Ali MacGraw, renowned for her role in the romantic classic Love Story (1970), has had a remarkable personal and professional journey. The Golden Globe winner’s quest for love saw her married three times, including a high-profile union with the iconic actor Steve McQueen. Here’s a look at the men who were part of Ali MacGraw’s life story.
Ali MacGraw’s First Marriage: Robin Hoen
In the early 1960s, before achieving fame, Ali MacGraw was an assistant to fashion editor Diana Vreeland and a student at Wellesley College. During this period, she met Robin Hoen, a Harvard student. The couple married in 1961, shortly after Ali began working in fashion. Despite the promising start, the marriage ended in divorce in 1962, just a year after it began.
Ali reflected on this period, sharing with The Sydney Morning Herald in August 2019, “I was getting married to a wonderful man, whose family wanted me in the Social Register.” Although their marriage was short-lived, it marked the beginning of Ali’s rise in both fashion and film.
Ali MacGraw’s Second Marriage: Robert Evans
Ali’s second marriage was to film producer Robert Evans in 1969. Evans, who transitioned from a brief acting career to become a prominent producer, was behind classics like The Godfather and Chinatown. The couple had one child, Josh Evans, born in 1971. Their marriage ended in 1972, but they remained connected through their son.
Robert Evans had a storied personal life, marrying and divorcing seven times before his passing in October 2019 at age 89. His professional achievements and tumultuous personal life were well-known in Hollywood circles.
Ali MacGraw’s Third Marriage: Steve McQueen
The most famous of Ali MacGraw’s marriages was to Steve McQueen, whom she met on the set of The Getaway (1972). McQueen, known as the “King of Cool” and one of the biggest movie stars of the 1960s, was celebrated for roles in films like The Great Escape and The Sand Pebbles. The couple married in 1973 in Wyoming.
During their marriage, Ali chose to step back from her acting career to support Steve and care for their child. Despite the glamour, the marriage faced challenges and ended in 1978. Steve McQueen married model Barbara Minty in 1980, but his life was cut short by a heart attack that same year, shortly after surgery for cancer.
In a 2018 interview with People, Ali MacGraw reflected on her time with Steve McQueen, saying, “This was a man who could walk into any room and man, woman and child all would go, ‘Whoa, what’s that?’ And I was no exception.” She added, “I wish we had both grown old sober,” acknowledging both the joy and difficulties of their relationship.
Life After Hollywood
Following her marriage to McQueen, Ali MacGraw retreated from the limelight, opting for a quieter life in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has embraced a more reflective and content life, far from the Hollywood hustle. “I used to rewrite the past, fantasize about the future,” she shared, “But now, I believe in living fully to the very best of my ability. I feel very blessed.”
Ali MacGraw’s journey through love, marriage, and personal growth illustrates a life filled with both glamour and hardship. Her story remains a compelling part of Hollywood history, reflecting both the highs and lows of a life in the public eye.
