Brenda Vaccaro, now 85, recently opened up about her relationship with Michael Douglas that began in 1971 and ended in 1976. The two were a couple before they became well-known names in Hollywood. At the time, Douglas was just getting started in television, and Vaccaro had a few roles under her belt.
They moved from New York to Los Angeles together, hoping to grow their careers. Not long after, Douglas landed his breakout role on The Streets of San Francisco. Vaccaro described their time together in California as exciting and full of promise.
Why did Michael Douglas and Brenda Vaccaro split?
Brenda Vaccaro still adores’ ex Michael Douglas she dated for seven years in the ’70s and has nothing but kind things to say about her ex-boyfriend. ‘We were such a gorgeous couple.’ Yes, you were dear Brenda! I met Michael in Mexico city, great guy! Brenda and I partied at Hef’s pic.twitter.com/iP9ewJ4Bew
— Sybil Danning (@sybildanning) May 13, 2025
Vaccaro ended the relationship after falling for actor Don Stroud. She later explained that her connection with Stroud felt intense and overwhelming, and she chose to follow that new relationship. Close friends advised her against it, warning her that it might not last.
The breakup happened during a wild period in Hollywood. Vaccaro said there were lots of parties and drug use, and they were part of a crowd that included stars like Anjelica Huston and Jack Nicholson. Looking back, she admitted she regretted how things ended with Douglas, though at the time, it felt like the right decision.
Are Michael Douglas and Brenda Vaccaro still in touch?
It’s not known if Brenda Vaccaro and Michael Douglas stayed in contact after their breakup. Neither of them has spoken publicly about any continued friendship. After the split, their lives moved in different directions, both personally and professionally. Vaccaro, who had been married once before dating Douglas, got married three more times. She settled down with her fourth husband, Guy Hector, a real estate executive, in 1986.
The couple has kept a low profile and stayed out of the spotlight over the years. Douglas, on the other hand, married film producer Diandra Luker in 1977, just a year after ending things with Vaccaro. They had one son together, Cameron Douglas, who is now 46. After Douglas and Luker divorced in 1995, he later married actress Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2000. They’ve since become one of Hollywood’s most famous couples and share two children, Dylan and Carys.