SAD NEWS: 30 minutes ago Texas, Catherine Zeta-Jose wife of former actor Michael Douglas announced the heartbreaking news confirming that her husband had… read more

The couple’s romance began swiftly in early 1999, resulting in them tying the knot just over a year later, three months after welcoming their son Dylan. In 2003, they welcomed a daughter, Carys.

However, this wasn’t Michael’s first time down the aisle. The Oscar winning actor, now 80, was previously married to Diandra Luker, a wedding that took place not long after ending his former highly-publicized relationship.

Here’s what you need to know about the actor and producer’s first well-known partner who still “adores” him and their relationship…

Who is Michael’s famous ex?
After starring together in the 1971 movie Summertree, Michael began dating his co-star Brenda Vaccaro, not long after her divorce from Martin Fried the year prior. The pair were together from some time between 1971-72 to late 1976.

The American star, now 85, began her career on the stage, making her Broadway debut in 1961. Her career on the stage continued to skyrocket in the ’60s, earning three Tony nominations in that decade alone.

Meet Brenda Vaccaro
She achieved recognition on screen with her 1969 film debuts, Where It’s At and Midnight Cowboy, both of which earned her Golden Globe nominations. In 1976 she earned a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her turn in Once Is Not Enough. Brenda also has four Primetime Emmy nominations (and one win).

Her other notable film credits include Capricorn One (1977), Heart of Midnight (1988), Love Affair (1994), The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), and Nonnas (2025).

Michael’s relationship with Brenda
Michael and Brenda were a powerhouse couple of the ’70s, bolstered by their increasing profiles in Hollywood during that decade (Michael earned his first Oscar in 1976 as the producer of Best Picture winner One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest).

The couple lived together during the later part of their relationship, and while reports suggested they had an unofficial wedding ceremony, it was never confirmed (she did call it a “hippie wedding” in an interview with Closer Weekly).

Michael & Brenda
In an essay for The Hollywood Reporter in 2020, Brenda spoke fondly of her ex’s father Kirk Douglas after his passing, shedding light on her relationship with the Wall Street star. “He treated me like a daughter-in-law,” she wrote.

“He couldn’t get Michael and me married — Michael was a hippie, and it was not cool to get married in those days. But he would come up to me and say, ‘Tell me you’re trying, just tell me you’re trying.’ He wanted us to have a baby.”