Nicolas Cage and Patricia Arquette
Duration: Married five years
Ages: 36 and 32
Back story: In a quirky love story, Cage and Arquette met in 1987. Cage was so besotted that he was said to have immediately declared: “I love you, and I’m going to marry you.” The story goes that Arquette put him on a “mission” to prove his love to her, sending him on a scavenger hunt for a black orchid and reclusive author J.D. Salinger’s autograph. Cage obtained the autograph, but a planned date fell through and the two stayed friends until 1995. This time, Arquette proposed and the two married later that year.
But … : Cage filed for divorce in February, citing “irreconcilable differences” — the petition states that the couple separated a mere nine months after their marriage. Two months later, the New York Daily News reported that Cage had withdrawn his divorce papers, and the couple was attempting a reunion. But Arquette filed her own divorce petition Nov. 17, citing that the two had re-separated Nov. 1 (Raise your hand if you’re as confused as we are).
Janet Jackson and Rene Elizondo
Duration: 15 years; married nine of those years
Ages: 34 and 37
Back story: They met when Elizondo was a dancer for Janet‘s sister LaToya; since then, he’s been co-producer and co-writer on many of her projects, most notably her “Velvet Rope” album. Married in March 1991 and denying it to everyone, they managed to protect their secret.
But … : Then Elizondo filed for divorce in May, letting everyone know that there had actually been a marriage to begin with.
Whoopi Goldberg and Frank Langella
Duration: Four and a half years
Ages: 45 and 60
Back story: Goldberg, who has been romanced by Timothy Dalton and Ted Danson, met Langella on the basketball comedy “Eddie” in 1995. By fall 1995, her third marriage (as well as Langella‘s own 18-year marriage) came to an end as they began an off-court romance.
But …: Goldberg asked Langella to move from her main house to her guest house in March, then asked him to leave altogether, according to the New York Daily News. Reportedly she thought Langella “was not bringing enough to the party,” according to a source quoted by the paper. Goldberg‘s publicist denied there was any animosity to the split.
Macaulay Culkin and Rachel Miner
Duration: Three years; married two years
Ages: Both 20
Back story: The “Home Alone” kid and the Broadway actress (“The Diary of Anne Frank”) met at the Manhattan Professional Children’s School in 1997 and had to get permission from their folks before marrying on June 21, 1998. Despite his absence from the screen, Culkin hasn’t been hurting for cash: He turned 18 in August and came into $17 million of his movie earnings that were held in trust.
But …: In August 2000, Culkin‘s publicist said the two “are temporarily separated. It was very amicable, and they remain the best of friends.”
