Whoopi Goldberg’s Love Life, Then and Now: Is She Married Today and What to Know About Her Past Marriages

Whoopi Goldberg has never done the romance thing the way people expect. Three marriages, a handful of very public relationships, and one very clear conclusion: she does best when she calls her own shots. If you came here for a fairy-tale arc that ends in a white dress, wrong page. If you want the real timeline, quirks and all, keep reading.

The quick version

• 1973: Marries Alvin Martin (who had been her drug counselor). Their daughter, Alex Martin, is born the same year. They divorce in 1979 but stay friendly and focused on co-parenting.
• 1986-1988: Marries Dutch cinematographer David Claessen (Jumpin' Jack Flash, Hollis & Rae). No kids. He later marries Karen Green and then author Taiye Selasi.
• Early 1990s: Brief fling with Timothy Dalton.
• 1992-1993: Dates Ted Danson for around 18 months after first meeting in 1988 and reconnecting while making Made in America. He was still married. The breakup is very public and messy.
• 1994-1995: Marries actor and IATSE union organizer Lyle Trachtenberg. It unravels fast.
• 1996-2001: Five-year relationship with Frank Langella after meeting on the set of Eddie.
• 2001-2006: Five-year relationship with Michael Visbal, a corporate-world guy who kept things very private.
• Now: Single, by choice, and very happy about it.

First marriage: Alvin Martin

Goldberg was 18 when she married Alvin Martin in 1973, and yes, the unusual detail here is real: he had been her drug counselor before they got together. They had daughter Alex the same year. The marriage ended quietly in 1979, no public fireworks, just two people staying cordial and raising their kid without turning it into a storyline. Goldberg has said more than once that her strongest commitments are to her family and friends, not to romantic partners who want the same level of time and energy.

Round two: David Claessen

In 1986, she married Dutch cinematographer David Claessen, whose credits include Jumpin' Jack Flash and Hollis & Rae. It was a fast chapter: they married in 1986 and split in 1988, no children, no chaos. Claessen moved on, later marrying Karen Green and then writer Taiye Selasi. Goldberg, meanwhile, was blunt about how she felt exiting her marriages.

I was dancing and prancing around, I was so glad to get out of there! Every time. Because I always thought, 'You didn't want to do this from the giddyap! You knew you didn't want to do it and you did it anyway so shut up and move on!'

The blink-and-you-miss-it detour: Lyle Trachtenberg

By 1994, she was back at the altar with Lyle Trachtenberg, an actor and IATSE union organizer known for championing film crew labor. They met through friends, clicked, and tied the knot. By 1995, they were done. Respectful, quick, and another sign that marriage and Whoopi were not a long-term match.

The high-profile romances

Ted Danson was the one that exploded into public view. They first crossed paths on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1988, but the spark really hit later while filming Made in America. They dated for about 18 months from 1992 to 1993, and the coverage was relentless. It didn’t help that Danson was still married at the time, which fed the tabloids nonstop. Years later, Goldberg was frank about how that breakup landed.

It was really painful, and it was very public. And the loss of his friendship hurts a great deal. We can never go and have a soda, anywhere. I'm friends with almost every man I've gone out with, except this man.

Before and around that period, there was a brief, low-key fling with Timothy Dalton. Not a spectacle, just two very famous people who enjoyed each other’s company for a minute and moved on.

Then came Frank Langella. They met on the set of Eddie in 1996 and quietly built a five-year relationship that ended in 2001 without drama. Both were seasoned pros who understood the job and its chaos, which probably helped them keep it grounded.

Also starting in 2001: a five-year relationship with Michael Visbal, a corporate-world guy who never chased the spotlight. They kept things private and ended things the same way in 2006.

Where she is now

These days, Goldberg is extremely comfortable with the idea that a partner is optional, not required. She has said the quiet part out loud for years: she likes her space, her routines, and her freedom.

I'm much happier on my own. I can spend as much time with somebody as I want to spend, but I'm not looking to be with somebody forever or live with someone.

She has also been honest about why she tried marriage in the first place, and why it ultimately isn’t for her.

It seemed to me that if I was married, I'd have a much normal - more normal life. But clearly, that's not the case. There's not a good reason to get married. You have to actually want a life with someone through ups and downs. And I - I just discovered that wasn't for me.

Bottom line: her time goes to her daughter, her grandkids, her friends, and the work she actually enjoys. No wedding ring required.