Author: Freya

When people hear the Swaggart name, they usually think about televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, his wife Frances, or their son Donnie. But another person belonged to that famous Louisiana family long before television turned the surname into an international name: Jeannette Swaggart. More fully known as Sharon Jeanette Swaggart Ensminger, Jeannette was the younger sister of Jimmy Swaggart. She was born into the same deeply religious Louisiana family that produced Jimmy and was also connected to a remarkable extended family that included musicians Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley. Unlike her famous brother, however, Jeannette did not spend decades building an…

Imagine growing up with one of the world’s most famous electronic musicians as your father and an internationally known actress helping to raise you. That sounds like an unusual childhood, but it was normal family life for Émilie Jarre. Émilie Jarre is the daughter of French electronic-music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre and his first wife, Flore Guillard. After her parents separated, Émilie grew up largely with her father and his second wife, British actress Charlotte Rampling. That relationship became much deeper than an ordinary stepmother-stepdaughter connection. Yet Émilie did not follow her father onto enormous concert stages. She developed her own…

What kind of woman could share decades with one of Hollywood’s funniest men and still keep most of her own life away from celebrity attention? Barbaree Earl Nielsen managed to do exactly that. Barbaree is best known as the fourth and final wife of Leslie Nielsen, the Canadian-American actor who became a comedy legend through Airplane!, Police Squad!, and The Naked Gun. But their relationship started long before their 2001 wedding. By 1991, Leslie was already publicly describing Barbaree as his partner and calling her “the love of my life.” Their story therefore was not a short late-life marriage. Barbaree…

Some people become famous because they spend years chasing the spotlight. Others become searchable simply because they once shared their life with someone famous. Bobbye Brooks Oliver belongs firmly in the second group. Bobbye Brooks Oliver is best known as the third wife of Leslie Nielsen, the Canadian-American actor who became a comedy legend through Airplane!, Police Squad!, and The Naked Gun. Bobbye married Leslie in 1981, right as his career was going through one of the most surprising changes in Hollywood history. Yet Bobbye never became a celebrity herself. Her marriage was relatively short, they had no children together,…

Long before Leslie Nielsen became the hilarious, straight-faced star of Airplane! and The Naked Gun, he spent years as a serious dramatic actor. During a large part of those earlier years, Alisande Ullman was the woman beside him. Alisande Ullman, sometimes identified as Alisande “Sandy” Ullman, is best known as the second wife of Leslie Nielsen. Their marriage began in 1958 and lasted for roughly 15 years. More importantly, Alisande became the mother of Leslie’s only two children, daughters Thea and Maura. Yet Alisande’s own life remains surprisingly mysterious. She did not build a celebrity career, and after her marriage…

What happens when someone becomes connected to a television star but never tries to become a celebrity herself? That question helps explain why people still search for Maura Nielsen Kaplan, even though she has spent most of her life outside Hollywood’s spotlight. Maura Nielsen Kaplan is best known as the first wife of actor Richard Kline, the man millions of viewers remember as Larry Dallas from the classic sitcom Three’s Company. Maura and Richard married before his biggest television success, and they later became parents to a daughter named Colby Kline. Their marriage eventually ended, and Richard remarried more than…

What is it like growing up with an actor for a father and then watching your older brother become one of television’s biggest fantasy stars? Mackenzie Ackles knows that experience better than most. She is the younger sister of Supernatural star Jensen Ackles, but unlike her famous brother, Mackenzie has chosen a much quieter path. Mackenzie Joan Ackles grew up in Texas as the youngest child of actor Alan Roger Ackles and Donna Joan Shaffer. Her brother Jensen Ackles became internationally known as Dean Winchester, while her oldest brother, Joshua Ackles, also stayed mostly outside Hollywood. Mackenzie did, however, have…

Behind many Hollywood stars is a family that knew them long before millions of fans learned their name. For Donna Joan Shaffer Ackles, that famous family member is her son Jensen Ackles. Yet Donna’s story is interesting for another reason: she has remained remarkably private while both her husband and son have worked in entertainment. Donna Joan Shaffer Ackles, whose maiden name is Shaffer, is the mother of Jensen Ackles, the American actor best known around the world as Dean Winchester from Supernatural. She is married to actor Alan Roger Ackles and is also the mother of Joshua Ackles and…

What happens when a private computer professional marries a comedian who makes her personal life part of her comedy? Matt Moline discovered the answer during his marriage to Kathy Griffin. Matt Moline is best known as the first husband of Kathy Griffin, the Emmy-winning comedian and television personality. But Matt did not come from Hollywood’s usual world of actors and entertainers. He worked in technology and was described as a computer administrator, programmer, and IT consultant. His sister, television producer Rebecca Moline, helped introduce him to Kathy. The couple married in 2001, and Matt later became familiar to viewers of…

Some musicians become famous by standing in the middle of the stage. Others help create songs heard by millions while their own names remain hidden in the credits. Eddy Quintela belonged to the second group. Born Eduardo Quintela de Mendonça, Eddy was a Portuguese musician, keyboard player, composer, and songwriter. He became best known internationally through his relationship with Christine McVie, the much-loved singer and keyboardist of Fleetwood Mac. But Eddy was not simply the man Christine married. He became her creative partner too. Together, Christine and Eddy wrote songs that entered the Fleetwood Mac catalog, most famously “Little Lies.”…