The famous women in this gallery come from different backgrounds and generations. But all have something most unusual in common.
They all married gay men without knowing about their sexuality beforehand. In many (maybe even most) cases, before the men knew either.
Some of these 13 situations have been well documented.
Others? Not so much … take a look for yourself:
1. Liza Minnelli
Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winning performer Liza Minnelli was married to Peter Allen from 1967-1974. He later came out as gay and had a long-term relationship with Gregory Connell. Amazingly, or perhaps not coincidentally, Liza Minnelli’s mother, Judy Garland, was also married to a gay man …
2. Judy Garland
Academy Award winner Judy Garland was one of several women director Vincente Minnelli married … while he allegedly carried himself like an openly gay man in New York City but remained in the closet in Los Angeles. Back in the day, you could actually pull that off.
3. Fran Drescher
Fran Drescher was married to Peter Marc Jacobson, who created the show that made her a household name, The Nanny. They were married from 1978-99; Jacobson didn’t come out until after their divorce, but there were no hard feelings. In fact, they collaborated on a new sitcom, Happily Divorced, based on their own experiences.
4. Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher married Bryan Lourd in 1991; they divorced when he came out as gay three years later.
5. Vanessa Redgrave
Actress Vanessa Redgrave was married to Oscar-winning director Tony Richardson from 1962-67 and had two daughters with her, Joely and Natasha Richardson. Tony did not come out until he was diagnosed with HIV; he died of AIDS-related complications in 1991.
6. Betsy Drake
Betsy Drake was an actress who appeared with Cary Grant in his movies and was the second of his four wives. It is now widely believed that the icon was actually gay, as he lived with another man, Randolph Scott, for 10 years later in life.