brilliant portrayal of villainous roles, but she was also known for doing some of the silliest things. For instance, she decided to get married to William for the strangest of reasons. The thing she loved the most was that William had never heard of her before, so she guessed he wouldn’t feel intimidated by her.
Bette filed for divorce from William in 1950 but she told everyone about it except him. To make matters worse, the actress then ridiculed her “ignorant ex” in public by entertaining her friends after reading out loud a heartfelt note from William, in which he declared his profound love and desire to reconcile. She really dropped the ball there.
#28. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall’s Marriage, 1945
Hollywood icons Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall started off their thrilling love story with a scandalous affair. Lauren was a Jewish girl from the Bronx while he grew up on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Back in the day, Humphrey, aged 45 at the time, was married to his third wife, actress Mayo Methot, while Lauren was only 19.
Despite their 25-year age gap, the two shared a lot of those “eyes meet eyes” moments and started falling in love. When their director got wind of their affair, he tried to put a stop to it by threatening to ruin Lauren's career. Nevertheless, little did these two lovebirds care about the threats, as they soon got married and shared a baby boy together.
#27. Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh’s Marriage, 1940
This Hollywood power couple will always be remembered as one filled with passion, romance and betrayal. Their love story never grows old, as newly discovered love letters between the two have shed light on the evolution of their romance. Apparently, Oliver laid eyes on Vivien around the same time the rest of England did, right after her big break in the play The Mask of Virtue.
Both Vivien and Laurence were married to different people when they first met. The pair soon toured the world together to star in Hamlet, and by the time they got back to England, they informed their spouses that they were filing for divorce and immediately started building a life together. It wasn't long before they tied the knot and their marriage lasted two decades, eventually coming to an end due to infidelity.
#26. Mia Farrow and Frank Sinatra’s Marriage, 1966
Despite Mia being younger than Frank’s eldest daughter, these two Hollywood icons totally fell for each other. Precisely due to their age gap, many people shared negative opinions on their relationship, with Frank's ex-wife Ava Gardner even calling them a "Hollywood joke". In spite of the backlash, Mia and Frank tied the knot in 1966.
However, the passion didn't last too long. While Frank was looking for a full-time wife, Mia was extremely committed to her acting career. Once it dawned on him that she wasn't going to sacrifice her work, he served her with divorce papers while on set. Despite their differences, the two remained the closest of friends until the very end.
#25. Sir Elton John and Renate Blauel’s Marriage, 1984
Sound engineer Renate and rock icon Elton met back in 1983 while working together on his album, Too Low For Zero. According to Elton's friends, the pair initially struck up a lively friendship over music, which even resulted in Renate joining the entourage of his world tour.
To everyone's surprise, by the time the tour landed in Australia, Sir Elton John got down on one knee and proposed to her. The two lovebirds got married on Valentine’s day that same year, with his manager and secret lover John Reid as his best man. Fans definitely didn't see this relationship coming, as Elton had recently admitted to being interested in both genders.
#24. Kirk Douglas and Anne Douglas’s Marriage, 1954
Kirk and his wife Anne set a Hollywood world record, having been married for a whopping 66 years. During past interviews, the actor expressed repeatedly that he and Diana were soul mates and that he knew this ever since the day they first met. Back in the days, Diana was working in Paris as a publicist while Doug had already launched his acting career.
Curiously, back then he had a reputation for being quite the playboy. In fact, his trailer was often referred to as “The lion’s den.” Kirk hired Anne as a publicist so that he could get to know her better and it was only a matter of time before the two got married and had two children. They were together until 2020, when Kirk passed away at age 104.
#23. Phyllis Gates and Rock Hudson’s Marriage, 1955
In case you haven’t had enough drama already, this one will probably do the trick. Rock Hudson lived a double life, one being a Hollywood heartthrob and the other being a total mystery. One day, he met a lovely young secretary who caught his eye and would soon become his wife.
Rock and Phyllis definitely had their ups and downs, to say the least. Phyllis filed for divorce in 1958, on the grounds of mental cruelty as well as stating that her husband might be gay. She had recorded a conversation between them discussing men where he initially acknowledged it, although denying it after the following inquiry. Despite countless rumors, Rock never came out in public.
#22. Dolly Parton and Carl Dean’s Marriage, 1966
Dolly and Carl are not your typical stormy Hollywood couple. Believe it or not, the pair has been together since the day after her graduation back in 1964. Back in the day, Dolly decided to take a trip down to Nashville, but little did she imagine she would meet the love of her life on the first day.
However, the strangest part is that the couple has never had much in common. They've always led extremely different lives: while Dolly is one of the most famous country singers in the world, Carl has always chosen to stay far from the spotlight. Regardless, Dolly understands his desire for privacy and better yet, she loves him more for it.
#21. Marilyn Monroe and James Dougherty’s Marriage, 1942
This isn’t a romantic love story at all, so the faint-hearted might wanna skip to #20. Marilyn Monroe’s real name is Norma Jean. Norma first got married only a week after turning 16 to police officer James Dougherty. James’ family lived next door to a woman named Grace, who was a friend of Marilyn’s mom, Gladys. Gladys was frequently in and out of psychiatric hospitals placing Marilyn in and out of foster homes.
At one point, Marilyn was taken in by Grace and her husband, but they warned her that they'd eventually need to move across the country and wouldn't be able to take her along. To prevent Marilyn from being sent to another foster home, Grace suggested her to marry her neighbor, James the police officer. Surprisingly, they were together for 4 years, but Marilyn filed for divorce in 1946 after becoming famous.
#20. Jimmy Stewart and Gloria Hatrick McLean’s Marriage, 1949
Are you ready for one of the all-time greatest love stories? Gloria and Jimmy actually didn’t start off on the best foot as the night that they first met, Stewart had gotten quite drunk. Luckily he didn’t ruin his chances completely, as the two were properly introduced at a dinner party one year later and it was love at first sight.
These two lovebirds were married for 45 years until Mclean passed away at age 76. They lived together happily ever after in their Beverly Hills home, which they purchased back in 1951 until they both died. Wow! They basically years together than we could ever hope for in a marriage.
#19. Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville’s Marriage, 1926
This marriage must have been as good as Hitchcock’s movies, or else it wouldn't have lasted so long! Alma and Alfred were married from 1926 until the director passed away in 1980. In other words, they literally spent 54 years together. During most of their lives, they lived at Winter’s Grace, a stunning 11-acre Tudor farmhouse in Surrey, England.
Reville wasn't only the love of his life, but she also became her husband's closest collaborator. Someone once said that “The Hitchcock touch had four hands, and two were Alma’s.” In fact, Hitchcock confessed in an interview that he would've been lost without his wife, both personally and professionally. Who would've thought they were such a power couple!
#18. Audrey Hepburn and Andrea Dotti’s Marriage, 1969
There is no doubt that Audrey Hepburn will forever be a household name. This being said, it may come as a shock that most people have no clue as to who she was married to! Hepburn met her second husband, Italian psychiatrist Andrea Dotti, when she was on a cruise across the Mediterranean with her friends in 1968. The two instantly hit it off and got married a few months later on January 18th, 1969.
Even though the star had struggled with several miscarriages in her previous marriage, Hepburn fell pregnant rather quickly with their son, Luca, who was born on February 8th, 1970. Unfortunately, they were both unfaithful to each other, which was the main reason why they chose to call it quits after a 13-year marriage.
#17. Betty White and Allen Ludden’s Marriage, 1963
Betty White may have had two marriages before meeting Allen Ludden, but you know what they say, third time’s a charm! The couple met on Allen's iconic show, Password. Before they knew it, their romance had blossomed into a movie-like love story. The pair got married on June 14th, 1963, and remained together until Ludden’s death in 1981.
While the couple never had children together, White is the stepmother to his three children from his first marriage. She decided to never remarry after Ludden passed away. She once explained in an interview with Larry King that “Once you’ve had the best, who needs the rest?”, obviously referring to her marriage with Ludden.
#16. Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon’s Marriage, 1983
Just as you may have expected, iconic Carrie Fisher met her first husband Paul Simon on the set of Star Wars. They basically had an on-again and off-again relationship, but something kept drawing them back to each other. The two were together from 1977 until 1983, though with a brief break in between.
In fact, in that little break, Carrie actually almost became engaged to someone else but ultimately changed her mind and went back to Simon. And even after finalizing their divorce in 1984, the two got back together for a brief period one last time. While they clearly had an undeniable connection, it just wasn’t enough to keep them together.
#15. Edy Williams and Russ Meyer’s Marriage, 1970
This love story moved rather quickly. The two met on the set of the movie Beyond the Valley of Dolls, one of Meyer’s first directing gigs. The couple decided to get engaged after dating for only five months, and it wasn’t a long engagement, either, as the two tied the knot only 28 days later!
It might sound like it was a shotgun wedding but this wasn’t the case. Meyer and Williams actually spent five years together. She had featured in a bunch of his movies and both of them were doing well in their careers. years later they separated on June 26th, 1973 and divorced on Nov 5th, 1975.
#14. Edith Piaf and Jacques Pills’s Marriage, 1952
We’re not quite sure about how these two met but we do know that Edith Piaf married Jacques Pills, her first husband, in 1952. Just like other star couples in this list, Piaf’s matron of honor was another famous actress, Marlene Dietrich.
After being injured in three different car crashes Piaf became substance dependent. Yes, you read that right, three-car crashes! Pills tried to take her to a rehabilitation center on multiple occasions but it was all in vain. This took a toll on their marriage and they ultimately divorced in 1957.
#13. Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis’s Marriage, 1951
Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis' marriage was highly covered by all of the tabloids of the time. So much so, that their highly publicized marriage actually shot Janet into the limelight. They even used to make home videos together directed by their close friend and famous director, Jerry Lewis.
They two got married in 1951 at a private ceremony in Greenwich, Connecticut. Sadly, their relationship was hot gossip and their fights were always magnified by the media. According to Leigh, this was one of the causes of their break up. After 11 years together, they finally divorced in 1962.
#12. Bruce Jenner (Now Caitlyn) and Linda Thompson’s Marriage, 1981
On January 5th, 1981, Jenner and Thompson got married in Hawaii. We almost forget that Jenner was married not only once, but twice before marrying media personality and business mogul Kris Kardashian. Did you know that Jenner got married to Thompson just a few weeks after her divorce with Chrystie Scott had been finalized?
Jenner and Thompson were married for five years and they had two children together, Brandon and Brody. In spite of their differences, both have the best of memories of their days together. In February 1986, Jenner and Thompson split up and shortly after they finalized their divorce.
#11. Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s Marriage, 1964
Taylor's relationship with Burton was definitely one of a kind, given that they got married for the first time in 1964, and after divorcing in 1974, they married again in 1975. Their first wedding was at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Montreal, while their second wedding took place at Chobe National Park in Botswana.
The two actually met on the set of Cleopatra in Italy in 1962 and they started dating during the shooting of the film. Both Burton and Taylor were actually married at the time. Right after getting married for the first time, Taylor said, “I’m so happy you can’t believe it. This marriage will last forever”. Although her wish didn't come true, the couple spent 12 happy years together.
#10. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks’ Marriage, 1920
Taking it all the way back an entire century to 1918, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks first met when touring the U.S. to promote Liberty Bond sales for WWI. At the time, Pickford was still going through a divorce, and just a few days after it was settled, she and Fairbanks tied the knot. How crazy is that?
The famed newlyweds were pretty much a hot topic. While they were on their honeymoon in London, they had herds of people following their steps. And even back in Hollywood upon their arrival, the couple saw themselves surrounded by fans cheering them on at the railway station. Sadly, as their careers started to flounder, so too did their marriage, and they eventually parted way in 1936.
#9. Olivia De Havilland and Pierre Galante’s Marriage, 1955
We don’t have the details on how Olivia De Havilland and Pierre Galante actually met, but it wasn’t long before they got engaged. The pair got married on April 2nd, 1955, with De Havilland dressed in a gorgeous Dior dress (Check out Mr. Dior himself doing last-minute touches to the dress). After tying the knot, the famous actress moved to Paris to be with his spouse.
Their story is pretty unique from here onwards. After seven years of marriage, they decided to separate, but considering they wanted to raise their daughter together, they continued living under the same roof for six more years. Eventually, Galante moved right across the street and the two remained close friends, even after their divorce in 1979.
#8. Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate’s Marriage, 1968
I bet we're all familiar with the names Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate and their famous yet tragic love story, but did you know how they first got together? Polanski and Tate met on the set of the 1967 thriller film The Fearless Vampire Kills, and barely a year later the couple got married in London.
Sadly, the couple only got to spend roughly a year together as husband and wife before Tate was brutally murdered. To make matters worse, Tate was eight and a half months pregnant at the time. In his autobiography, Polanski described his brief time with Tate as the best years of his life and that he still misses her every day.
#7. Shirley MacLaine and Steve Parker’s Marriage, 1954
Oscar-winning actress Shirley MacLaine and Steve Parker were married from 1954 to 1982 and had one daughter together, Sachi. But here's what you probably didn't know! According to Shirley, their marriage lasted 28 years thanks to their open relationship. The fact that they lived in different parts of the globe definitely played a part, since Steve is based in Japan while she mostly lived in the US.
Even though they got divorced in 1982, the two remained good friends and even occasionally traveled together. As MacLaine stated, “I would say [it was] better to stay friends… I was very open about all of that and so was he… I think that’s the basis for a long-lasting marriage if you really want to do such a thing”.
#6. Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen’s Marriage, 1985
Hollywood icons Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen tied the knot on December 15th, 1985 after a few months of dating. Their wedding was held at the Beverly Hills home of Rocky producer Irwin Winkler. Given that their wedding took place at the peak of Stallone’s career, it comes as no surprise that their relationship was all over the tabloids.
Almost as quickly as they fell in love, they fell out of love. After 19 months as husband and wife, the couple decided to file for divorce. And once again, just like their wedding, their divorce became the talk of the town, especially because of how short-lived their marriage was!
#5. Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher’s Marriage, 1959
Are you ready for one of Hollywood's most scandalous romances ever? Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher’s romance began when Taylor was grieving over the passing of her then-husband, Mike Todd. Fisher, on the other hand, was still married to Debbie Reynolds, who was also a good friend of Taylor’s. So you can see why this caught a lot of media attention.
Careless of the gossip, Taylor and Fisher got married at the Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas on May 12th, 1959. Nevertheless, their marriage merely lasted five years, and the two did not have any children together. As you probably know, both Taylor and Fisher went on to have multiple other marriages.
#4. George Carlin and Brenda Hosbrook’s Marriage, 1961
Famous comedian George Carlin met Brenda Hosbrook while touring in Dayton, Ohio in August 1960. At the time, Brenda was a young hostess at the venue Racquet Club. According to Carlin, the two instantly clicked: “we dated every day I was there, wrote and called each other constantly afterward, and within a year, we were married.”
There relationship sure moved fast since less than a year later, they got married at Brenda's parents’ home in Dayton. They had one child together, Kelly, who was born in 1963. In 1971, they decided to renew their wedding vows in Las Vegas. Their love lasted, and the two remained side by side until Hosbrook passed away in 1997.
#3. John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Marriage, 1969
Possibly one of history's most famous and controversial couples, John Lennon and Yoko Ono first met in 1966 at the Indica Gallery in London. At that time, Yoko was preparing a new art exhibit and the gallery owner John Dunbar introduced the duo. It wasn't long before Lennon ended his marriage with Cynthia Powell and started dating Yoko.
Ono and Lennon got married in 1969 at The British Consulate Office in Gibraltar. The couple was widely known for being unconventional, so no one was surprised by the fact that their wedding consisted in a quick 10-minute ceremony. To make things even less traditional, Yoko and Lennon both wore white on the day, with Yoko in a mini dress and floppy hat.
#2. Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s Marriage, 1967
The King of Rock rose to fame in the mid 50s, so by the time he got married in 1967, he was pretty much a household name. Everybody was taken by surprise when he announced his marriage to Priscilla, a young girl who had always been far from the public eye.
As you know, things were a little different in the ’60s. Elvis met Priscilla when she was just a ninth-grader. He convinced the teenager’s parents to allow her to fly to Los Angeles. Shortly after she landed, the couple impulsively decided to travel to Las Vegas and get married, where they shared an intimate ceremony with just a few family members.
#1. Annette Funicello and Jack Gilardi’s Marriage, 1965
Just like many of our favorite Hollywood couples, Funicello and Gilardi met on the set of Babes in Toyland in 1961. Did you know he became Funicello’s manager shortly after they got married? The couple had three children together: a daughter and two sons.
Sadly, the couple called it quits after an 18-year marriage. However, they managed to keep their family together regardless of their differences for the sake of their children. According to the media, Funicello “was very loving and family-oriented. She always preferred spending time with her family over living the Hollywood life.”