Whoopi Goldberg Got Married ‘To Feel Normal’ and Was Never Really in Love with Any of Her Three Husbands

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.

When elaborating on the topic, Goldberg disclosed that many women had asked her about her sexual preference for a while. Without beating around the bush, the 67-year-old answered:

“…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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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?”

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.

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’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.

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.

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.

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.

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.