Actress & 'The View' Host Whoopi Goldberg Has Been Married Three Times?

Gettyimages | Dia Dipasupil

Caryn Elaine Johnson, also known professionally as Whoopi Goldberg, is a famed actor, comedian, author, and television host. While we may know her as the lovable nun in Sister Act or the intelligent, outspoken host on The View, there are many different facets to Goldberg’s life that have remained under-the-radar. For instance, Goldberg has been married not once, not twice, but three times, not to mention romantically linked to a few famous faces that will likely ring a bell.

Gettyimages | Ron Galella

Goldberg was married first in 1973 to Alvin Martin to which they had one daughter together. The pair divorced however, in 1979 to which Goldberg eventually went on to marry her next husband, David Claessen in 1986. Claessen was a well-known cinematographer, but unfortunately the marriage didn’t last long, as Goldberg and Claessen were divorced in 1988. The third and final marriage for Goldberg came in 1994, when she wed union organizer Lyle Trachtenberg, but quickly divorced the following year.

Gettyimages | Ron Galella, Ltd.

Despite having these three marriages under her belt, Goldberg was also romantically linked to other men within the industry. For instance, Goldberg was linked to actor Frank Langella, to whom she lived with until they separated in March 2001. Langella and Goldberg met on the set of Eddie in 1996. Goldberg was also briefly romantically involved with actor Timothy Dalton in the early 90s, as she brought Dalton with her as her date to the Oscars. But perhaps most notably, Goldberg was linked to actor Ted Danson, to which the pair has a controversial romance.

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A scandal came about during the romance of Goldberg and Danson which still makes headlines to this day. In October 1993, actor Ted Danson was roasting his then-girlfriend Whoopi Goldberg at the Friars Club. Danson decided to paint his face dark brown, with a wide white stripe around the mouth. Sound familiar? Yes, that’s because it was blackface. Danson then went on to roast his girlfriend using the n-word over a dozen times. This roast routine was filled with racist jokes and ended with Danson eating watermelon. Goldberg later admitted she didn’t find the roast offensive.

Gettyimages | Paul R. Giunta

Despite being married to her first husband at the age of 18, or struggling with an addiction to heroin, which her first husband and drug counselor Alvin Martin helped her through, Goldberg has led a very fruitful and fulfilling life. Goldberg is single now, happily, and recently admitting to IMDb that perhaps she isn’t meant to be married. Goldberg went on to say, “If you ever hear of me walking down anybody’s aisle again, I want you to stick your leg out and trip me. Some people are not meant to be married and I am not meant to. I’m sure it is wonderful for lots of people.”