Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton: The First "Big" Break
The union of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton was a whirlwind that captivated the entire world, but their first divorce in 1974 was particularly staggering. After a decade of high-profile living, including yachts and million-dollar diamonds, the pair reportedly found their volatile personalities clashed too often for domestic peace. Allegedly, the pressures of fame and their intense professional rivalry played a significant role in the breakdown.
This split was so monumental that it made front-page news globally, signaling the end of an era for a couple that many believed were inseparable despite their frequent, very public disagreements.
Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher: The Scandal That Shook America
In 1959, the divorce of "America's Sweethearts" Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher became the ultimate tabloid sensation. The split was reportedly triggered by Fisher’s involvement with Elizabeth Taylor following the passing of Taylor's husband, Mike Todd. This leaves Debbie Reynolds as the sympathetic figure in a very public drama that divided fans. The legal proceedings were swift but emotionally heavy, as Debbie was left to raise their two young children alone.
This divorce is often cited as the moment when the polished image of the 1950s nuclear family began to show its first major cracks in Hollywood.
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio: The Clash of Two Icons
The marriage between the world's most famous actress and the legendary baseball star lasted only nine months before ending in 1954. Marilyn Monroe reportedly cited "mental cruelty" as the reason for the split. Observers at the time suggested that DiMaggio struggled with Marilyn’s fame and her public image, famously showing discomfort during the filming of her iconic subway grate scene. Despite the messy legal end, Joe remained a steadfast presence in her life later on.
Their divorce remains a poignant example of how two massive egos and differing lifestyle expectations can lead to a quick and painful separation.
Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner: A Fiery Finale
Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner were a match made in Hollywood heaven—until they weren't. Their 1957 divorce followed years of reported jealousy and public arguments that often made their way into the gossip columns. The two were deeply in love, but allegedly their temperaments were too similar to find lasting stability. This divorce was particularly difficult for Sinatra, who reportedly took the loss of the marriage very hard.
While they remained friends for years afterward, the formal end of their marriage marked the conclusion of one of the most passionate and turbulent romances in the history of the Silver Screen.
Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini: The International Scandal
Ingrid Bergman’s 1957 divorce from director Roberto Rossellini followed a scandal that nearly ruined her career. Having left her first husband for Rossellini, the actress faced immense public backlash and was even denounced on the floor of the U.S. Senate. However, the marriage eventually crumbled under the weight of professional disagreements and reported infidelity on Rossellini’s part. The divorce was legally complicated due to their international status and the custody of their children.
This split eventually allowed Bergman to return to Hollywood, but the emotional and professional scars from the messy separation remained for many years afterward.
Judy Garland and Sid Luft: A Turbulent Thirteen Years
Judy Garland’s marriage to Sid Luft was her longest, but it was also filled with significant drama that culminated in a 1965 divorce. Garland reportedly testified in court that Luft had been physically aggressive and had a difficult temperament. Luft, who also managed her career, was allegedly involved in many of the financial struggles that plagued the star during this period. The divorce was a drawn-out affair involving intense custody battles over their two children.
This split was a heartbreaking chapter for Garland, as it highlighted the instability that often shadowed her immense talent and legendary career.
Rita Hayworth and Prince Aly Khan: A Fairytale Gone Wrong
Rita Hayworth’s divorce from Prince Aly Khan in 1951 proved that even marrying royalty couldn’t guarantee a happy ending. Hayworth, who had been Hollywood’s "Love Goddess," reportedly found the lifestyle of a princess to be stifling and unfulfilling. The divorce was messy due to the international nature of their lives and the custody of their daughter, Princess Yasmin. Allegedly, the Prince’s wandering eye was a major factor in the split.
This divorce was a media circus, with reporters following Hayworth across Europe as she sought to regain her independence and return to her acting career in America.
Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner: The First Farewell
Long before their tragic final chapter, Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner underwent a very public divorce in 1962. The "perfect" young couple of Hollywood shocked fans when they announced their separation after four years of marriage. Reportedly, the pressures of maintaining their careers and their youth played a role in the split. Wood allegedly felt that their marriage had become more of a public performance than a private partnership.
While they famously remarried years later, their first divorce was a significant event that saw both stars attempting to redefine themselves outside of the shadow of their "Golden Couple" status.
Bette Davis and Gary Merrill: A Battle of Wills
Bette Davis’s fourth marriage, to her All About Eve co-star Gary Merrill, ended in a bitter 1960 divorce. The couple, known for their strong personalities, reportedly engaged in legendary arguments that spilled over from the set into their home life. Davis later described these years as some of the darkest of her life, allegedly citing Merrill’s difficult behavior as a primary cause. The divorce was a prolonged and painful process that involved the custody of their adopted children.
This split marked the final time the legendary actress would walk down the aisle, cementing her status as a fiercely independent woman.
Clark Gable and Ria Langham: Clearing the Way for Love
Clark Gable’s 1939 divorce from his second wife, Ria Langham, was a "messy" necessity so he could marry Carole Lombard. Langham reportedly held out for a massive financial settlement, allegedly demanding a sum that would be worth millions today. Gable, desperate to be free, eventually agreed to her terms, which was reportedly funded by his salary from Gone with the Wind. The press followed the negotiations closely.
They ften portrayed Langham as the obstacle to Hollywood’s greatest romance. This divorce was a transactional and cold end to a marriage that had been "in name only" for years.
Lana Turner and Lex Barker: A Hidden Tragedy
Lana Turner’s divorce from actor Lex Barker in 1957 was shrouded in a level of drama that was only fully understood years later. At the time, the public only knew that the marriage had ended abruptly after four years. However, reports later emerged suggesting that the split was triggered by Turner discovering Barker’s inappropriate behavior toward her daughter, Cheryl Crane. The divorce was swift, but the emotional fallout was immense.
This event preceded the even more famous scandal involving Johnny Stompanato, marking a period of extreme personal upheaval for one of Hollywood’s most glamorous and resilient leading ladies.
Marlon Brando and Anna Kashfi: A Decade-Long Battle
Marlon Brando’s 1959 divorce from Anna Kashfi was just the beginning of one of Hollywood’s longest-running legal feuds. The marriage lasted less than two years, but the custody battle over their son, Christian, reportedly went on for over a decade. Kashfi and Brando allegedly engaged in a war of words in the press, with both parties making startling claims about the other’s fitness as a parent.
The messy nature of their separation was a constant fixture in the news, overshadowing Brando’s professional achievements and providing a grim look at the reality of a high-profile breakup involving a major star.
Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim: A French Connection Fails
Jane Fonda’s 1973 divorce from French director Roger Vadim marked a massive turning point in her personal identity. Having spent years as his "Galatea" and starring in his film Barbarella, Fonda reportedly felt she had outgrown the relationship as she became more politically active. The split was described as relatively amicable, though insiders suggested that Vadim’s penchant for an unconventional lifestyle became too much for the evolving actress.
This divorce allowed Fonda to return to the United States full-time, where she transformed into the fitness mogul and serious activist the world would come to know throughout the 1970s and 80s.
Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley: A Heartbreak Hotel Reality
The 1973 divorce of the King of Rock and Roll and Priscilla Presley was a bittersweet conclusion to a romance that began when Priscilla was just a teenager. Despite their deep affection, the pressures of Elvis’s grueling tour schedule and the isolated life at Graceland reportedly took a heavy toll. Allegedly, Priscilla sought a life where she could find her own identity outside of being a superstar's wife. Their divorce was notable for its lack of bitterness; the two famously walked out of the courtroom hand-in-hand.
However, the emotional weight of the separation reportedly haunted Elvis for the remainder of his life.
George Harrison and Pattie Boyd: The Beatle and the Muse
The 1977 divorce between George Harrison and Pattie Boyd is legendary, not just for the split itself, but for the "rock royalty" love triangle that followed. Boyd, who inspired the song "Something," reportedly found life with the "Quiet Beatle" increasingly difficult as he moved toward spiritual seclusion. Allegedly, Harrison’s close friend Eric Clapton had been infatuated with Boyd for years, eventually winning her over. The divorce was unique because it lacked the typical Hollywood vitriol.
Harrison famously attended Boyd and Clapton’s wedding later on. It remains a fascinating example of a high-profile breakup handled with an almost surreal level of grace.
Sonny and Cher: The Beat Goes Off
By the time Sonny and Cher divorced in 1975, they were one of the most recognizable duos in television history. Their split was reportedly fueled by professional imbalance and Sonny’s alleged control over Cher’s finances and career decisions. The legal battle was quite messy, with Cher filing for divorce citing "involuntary servitude," a claim that shocked their "Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" audience. Despite the public legal sparring and the temporary end of their show, they eventually found a way to work together again professionally.
This divorce proved that even the most synchronized professional partners could face deep personal divides behind the scenes.
Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis: The End of the Golden Couple
In 1962, the divorce of Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis broke the hearts of fans who viewed them as the quintessential Hollywood pair. After eleven years and two daughters, including Jamie Lee Curtis, the marriage reportedly crumbled under the weight of professional jealousy and the intense scrutiny of the limelight. Curtis allegedly struggled with the changing landscape of his career, while Leigh remained a steady force in the industry. The divorce was a media sensation, with the press documenting every detail of their separate lives.
It was a sobering reminder to the public that even the most "perfect" cinematic families faced real-world struggles.
Gene Kelly and Betsy Blair: A Change of Heart
Legendary dancer Gene Kelly saw his fifteen-year marriage to actress Betsy Blair end in divorce in 1957. While Kelly was a massive star, Blair was often struggling against the "Blacklist" era’s political pressures. Reportedly, Blair was the one who initiated the split, expressing a need to find her own path away from the shadow of Kelly’s immense fame and perfectionism. Allegedly, Kelly was blindsided by the request, as he viewed their marriage as stable.
The divorce was handled with a level of privacy rare for the time, but it marked the end of a partnership that had survived the most intense years of Kelly’s career.
Doris Day and Martin Melcher: A Financial Nightmare
Doris Day’s "messy" divorce was actually a posthumous discovery following the death of her husband, Martin Melcher, in 1968. While they never officially divorced, the revelation of his actions led to a legal battle that felt like one. Day reportedly discovered that Melcher and his business partner had squandered her entire fortune, leaving her deeply in debt. This led to a massive $22 million lawsuit against the partner.
For the woman known as "America’s Sweetheart," the betrayal by her husband was a public and private catastrophe. This case redefined how stars managed their wealth and protected themselves from those closest to them.
Sammy Davis Jr. And May Britt: Breaking Barriers and Hearts
The 1968 divorce of Sammy Davis Jr. and Swedish actress May Britt followed a marriage that had defied the social norms of the 1960s. Their interracial union led to threats and professional boycotts, which reportedly put an enormous strain on their domestic life. Allegedly, Davis’s constant work schedule and the stress of being social pioneers contributed to the split. Britt reportedly sought a more stable environment for their children.
The divorce was a somber moment for many who saw their marriage as a symbol of progress, proving that even the most courageous love stories are not immune to the pressures of reality.
Peter Sellers and Britt Ekland: A High-Tension Match
The 1968 divorce of comedic genius Peter Sellers and Swedish actress Britt Ekland was as dramatic as one of Sellers' films. The two married after a whirlwind ten-day courtship, but the marriage was reportedly plagued by Sellers’ intense mood swings and legendary insecurities. Ekland allegedly found the environment increasingly difficult to navigate as Sellers’ career reached new heights with the "Pink Panther" series. Their divorce was a public affair, with the press documenting their volatile relationship.
It serves as a classic Hollywood tale of "too much, too soon," where the initial spark was extinguished by the realities of a demanding and unpredictable personality.
Brigitte Bardot and Gunter Sachs: A Jet-Set Jolt
The 1969 divorce of French cinema icon Brigitte Bardot and German billionaire Gunter Sachs was the epitome of "messy" jet-set drama. Their marriage began with Sachs famously dropping thousands of roses from a helicopter over Bardot’s villa, but the romance reportedly cooled just as quickly. Allegedly, their lifestyles were too different, with Bardot preferring her animals and solitude in St. Tropez while Sachs enjoyed the high-society circuit.
The divorce was a global media event, symbolizing the fleeting nature of "Playboy" era romances. It solidified Bardot’s image as a woman who belonged to no one but herself.
31. Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III: The Golden Cage
While they never officially divorced, the "messy" reality of Grace Kelly’s 1956 marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco often felt like a silent separation from her former life. Reports throughout the 1960s and 70s suggested that the transition from Hollywood royalty to actual royalty was fraught with isolation. Allegedly, Rainier banned her films from being shown in Monaco and prevented her from accepting a role in Alfred Hitchcock’s Marnie. This "divorce" from her craft and her homeland was a source of great reported sadness for the Princess.
The public image remained perfect, but insiders claimed the emotional distance within the palace was a heavy burden for the legendary star.
Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer: A Quiet Disintegration
The 1968 divorce of Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer shocked many who saw them as a sophisticated, intellectual match. After fourteen years, the couple reportedly grew apart due to Ferrer’s allegedly controlling nature over Hepburn’s career choices. While Audrey was the bigger star, Mel reportedly struggled to find his footing in her shadow, leading to professional friction that bled into their home life. The divorce was handled with Hepburn’s trademark elegance.
But friends suggested she was deeply hurt by the failure of the union. It marked the end of her attempt to balance a massive film career with a traditional European domestic life.
Steve McQueen and Neile Adams: The King of Cool’s Collapse
Steve McQueen’s 1972 divorce from Neile Adams followed fifteen years of a marriage that had survived his meteoric rise to fame. Adams, a talented dancer, reportedly sacrificed her own career to support McQueen, but his alleged volatility and frequent absences proved too much to bear. The split was reportedly triggered when McQueen discovered Adams had been unfaithful, despite his own well-documented wandering eye. The legal battle was tense, as they navigated the division of their considerable assets and the care of their two children.
This divorce stripped away McQueen’s "cool" exterior, revealing a man who struggled deeply with trust and the pressures of his own persona.
Kirk Douglas and Diana Dill: A Modern Split
Kirk Douglas and Diana Dill divorced in 1951, but they remained a topic of Hollywood conversation because of how they managed their post-marital life. The divorce was reportedly fueled by Douglas’s intense focus on his burgeoning career and his reported restlessness within a traditional marriage. While the legal separation was standard for the time, the "messiness" came from the public’s fascination with how they co-parented their sons, including a young Michael Douglas.
Allegedly, the two remained remarkably civil, which was an anomaly in an era defined by bitter courtroom battles. This split allowed Kirk to reinvent himself as the quintessential Hollywood tough guy of the 1950s.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz: The End of an Empire
The 1960 divorce of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz was perhaps the most culturally significant split of the era. As the creators of I Love Lucy, they were the world’s most famous couple. Behind the scenes, however, Desi’s reported struggles with the pressure of running Desilu Studios and his frequent absences led to a final breakdown. Lucy reportedly reached her breaking point the day after they finished filming the last episode of their final special.
The divorce was a national mourning event for fans. Despite the split, they remained business partners and lifelong friends, proving that love and respect can survive even the messiest of marital ends.
Paul Newman and Jackie Witte: The Price of Fame
Before his legendary marriage to Joanne Woodward, Paul Newman underwent a messy 1958 divorce from his first wife, Jackie Witte. The split occurred just as Newman’s career was exploding, and he had already reportedly fallen in love with Woodward on the set of The Long, Hot Summer. Witte was allegedly hesitant to grant the divorce, leading to a period of intense private negotiation and emotional strain. The transition from his first family to his second was a source of reported guilt for Newman for many years.
This divorce is a rare glimpse into the "less than perfect" side of one of Hollywood’s most respected and enduring leading men.
Lauren Bacall and Jason Robards: Living in a Shadow
Lauren Bacall’s 1969 divorce from actor Jason Robards followed eight years of marriage. After the legendary romance with Humphrey Bogart, Bacall reportedly struggled to find a similar connection. Allegedly, Robards’ own personal demons and his frequent absences for work created a rift that could not be bridged. Bacall later reflected that she might have been looking for stability that was difficult to find in the high-stakes world of theater and film.
The divorce was handled with the trademark Bacall toughness, but it marked the end of her attempts to recreate the domestic bliss of her younger years with another leading man.
Kim Novak and Richard Quine: The Engagement That Evaporated
While not a final divorce, the 1960 breakup of Kim Novak and director Richard Quine was treated by the press as a marital collapse. The two were engaged and viewed as a power couple, but the relationship reportedly ended over Novak’s desire for a quieter life away from the studio system’s constant demands. Allegedly, the studio executives were heavily involved in her personal life, which put immense strain on her romantic choices.
The end of their relationship was a major news item, highlighting how much control "The System" had over the personal happiness of its most valuable stars during the Golden Age.
Henry Fonda and Margaret Sullavan: A Brief Explosion
The 1933 divorce of Henry Fonda and Margaret Sullavan set a precedent for the "short but intense" Hollywood marriage. Lasting only two years, the union was reportedly filled with legendary arguments and professional jealousy. Both were rising stars with fiery temperaments, and allegedly, they couldn’t be in the same room without a disagreement breaking out. Even after the divorce, their names were linked in the press for decades.
This split was a formative experience for Fonda, who would go on to have several more high-profile marriages, each seemingly echoing the intensity and the eventual distance found in his first attempt at domestic bliss.
Ginger Rogers and Lew Ayres: A Matinee Idol Mismatch
Ginger Rogers and Lew Ayres were the picture of 1930s glamour, but their 1940 divorce revealed the cracks in their "perfect" image. Reportedly, Rogers’ intense drive for success clashed with Ayres’ more reserved and philosophical approach to life. Allegedly, the two lived separate lives for years before officially filing for divorce, leading to much speculation in the gossip columns of the day. The split was described as "amicable" in the legal sense, but friends suggested the emotional toll of their differing ambitions was significant.
It marked the beginning of Rogers’ transition into a solo powerhouse who would eventually win an Oscar on her own terms.
Zsa Zsa Gabor and Conrad Hilton: A High-Society Split
Zsa Zsa Gabor’s 1947 divorce from hotel magnate Conrad Hilton was a precursor to the many high-profile marriages and divorces that would define her life. While the marriage lasted five years, the split was reportedly filled with tension over finances and lifestyle. Gabor allegedly felt neglected by the busy businessman, while Hilton reportedly struggled with Gabor’s extravagant personality. The divorce settlement was a topic of much discussion in the social columns of the time.
This separation established Gabor as a fixture in the tabloid world, a position she would hold for the next several decades.
Joan Crawford and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.: The End of a Dynasty
Though it happened in 1933, the ripples of Joan Crawford’s divorce from Douglas Fairbanks Jr. were felt well into the Golden Age. As the daughter-in-law of Hollywood royalty, Crawford’s split from the "Crown Prince of Hollywood" was a major event. Allegedly, the Fairbanks family never truly accepted Crawford, and the couple reportedly grew apart as their careers took different paths. The divorce was described as "amicable" in the press.
But insiders suggested there was a great deal of hurt involved. It set the stage for Crawford’s future reputation as a woman who prioritized her career over her personal life.
Mia Farrow and Frank Sinatra: The Ultimate Ultimatum
The 1968 divorce between Mia Farrow and Frank Sinatra was a classic case of career clashing with domestic expectations. Sinatra reportedly served Farrow with divorce papers on the set of her breakout film, Rosemary’s Baby, after she refused to abandon the project to appear in one of his movies. Allegedly, the thirty-year age gap contributed to their differing views on a woman’s role in marriage.
The split was swift and handled with a surprising amount of dignity in the press, but the abrupt nature of the legal filing shocked the industry and marked the end of an era for "Ol' Blue Eyes."
Robert Redford and Lola Van Wagenen: A Private Parting
Robert Redford’s 1985 divorce from Lola Van Wagenen was the conclusion of a marriage that began in 1958, before he was a household name. While it falls slightly outside the Golden Age peak, the relationship was a cornerstone of that era. The split was remarkably private, but the "messiness" lay in the public’s refusal to accept that Hollywood’s "Golden Boy" was no longer part of a stable pair.
Allegedly, the two had simply grown in different directions as Redford became more involved in his environmental work and Sundance. Their divorce was a quiet end to one of the industry's longest-running and most respected partnerships.
Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon: A Short-Lived Matrimony
Cary Grant, the epitome of sophistication, saw his fourth marriage to Dyan Cannon end in a very messy 1968 divorce. Despite a significant age gap and the birth of their daughter, Jennifer, the couple’s lifestyle differences were reportedly insurmountable. Cannon allegedly claimed in later years that Grant was quite controlling and critical during their time together. The divorce proceedings were noted for being particularly taxing on both parties, with Cannon reportedly suffering a breakdown during the process.
This split pulled back the curtain on Grant’s private life, revealing a more complex and difficult personality than his breezy on-screen roles suggested.
Raquel Welch and Patrick Curtis: Beauty and the Business
Raquel Welch’s 1972 divorce from her manager-husband Patrick Curtis was a major headline because Curtis had been instrumental in crafting her "sex symbol" image. As Welch sought to be taken seriously as a dramatic actress, tensions reportedly flared over her career direction. Allegedly, the professional and personal lines became too blurred to maintain a healthy marriage. The split was described by some as a bid for independence by Welch, who wanted to prove she was more than just a curated persona.
The divorce was finalized relatively quickly, but it signaled a significant shift in Welch’s journey to becoming a self-made Hollywood powerhouse.
Rex Harrison and Kay Kendall: A Tragic Goodbye
The end of Rex Harrison’s marriage to Kay Kendall in 1959 wasn't a divorce, but a "messy" emotional situation involving his previous wife, Lilli Palmer. Harrison reportedly learned Kendall was terminally ill and, in a pact with Palmer, divorced Palmer to marry Kendall so she could spend her final days as his wife. This complex arrangement was kept secret from Kendall, who allegedly never knew she was dying. While the public saw a romantic gesture, the legal and emotional logistics were incredibly complicated for all involved.
This story remains one of the most bittersweet and ethically complex chapters of Hollywood’s Golden Age marital history.
Hedy Lamarr and W. Howard Lee: The Final Straw
Hedy Lamarr, the woman often called "the most beautiful in the world," saw her sixth and final marriage to W. Howard Lee end in a 1960 divorce. Lamarr’s personal life was famously turbulent, and this final split was reportedly the result of Lee’s inability to handle her complex personality and fading career. Allegedly, the legal proceedings involved disputes over alimony and property that were played out in the press.
This divorce marked the beginning of Lamarr’s reclusive years, as she stepped away from the spotlight that had both defined and destroyed her personal happiness for over three decades.