- EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg revealed that she was never really in love with any of her past husbands and got married "to feel normal."
- She opened up about how she feels about marriage and relationships.
- The Hollywood star also admitted that commitment "doesn't work" for her.
Legendary Academy Award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg, 67, best known for the incredible roles she plays in famous films, recently sat down for a podcast interview. In the episode hosted by fellow actress Raven-Symoné, Goldberg's sexuality surfaced as a topic of discussion.
Later in the interview, the Disney star prompted Goldberg to elaborate on her love interests. Raven admitted that the "Sister Act" star gave her the impression that she was romantically interested in women.
Whoopi Goldberg backstage at the "Shucked" Broadway musical in New York City, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
"...I am not a lesbian. But I know lots of them, and I've played them on television."
Goldberg reiterated that she has many friends who are lesbian. However, she also discussed having boundaries with them when it comes to showing affection and such.
Whoopi Goldberg having a discussion with Christian Cooper in New York City, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Goldberg's love life may not have included relationships with women. However, she has been married to three men in the past and holds strong opinions regarding the concept of marriage and commitment.
Harry Hamlin, Whoopi Goldberg, and Timothy Dalton at the "Sarafina" premiere in Los Angeles, 1992 | Source: Getty Images
Whoopi Goldberg Has Some Strong Opinions about Marriage & Relationships
When it comes to marriage and relationships, the "The Color Purple" star has no interest in pursuing either. In a previous interview, she divulged how she enjoys and revels in solitude, and although she might enjoy spending time with someone, she is not looking for a forever partner or someone to live with.
In fact, while speaking on her past three marriages, Goldberg admitted to only pursuing those relationships because it was something that society expected of her. The actress said it took a while for her to figure out that she didn't have to allow herself to feel pressured into spending her life with a significant other.
At some point after her marriage to Claessen ended, she dated Timothy Dalton for three years, and the duo were seen attending numerous red-carpet events together.
Whoopi Goldberg at her book signing event in New York City, 2015 | Source: Getty Images
Moreover, Goldberg asserted that one should not be in a marriage simply because it is something that everybody expects of that person. Likening her opinions to her situations with men in the past, particularly the three men she married, Goldberg disclosed that she was never in love with any of them and admitted to only getting married because:
"...I wanted to feel normal, and it seemed to me that if I was married, I'd have a much more normal life, but clearly that's not the case. That's not a good reason to get married. You have to actually want a life with someone through ups and downs."
Surprisingly, Goldberg said that she has only ever been in love once. Though she would not reveal who the man was, she said that she still would not have married that person, based on what she discovered about her preference to be single.
Of her marriages that all ended in divorce, Goldberg believes that she was the common denominator in the relationships not working out. She said her commitment was never as strong as that of her past husbands.
Whoopi Goldberg and David Claessen at the ICAN Fundraiser Dinner in Beverly Hills, 1986 | Source: Getty Images
Additionally, the Hollywood talent simply believes that she was never meant to be married in the first place. She even claimed:
"...I'm the round peg, and marriage is the square hole. You can't have a square hole, can you?"
Whoopi Goldberg backstage at a play based on the movie "Life of Pi" in New York City, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Goldberg is living her best life solo, despite people constantly reassuring her she will meet someone special when the time is right. According to her:
"When you make a commitment to someone else, it's a commitment to ask their opinion and listen and work it out with them...I know for me it doesn't work."
She even discusses the relationship lessons she has learned in her book "If Someone Says "You Complete Me," RUN!: Whoopi's Big Book of Relationships." For the actress, one must be a complete person before engaging in any relationship.
Whoopi Goldberg at the "If Someone Says You Complete Me, RUN!: Whoopi's Big Book of Relationships" signing in New York City, 2015 | Source: Getty Images
A photo of copies of Whoopi Goldberg's book taken in New York City, 2015 | Source: Getty Images
Far from being worried about the next suitor, Goldberg's primary focus is her family, including her daughter, Alex Martin, grandkids, and friends. As another reason for not wanting to pursue marriage, Goldberg explained that no matter who the significant other is, they will never be the number one priority in her life.
Whoopi Goldberg and Alex Martin at the 88th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, 2016 | Source: Getty Images
Whoopi Goldberg and Alex Martin at the 86th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, 2014 | Source: Getty Images
Whoopi Goldberg with her granddaughter, Jerzey Dean at the New York Fashion Week opening ceremony in 2018 | Source: Getty Images
Whoopi Goldberg's Love Life: She Was Married Three Times
Rewinding back to her past marriages, Goldberg tied the knot with her first husband, Alvin Martin, at 18. This was before she reached an unprecedented amount of fame and success in the entertainment industry.
The former couple wed in 1973, and according to sources, Alvin was working as a drug counselor at the time. The following year, after they got hitched, they welcomed Alex in May. However, in 1979, the pair divorced.
Whoopi Goldberg on an episode of "The View" in 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Sometime after her movie career started, Goldberg married a cinematographer named David Claessen in 1986. But, by the time 1988 rolled around, the couple, who had a four-year age difference, split up.
Her third and final marriage was to fellow actor and unionist Lyle Trachtenberg. The wedding happened in October 1994, but their relationship did not make it past 1995.
Whoopi Goldberg and David Claessen at the 5th Annual "L'Chaim, To Life!" Telethon in 1986 | Source: Getty Images
Lyle Trachtenberg and Whoopi Goldberg at the Dream Street Foundation Award Dinner in Beverly Hills, 1994 | Source: Getty Images
According to reports, in between her marriages, Goldberg dated multiple other men. At some point after her marriage to Claessen ended, she dated Timothy Dalton for three years, and the duo were seen attending numerous red-carpet events together.
Whoopi Goldberg and Timothy Dalton at the 64th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, 1992 | Source: Getty Images
Goldberg was also romantically involved with Ted Danson. Their relationship was labeled a high-profile affair because Danson was married to Cassandra Coates at the time.
Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg in a scene from the movie "Made In America" in 1993 | Source: Getty Images
Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson at The Ritz in 1993 | Source: Getty Images
Goldberg was involved in a series of romantic relationships outside of her three marriages. However, the Hollywood icon has no plans thus far of getting into new relationships and has often said that she is happy being alone.
She enjoys living alone in her house with her primary focus placed on spending time with her daughter, grandchildren, and friends.
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