Actresses Who Got Married Long Before They Turned Twenty Years Old

Hollywood history is filled with stories of young starlets who decided to walk down the aisle before they were even out of their teens. Many of these actresses sought stability or followed their hearts while managing early fame and high pressure careers. Some of these unions were short lived and ended in quick divorces while others shaped the personal lives of these icons for decades. Exploring these early marriages offers a glimpse into the private world of some of the most famous women in entertainment history.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was only sixteen years old when she married her first husband James Dougherty in 1942. This marriage took place before she became a global superstar and iconic sex symbol of the silver screen. She was living in foster care and chose marriage to avoid returning to an orphanage after her foster parents moved away. The couple remained together for four years before they eventually divorced so she could pursue a career in modeling and film. Her transformation from Norma Jeane Baker to a legendary actress began shortly after this early union ended.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor married her first husband Conrad Hilton Jr. in a lavish ceremony when she was only eighteen years old. The wedding was a major media event that captured the attention of fans around the world who followed her every move. She appeared in ‘Father of the Bride’ (1950) around the same time as her real life nuptials took place. The marriage was unfortunately troubled from the start and lasted less than a year before they finalized their divorce. This was the first of eight marriages for the legendary actress who would go on to have a long and storied romantic life.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich was just sixteen years old when she eloped with her ‘Dazed and Confused’ (1993) costar Shawn Andrews. The teenage actress married him in Las Vegas while they were filming the cult classic movie together. Her mother was not happy with the decision and took legal action to have the marriage annulled only two months later. She eventually found long term happiness with director Paul Anderson whom she worked with on the ‘Resident Evil’ (2002) franchise. This early marriage remains a brief footnote in her successful career as a versatile actress and model.

Demi Moore

Demi Moore was only eighteen years old when she married musician Freddy Moore in 1980. She took his last name as her professional stage name and kept it even after their marriage ended four years later. The young actress was still trying to break into the industry when she first tied the knot. She eventually became one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood with starring roles in films like ‘Ghost’ (1990) and ‘G.I. Jane’ (1997). This early marriage provided her with the name that would eventually become a household staple around the world.

Cher

Cher was eighteen years old when she married Sonny Bono in 1964 after meeting him at a restaurant in Los Angeles. The two formed a professional and personal partnership that would lead to massive success as a musical duo and television variety show act. They became famous for their unique style and hits like ‘I Got You Babe’ which dominated the music charts. The marriage lasted for over a decade and resulted in one child before they eventually divorced in 1975. She went on to become an Oscar winning actress for her performance in the film ‘Moonstruck’ (1987).

Liza Minnelli

Liza Minnelli was nineteen years old when she married her first husband Peter Allen in 1967. The wedding took place during a time when her career was starting to soar and she was becoming a major star in her own right. Peter Allen was a protégé of her mother Judy Garland which added a complex layer to their personal relationship. The marriage lasted for seven years before they decided to go their separate ways in 1974. She later achieved legendary status for her role in ‘Cabaret’ (1972) and earned an Academy Award for her performance.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore was nineteen years old when she married bar owner Jeremy Thomas in 1994. The marriage was a sudden decision that took place after she had known him for only six weeks. It lasted for less than two months before she filed for divorce and returned to focusing on her acting career. She was already a veteran of the industry thanks to her breakout role in ‘E.T. the Extra Terrestrial’ (1982) as a child. She eventually built a massive career as both a leading lady and a successful film producer with her own company.

Melanie Griffith

Melanie Griffith was eighteen years old when she married actor Don Johnson for the first time in 1976. The two had met years earlier when she was only fourteen and he was twenty two on the set of ‘The Harrad Experiment’ (1973). Their first marriage only lasted for six months before they split up and pursued other relationships. They famously remarried in 1989 and stayed together for several more years before divorcing again in 1996. She is well known for her iconic role in ‘Working Girl’ (1988) which earned her an Oscar nomination.

Olivia Hussey

Olivia Hussey was nineteen years old when she married actor and singer Dean Paul Martin in 1971. She had gained international fame just a few years earlier for her role as Juliet in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (1968). The couple had one son together and remained married for several years before divorcing in 1978. She continued to act in various projects including the television miniseries ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ (1977). Her early marriage to the son of Dean Martin was a high profile event in the entertainment world at the time.

LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes was nineteen years old when she married dancer Dean Sheremet in 2002. She was already a multi platinum selling country artist with several hits and awards to her name by that time. The couple met while she was hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards and they quickly fell in love. They were married for seven years before their relationship ended following her involvement with actor Eddie Cibrian. She remains a prominent figure in the music industry and has also appeared in films like ‘Coyote Ugly’ (2000).

Aaliyah

Aaliyah was only fifteen years old when she married singer R. Kelly in a secret ceremony in 1994. The marriage was technically illegal because she was a minor and had lied about her age on the marriage certificate. Her family eventually found out about the union and had it annulled just a few months later. She continued to release successful albums and began an acting career with a role in ‘Romeo Must Die’ (2000). Her life and career were tragically cut short in a plane crash just as she was becoming a major global superstar.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson was eighteen years old when she eloped with singer James DeBarge in 1984. The marriage was a surprise to her famous family and the public as she was trying to establish her independence. It was a difficult union that lasted for less than a year before it was annulled in 1985. She soon released her breakout album ‘Control’ which transformed her into a pop icon and defined her sound for the next decade. She eventually became one of the most successful female artists in music history with countless hits and awards.

Courtney Stodden

Courtney Stodden was sixteen years old when she married actor Doug Hutchison in 2011. The marriage caused a massive media controversy because the actor was fifty years old at the time of the wedding. Her parents gave their legal consent for the union which allowed the couple to tie the knot in Las Vegas. They appeared on several reality television shows together including ‘Couples Therapy’ while their relationship was under constant scrutiny. The couple eventually split after several years of marriage and officially divorced in 2020.

Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner was eighteen years old when she married her first husband Mickey Rooney in 1942. He was one of the biggest stars in Hollywood at the time and their wedding was a major publicity event for the studio. She was still a newcomer to the industry and was often overshadowed by her husband in the early years of their marriage. The union lasted for only one year before they divorced and she began her rise to becoming a legendary screen siren. She later starred in classic films like ‘The Killers’ (1946) and ‘The Barefoot Contessa’ (1954).

Judy Garland

Judy Garland was nineteen years old when she married composer and bandleader David Rose in 1941. The studio heads at MGM were reportedly against the marriage and tried to discourage the young actress from marrying him. She was already a huge star thanks to her performance in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939) and other successful musicals. The marriage was unhappy and they eventually divorced in 1944 after living separate lives for some time. She went on to marry four more times and remained a beloved figure in the world of entertainment until her passing.

Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple was seventeen years old when she married actor John Agar in 1945. She had been a massive child star and was transitioning into adult roles when she decided to get married. The wedding was attended by hundreds of guests and was a significant moment for her fans who had watched her grow up on screen. They had one daughter together before the marriage ended in divorce five years later in 1950. She eventually retired from acting and became a respected diplomat and United States ambassador later in her life.

Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford was eighteen years old when she married her first husband James Welton in 1923. This marriage took place long before she became one of the greatest stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. She was working as a dancer in a traveling troupe when she met and married him during her early years in the industry. The marriage was brief and little is known about their time together as she soon moved on to achieve massive fame. She later won an Academy Award for her role in ‘Mildred Pierce’ (1945) and became a cinema icon.

Lana Turner

Lana Turner was eighteen years old when she eloped with bandleader Artie Shaw on their first date in 1940. The impulsive marriage was a sensation in the tabloids and lasted for only four months before they divorced. She was known as the Sweater Girl and was one of the most popular actresses of the era. This was the first of eight marriages for the star who was often in the headlines for her personal life. She appeared in many successful films including ‘The Postman Always Rings Twice’ (1946) and ‘Peyton Place’ (1957).

Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood was eighteen years old when she married actor Robert Wagner for the first time in 1957. The two were a glamorous Hollywood couple and their relationship was highly publicized by the studios and the press. She had been a successful child actress and was becoming a leading lady in films like ‘Rebel Without a Cause’ (1955). They divorced in 1962 but famously remarried years later in 1972 and stayed together until her tragic death. Her career included iconic performances in movies like ‘West Side Story’ (1961) and ‘Splendor in the Grass’ (1961).

Loretta Lynn

Loretta Lynn was fifteen years old when she married Oliver Lynn in 1948 after knowing him for only one month. The couple moved to Washington state where she began her life as a young wife and eventually a mother of four children by age nineteen. He encouraged her to start singing and bought her a guitar which launched her legendary career in country music. Their marriage lasted for nearly fifty years until his death and was the inspiration for many of her famous songs. Her life story was later turned into the Academy Award winning film ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’ (1980).

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian was nineteen years old when she eloped with music producer Damon Thomas in 2000. This marriage occurred several years before she became a world famous reality television star and business mogul. She later revealed that the relationship was difficult and that they were not a good match for each other. They finalized their divorce in 2004 and she began her rise to fame on the show ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ (2007). She has since been married two more times and has built a massive media empire.

Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman was nineteen years old when she married actor Gary Oldman in 1990. The two met while she was filming the movie ‘State of Grace’ (1990) and they were married shortly after. The marriage lasted for only two years and they did not have any children together. She went on to have a highly successful career and became a muse for director Quentin Tarantino in films like ‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994). Her early marriage to the older actor is often remembered as a brief period in her long and varied life in film.

Shelley Duvall

Shelley Duvall was eighteen years old when she married artist Bernard Sampson in 1970. She was discovered by director Robert Altman while she was living in Houston and married Sampson around the same time her career began. The marriage lasted for seven years while she became a prominent actress in films like ‘Nashville’ (1975) and ‘3 Women’ (1977). They eventually divorced in 1977 and she moved on to her most famous role in ‘The Shining’ (1980). She remained a unique and influential presence in Hollywood for many decades.

Jane Russell

Jane Russell was nineteen years old when she married her high school sweetheart Bob Waterfield in 1943. He was a professional football player and the couple remained married for twenty five years which was rare for Hollywood stars. She became a major sex symbol after starring in ‘The Outlaw’ (1943) and later ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ (1953). The couple adopted three children together and were active in promoting adoption throughout their lives. Their long marriage ended in divorce in 1968 after more than two decades together.

Ginger Rogers

Ginger Rogers was seventeen years old when she married her first husband Jack Culpepper in 1929. He was a fellow performer and the two had a vaudeville act together for a brief period of time. The marriage was short lived and they separated after only a few months before officially divorcing a few years later. She went on to become a legendary actress and dancer who is best remembered for her partnership with Fred Astaire. She won an Academy Award for her dramatic performance in the film ‘Kitty Foyle’ (1940).

Rita Hayworth

Rita Hayworth was eighteen years old when she married her first husband Edward C. Judson in 1937. He was a businessman who was significantly older than her and helped manage her early career in Hollywood. He was instrumental in changing her image and encouraging her to dye her hair red which became her signature look. The marriage ended in 1942 and she went on to become one of the biggest stars and pin up girls of the era. She gave an iconic performance in the film ‘Gilda’ (1946) which solidified her status as a screen legend.

Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr was eighteen years old when she married her first husband Friedrich Mandl in 1933. He was an Austrian arms merchant who was very controlling and did not want her to continue her acting career. She eventually fled from him and moved to Hollywood where she became a major star in the 1940s. In addition to her acting she was a brilliant inventor who helped develop the technology that became the basis for modern wireless communication. She starred in many successful films including ‘Samson and Delilah’ (1949).

Vivien Leigh

Vivien Leigh was nineteen years old when she married her first husband Herbert Leigh Holman in 1932. He was a barrister who was thirteen years older than her and they had one daughter together. She was already pursuing an acting career and took her husband’s middle name as her professional last name. The marriage became strained as she achieved massive fame and began a relationship with actor Laurence Olivier. She is most famous for her legendary performance as Scarlett O’Hara in ‘Gone with the Wind’ (1939).

Maureen O’Hara

Maureen O’Hara was nineteen years old when she married her first husband George H. Brown in 1939. The marriage was kept secret from the public because her career was just starting and the studio wanted to maintain her image. They were married in London just before she left for Hollywood to star in ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ (1939). The union was annulled in 1941 and she went on to have a legendary career as a leading lady. She was known for her fiery personality and appeared in classic films like ‘The Quiet Man’ (1952).

Jean Harlow

Jean Harlow was sixteen years old when she married her first husband Charles McGrew in 1927. He was a wealthy businessman and the couple moved to Los Angeles where she eventually began working as an extra in films. The marriage lasted for only two years before they divorced and she became the original Blonde Bombshell of Hollywood. She rose to superstardom in the early 1930s with roles in movies like ‘Red Dust’ (1932) and ‘Dinner at Eight’ (1933). Her life was tragically short as she passed away at the age of twenty six at the height of her fame.

Zsa Zsa Gabor

Zsa Zsa Gabor was eighteen years old when she married her first husband Burhan Asaf Belge in 1935. He was a Turkish diplomat and the marriage was the first of nine for the famous actress and socialite. She moved to the United States in the early 1940s and began a career in film and television where she was known for her glamorous lifestyle. She appeared in movies like ‘Moulin Rouge’ (1952) and became a staple of talk shows for several decades. Her personal life and many marriages were a constant source of fascination for the public.

Eva Gabor

Eva Gabor was eighteen years old when she married her first husband Eric Drimmer in 1937. Like her sister Zsa Zsa she was known for her multiple marriages and her career as a glamorous actress. She moved to the United States and found success on both the screen and the stage throughout her life. She is perhaps best known for her role as Lisa Douglas on the popular television sitcom ‘Green Acres’ (1965). Her early marriage was the first of five and she remained a prominent figure in Hollywood society.

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot was eighteen years old when she married director Roger Vadim in 1952. He directed her in the film ‘And God Created Woman’ (1956) which made her an international superstar and a major sex symbol. The marriage was a professional and personal partnership that helped define her early career in French cinema. They divorced in 1957 but remained on friendly terms for many years after their separation. She eventually retired from acting to become a dedicated animal rights activist and remains a cultural icon.

Holly Marie Combs

Holly Marie Combs was nineteen years old when she married her first husband Bryan Travis Smith in 1993. The young actress was starring on the television series ‘Picket Fences’ (1992) at the time of her wedding. The marriage lasted for four years before they decided to divorce in 1997. She went on to achieve even greater fame as Piper Halliwell on the long running supernatural show ‘Charmed’ (1998). She has continued to work in television and produced projects while maintaining a successful acting career.

Patty Duke

Patty Duke was eighteen years old when she married her first husband Harry Falk in 1965. He was an assistant director on her popular television show ‘The Patty Duke Show’ (1963) which made her a household name. She had already won an Academy Award for her performance in ‘The Miracle Worker’ (1962) at the age of sixteen. The marriage was often difficult and they eventually divorced in 1970 after five years together. She became a vocal advocate for mental health awareness later in her life and continued to act until her passing.

Mackenzie Phillips

Mackenzie Phillips was nineteen years old when she married her first husband Jeff Sessler in 1979. She was a major television star at the time thanks to her role on the hit sitcom ‘One Day at a Time’ (1975). The marriage took place during a period when she was struggling with personal issues and substance abuse. They were married for two years before the relationship ended in 1981. She later wrote a candid autobiography about her life and career as a child star in Hollywood.

Suzanne Somers

Suzanne Somers was nineteen years old when she married her first husband Bruce Somers in 1965. The couple had one son together shortly after they were married and lived in California during the early years of her career. She was still trying to find her footing as an actress when she first became a mother and wife. The marriage ended in divorce in 1968 but she kept her husband’s last name for her professional life. She eventually became a massive star on the sitcom ‘Three’s Company’ (1977) and a successful author and businesswoman.

Morgan Fairchild

Morgan Fairchild was nineteen years old when she married her first husband Jack Calmes in 1967. She was living in Texas at the time and had not yet begun her professional acting career in television. The couple remained married for six years before they decided to divorce in 1973. She then moved to New York and eventually Los Angeles where she became a popular actress on soap operas and primetime dramas. She is well known for her roles on shows like ‘Flamingo Road’ (1980) and ‘Falcon Crest’ (1981).

Michelle Phillips

Michelle Phillips was eighteen years old when she married musician John Phillips in 1962. The two were founding members of the folk rock group The Mamas and the Papas which achieved massive success in the 1960s. She began an acting career after the group disbanded and appeared in several films and television series. She is remembered for her role on the popular primetime soap opera ‘Knots Landing’ (1979). Her early marriage to her bandmate was a central part of her life during the height of her musical fame.

Mamie Van Doren

Mamie Van Doren was nineteen years old when she married her second husband Ray Anthony in 1955. She was one of the Three Ms of the 1950s alongside Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield as a prominent sex symbol. Her husband was a famous bandleader and the couple had one son together during their marriage. They appeared together in the film ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ (1956) which featured several popular musical acts. The marriage ended in divorce in 1961 and she continued to act in many movies throughout the decade.

Jayne Mansfield

Jayne Mansfield was sixteen years old when she married her first husband Paul Mansfield in 1950. The couple had one daughter together and moved to Los Angeles so she could pursue her dream of becoming an actress. She kept his last name as her stage name and it became famous as she rose to stardom in the mid 1950s. The marriage ended in divorce in 1958 but she had already become a major celebrity and sex symbol. She appeared in films like ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ (1956) and ‘Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?’ (1957).

Rhonda Fleming

Rhonda Fleming was seventeen years old when she married her high school sweetheart Thomas Lane in 1940. She was discovered while attending high school and began her career as a contract player for the studios. The marriage lasted for seven years and the couple had one son before they eventually divorced in 1947. She was known as the Queen of Technicolor because of how beautiful she looked in the early color films of the era. She starred in many movies including ‘Spellbound’ (1945) and ‘A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court’ (1949).

Jane Greer

Jane Greer was nineteen years old when she married singer Rudy Vallee in 1943. He was significantly older than her and was a major star in the music and film industry at the time. The marriage was short lived and lasted for less than a year before they separated and eventually divorced. She went on to become a popular actress in film noir and starred in the classic movie ‘Out of the Past’ (1947). Her early marriage to the famous singer was a notable event in her young life before she achieved major fame.

Linda Darnell

Linda Darnell was nineteen years old when she married cinematographer Peverell Marley in 1943. She had been a successful actress since her mid teens and was looking for stability in her personal life. The couple adopted a daughter together and remained married for eight years before divorcing in 1951. She was a major star at 20th Century Fox and appeared in films like ‘The Mark of Zorro’ (1940) and ‘A Letter to Three Wives’ (1949). Her career was at its peak during her marriage to the older cameraman.

June Haver

June Haver was eighteen years old when she married musician Jimmy Zito in 1947. She was a popular musical star at 20th Century Fox and was being groomed as a successor to Betty Grable. The marriage was troubled and only lasted for a year before they separated and she returned to her career. She eventually left Hollywood to join a convent for a brief period before returning and marrying actor Fred MacMurray. She appeared in several successful musicals including ‘The Dolly Sisters’ (1945) and ‘Look for the Silver Lining’ (1949).

Shelley Winters

Shelley Winters was nineteen years old when she married her first husband Mack Paul Mayer in 1942. The marriage took place while she was working as a stage actress and before she became a major Hollywood star. The couple divorced in 1948 and she went on to have a long and decorated career in film and television. She won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her roles in ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ (1959) and ‘A Patch of Blue’ (1965). She remained a prominent and respected figure in the industry for many decades.

Terry Moore

Terry Moore was nineteen years old when she married American football star Glenn Davis in 1951. She was a rising star in Hollywood and had recently earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in ‘Come Back, Little Sheba’ (1952). The marriage was high profile but lasted for only one year before they divorced in 1952. She later claimed that she had been secretly married to billionaire Howard Hughes earlier in her life. She appeared in many films throughout her career including ‘Mighty Joe Young’ (1949) and ‘Peyton Place’ (1957).

Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse was seventeen years old when she married her ballet teacher Nico Charisse in 1939. They moved to Hollywood together so she could pursue a career as a professional dancer and actress in films. She kept his last name as her professional name even after their marriage ended in divorce in 1947. She became one of the most famous dancers in cinema history and was often paired with stars like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. She is best remembered for her iconic dance sequences in ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (1952) and ‘The Band Wagon’ (1953).

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