Culture

36 Celebrity Couples You Forgot Were Once a Thing

Image may contain Val Kilmer Cher Clothing Coat Jacket Blazer Person Adult Face Head Photography and Portrait
Val Kilmer and Cher, who dated in the early 1980s and remained lifelong friends. (Photo: Getty Images)

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The ubiquity of 1990s and early aughts nostalgia on Instagram, TikTok, and beyond has led, in recent years, to a resurgence of bodysuits, brown lipstick, combat boots, and chokers. But yearning for the semi-recent past has also reminded those of us with short memories that the late, great Val Kilmer once romanced Cher; Liv Tyler once dated Joaquin Phoenix; and that before Ben, Jennifer Garner was wed to one Scott Foley. Please join us as we dive down this frankly thrilling rabbit hole and rehash the celebrity couples you forgot about—or just never knew existed.

  • Image may contain Val Kilmer Cher Clothing Formal Wear Suit Dining Table Furniture Table Face Head and Person
    Photo: Getty Images
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    Val Kilmer and Cher

    Cher lovingly called Kilmer a “funny, crazy, pain in the ass” in her social media tribute to the recently departed actor, whom she dated for a few years in the early 1980s. (The two went on to be great friends.)

  • Photo: Getty Images
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    Cameron Diaz and Matt Dillon

    If you, like me, have a fairly vivid recollection of ’90s pop-cultural ephemera, you might already remember that Diaz dated her There’s Something About Mary co-star from January 1996 to September 1998. Dillon even called Diaz his “muse” in a 2006 interview with Parade, saying: “I hadn’t been in any deep emotional relationships.”

Michelle Ruiz is a Vogue.com contributing editor who played Gloria Steinem in the seventh grade play. ... Read More
Emma Specter is the Culture Writer at Vogue, where she covers film, TV, books, politics, news, and (almost) anything queer. She has previously worked at Garage and LAist and has freelanced for outlets including The Hairpin, Bon Appetit, them, The Hollywood Reporter, and more. Her first book, More Please: On ... Read More
TopicsCelebrity