Back in Time Today
The 1980s wasn’t just about big hair and neon fashion – it was also a time of unexpected celebrity romances. While some star couples from this era became legendary, others flew under the radar or have been forgotten with time. These surprising pairings reveal another side of famous personalities we thought we knew, showing how their personal lives sometimes took unexpected turns before they found their more well-known partners.
1. Tom Cruise and Cher’s Age-Defying Romance
Hollywood heartthrob Tom Cruise and music icon Cher shared a whirlwind romance that many fans have forgotten. Despite their 16-year age gap (she was 39, he was 23), the pair connected at Madonna and Sean Penn’s wedding in 1985 and later reconnected at a White House event focused on dyslexia.
Cher later revealed on Oprah that Cruise was actually “in the top five” of her all-time greatest lovers. Their unexpected connection lasted only a few months but left a lasting impression on the singer.
The brief relationship occurred just as Cruise’s career was skyrocketing with films like “Top Gun,” while Cher was already an established entertainment powerhouse with decades of success under her belt.
2. Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey Jr.’s Young Love
Before becoming Carrie Bradshaw or Iron Man, Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey Jr. were young actors navigating early fame together. Meeting on the set of “Firstborn” in 1984, their romance blossomed into a seven-year relationship that shaped their early careers.
Parker often played the responsible partner while Downey struggled with substance abuse issues that ultimately led to their 1991 breakup. She later described the relationship as feeling like she was Downey’s “mother” rather than his girlfriend.
Friends recall how they seemed like polar opposites – she was disciplined and career-focused, while he battled personal demons. Despite their differences, both stars speak respectfully about their time together as an important chapter in their young lives.
3. Val Kilmer’s Passionate Affair with Cher
Cher’s romantic history includes another surprising 80s flame – a young Val Kilmer. Their 1982-1984 relationship raised eyebrows due to their 13-year age difference, but Cher has consistently named Kilmer as one of her great loves.
The pair met when Kilmer was just 22 and beginning his rise to stardom. Their chemistry was immediate and intense, with Cher later describing him as “so good-looking that you couldn’t just stare at him.” Behind closed doors, they shared a passion for art and deep philosophical conversations.
Though their careers eventually pulled them in different directions, they maintained a friendship long after the romance ended. Cher even supported Kilmer during his recent health struggles, showing the lasting bond they formed during those early years.
4. Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson’s Medieval Connection
Dame Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson found love on the mystical set of “Excalibur” in 1981. The fantasy film sparked a real-life romance between the future Oscar winner and the then-unknown Irish actor, who lived together for nearly four years.
Neeson, seven years her junior, later confessed being intimidated by Mirren’s talent and beauty. “I was smitten from the moment I saw her,” he admitted in interviews. Their relationship included a memorable camping trip in Cornwall that both actors have reminisced about fondly decades later.
Though they eventually parted ways, their mutual respect remained intact. Mirren helped Neeson get his first American agent, launching the international career that would later make him famous. When reuniting on talk shows years later, their chemistry and affection remains palpable.
5. Diane Lane’s Rock Star Fling with Jon Bon Jovi
Before becoming Hollywood royalty, teenage actress Diane Lane had a brief but memorable romance with rising rock star Jon Bon Jovi in 1985. Their paths crossed when Lane, already an established young actress, attended a Bon Jovi concert and caught the frontman’s eye backstage.
Lane later revealed humorous details about their time together, including peeking inside Bon Jovi’s tour luggage and finding it filled almost entirely with hair products. At just 20 years old, she got a firsthand glimpse into the wild rock star lifestyle at the height of hair metal’s popularity.
Though their relationship lasted only months, it occurred during a pivotal time in both careers – Lane was transitioning from child star to adult roles, while Bon Jovi was becoming one of the biggest rock bands in the world with hits like “You Give Love a Bad Name.”
6. Brigitte Nielsen and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Secret Affair
The set of “Red Sonja” became the backdrop for a steamy secret affair between Danish actress Brigitte Nielsen and action star Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1985. Their on-screen chemistry spilled into real life, despite Schwarzenegger’s relationship with Maria Shriver at the time.
Nielsen, standing at an imposing 6’1″ and sporting her iconic platinum blonde flat-top haircut, made a striking pair with the muscular Austrian actor. In her 2011 autobiography, she finally confirmed the long-rumored relationship, describing their intense attraction during filming in Italy.
Schwarzenegger later acknowledged the affair as well, calling it a “hot affair” that was ultimately “a fling.” The relationship fizzled as Nielsen soon moved on to marry Sylvester Stallone, while Schwarzenegger returned to Shriver, whom he married in 1986.
7. Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan’s On-and-Off Screen Romance
Australian soap opera “Neighbours” created more than just television magic when it paired Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan as on-screen lovers. Their characters’ romance blossomed into real-life love in the late 1980s, delighting fans who couldn’t get enough of the golden couple.
Their relationship coincided with both launching successful music careers, with their duet “Especially For You” becoming a massive hit in 1988. Young fans across Australia and the UK were obsessed with every detail of their relationship, making them the ultimate teen idol couple of the era.
Donovan later revealed he was devastated when Minogue ended their relationship to begin dating INXS frontman Michael Hutchence. Despite the heartbreak, they maintained a professional relationship and have occasionally reunited for performances, much to the delight of nostalgic fans who never quite got over their perfect pairing.
8. Linda Thompson’s Marriage to Caitlyn Jenner
After dating Elvis Presley, songwriter Linda Thompson found love with Olympic gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner (then known as Bruce) in 1981. Their marriage produced two sons – Brandon and Brody Jenner – before ending in 1986 after Jenner revealed struggles with gender identity.
Thompson has spoken respectfully about their relationship, describing a loving marriage that faced unique challenges. In her memoir, she revealed that Jenner confided about gender dysphoria several years into their marriage, long before transitioning publicly.
The couple maintained an amicable relationship following their divorce for the sake of their children. Thompson later wrote the song “I Have Nothing” for Whitney Houston, drawing from her emotional experiences during this period. Their relationship represents an important chapter in both their lives before Jenner married Kris Kardashian and Thompson wed music producer David Foster.
9. Elle Macpherson’s Musical Romance with Billy Joel
Supermodel Elle Macpherson caught the eye of piano man Billy Joel in the early 1980s when she appeared in his music video for “Uptown Girl.” Though Christie Brinkley ultimately became the song’s famous inspiration, Joel and Macpherson – nicknamed “The Body” – enjoyed a passionate but brief relationship.
Australian beauty Macpherson was just beginning her modeling career when she dated the significantly older Joel. Their relationship inspired several of his songs, including the romantic ballad “And So It Goes” and the passionate “This Night.”
Joel later joked about dating Macpherson, saying he couldn’t believe his luck as “just a short, bald guy from Long Island.” Their romance ended amicably, with Joel moving on to marry Christie Brinkley in 1985, while Macpherson became one of the world’s most successful supermodels and businesswomen.
10. Paula Yates’ Secret Affair with Rupert Everett
British TV presenter Paula Yates lived a double life during the 1980s, maintaining a six-year affair with actor Rupert Everett while married to Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof. The relationship remained hidden from the public for years, only coming to light when Everett discussed it in interviews decades later.
Everett, who later came out as gay, described their connection as both emotional and physical. Yates was known for her wild personality and punk rock connections as presenter of music show “The Tube,” while Everett was establishing himself as a rising actor in British cinema.
Their clandestine relationship eventually ended, with Yates later leaving Geldof for INXS singer Michael Hutchence in a highly publicized scandal. Tragically, Yates died in 2000 from an accidental drug overdose, just three years after Hutchence’s suicide, leaving behind four daughters.
11. Gavin Rossdale’s Hidden Relationship with Marilyn
Before becoming Bush’s frontman and marrying Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale had a relationship with British gender-bending pop star Marilyn in the early 1980s London club scene. The relationship remained secret for decades until Marilyn (born Peter Robinson) revealed it in a 2009 interview, shocking fans.
Rossdale initially denied the relationship before finally acknowledging it in 2010, describing it as a youthful experimentation during London’s gender-fluid New Romantic era. “It’s part of growing up,” Rossdale explained. “That’s it. No more, no less.”
Marilyn claimed their relationship lasted for five years and was more than casual. The revelation came as a surprise to many who knew Rossdale only through his later image as a rock star married to Stefani. Their relationship highlights the fluid and experimental nature of London’s vibrant 1980s music scene.
12. Brigitte Nielsen’s Cannes Encounter with Sean Penn
Statuesque Danish actress Brigitte Nielsen added another famous name to her list of conquests when she had a passionate encounter with Sean Penn at the Cannes Film Festival in 1991. Though technically just outside our 80s timeframe, this little-known hookup occurred during Nielsen’s headline-grabbing decade of high-profile relationships.
Nielsen revealed the one-night stand in her autobiography, noting it happened while Penn was on a break from his tumultuous marriage to Madonna. Standing nearly a foot taller than Penn, the unlikely pair created quite the visual contrast.
The Cannes encounter came during a period when Nielsen was making waves in Hollywood for her marriages to Sylvester Stallone and later NBA star Dennis Rodman. Her fearless approach to both her career and love life made her one of the decade’s most fascinating personalities, never afraid to pursue famous men who caught her interest.
13. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s Enduring Love Story
Not all 80s celebrity romances ended in heartbreak. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson first met in 1981 on the set of Hanks’ TV show “Bosom Buddies,” but sparks didn’t fly until they reunited on the 1985 film “Volunteers.” At the time, Hanks was married to his college sweetheart Samantha Lewes.
Hanks later admitted feeling an immediate connection with Wilson that he couldn’t ignore. “Rita and I just looked at each other and – kaboing – that was that,” he recalled. After divorcing Lewes, Hanks married Wilson in 1988, beginning one of Hollywood’s most stable and admired relationships.
What makes their 80s romance special is how it evolved from co-stars to friends to lifetime partners. While many celebrity couples from the decade fizzled out, Hanks and Wilson built a foundation that has lasted through career highs, health scares, and raising a family together.
14. Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s Whirlwind Courtship
Action star Bruce Willis and brat pack actress Demi Moore became one of Hollywood’s power couples after meeting at a movie screening in 1987. Their chemistry was so immediate that they married just four months later in Las Vegas, shocking the entertainment world with their impulsive decision.
Despite skeptics predicting a quick Hollywood divorce, the pair defied expectations by building both a family and powerful entertainment careers throughout the late 80s and 90s. Moore became the highest-paid actress in Hollywood while Willis dominated the action genre with the “Die Hard” franchise.
Though they eventually divorced in 2000 after 13 years of marriage, their relationship produced three daughters and set a new standard for amicable Hollywood breakups. Their friendly post-divorce relationship has continued for decades, with Willis and Moore frequently appearing together at family gatherings even with their new partners.
15. Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith’s On-Again, Off-Again Love
Few Hollywood romances have been as complicated as Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith’s decades-spanning relationship. Their first encounter occurred when Johnson was 22 and Griffith just 14, as her mother Tippi Hedren’s co-star. By 18, Griffith married the “Miami Vice” heartthrob in a union that lasted only six months in 1976.
After dating other people throughout the early 80s, the pair reconnected in 1989, remarrying and welcoming daughter Dakota Johnson (future star of “Fifty Shades of Grey”). Their second marriage lasted seven years before ending in 1996, completing one of Hollywood’s most circular love stories.
Despite their rocky romantic history, Johnson and Griffith maintained respect for each other as co-parents. Their relationship embodied the dramatic, passionate nature of 80s celebrity romances, complete with glamour, heartbreak, and eventual reconciliation.