Whoopi Goldberg has been open about her views on love and marriage, and her own experiences tell quite a story.
The EGOT winner has walked down the aisle three times — first with drug counselor Alvin Martin from 1973 to 1979, then with cinematographer David Claessen between 1986 and 1988, and finally with union organizer Lyle Trachtenberg in 1994, a marriage that lasted just one year.
Alongside her marriages, she’s also been linked to well-known names, including Frank Langella, David Schein, Timothy Dalton, Ted Danson, and businessman Michael Visbal.
Now 69, Goldberg makes it clear that marriage is firmly behind her. While promoting her memoir Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me on Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? in May 2024, she admitted that she has no desire to go through it again. “No, I don’t,” she said when asked if she wanted to share her life in that way. “When you’re married to somebody, you have to be invested in how they’re feeling. I’m not.”
Instead, she explained, her attention is fully on her daughter Alexandrea and her grandchildren.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at her short-lived marriage to third husband Lyle Trachtenberg — how they met, their wedding, and what really went on between them.
Goldberg and Trachtenberg Married in 1994
Goldberg married actor and labor union organizer Lyle Trachtenberg on October 1, 1994. Their backyard ceremony took place at her home in Pacific Palisades, California. The marriage lasted just one year, ending in divorce in October 1995.
The two first crossed paths earlier that year when Trachtenberg visited the set of Corrina, Corrina, the 1994 comedy-drama starring Goldberg alongside Ray Liotta and Tina Majorino. Their relationship moved quickly, and by the summer, they were engaged.
During the film’s press tour in August 1994, Goldberg confirmed the news with a smile, showing off a ring dotted with small stones. “He designed this himself. And he’s a union man, so you know it was real money,” she joked. For the wedding, her dress was created by Toronto designer Kim Ironmonger.
Who Is Lyle Trachtenberg?
Trachtenberg was born on January 1, 1956, in Los Angeles. He later attended UCLA, where he graduated in 1980.
Although he tried his hand at acting, his real reputation came from union work. Trachtenberg went on to become a strong organizer for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which represents more than 100,000 technicians and artisans across film, TV, theater, and trade shows. His tactics often drew attention on set.
That was the case in 1995 during the filming of Grace of My Heart. Trachtenberg showed up at lunch and persuaded 25 crew members to join IATSE, nearly triggering a strike before producers reached a deal.
Around the same time, producer Lawrence Bender recalled similar clashes with him during White Man’s Burden, which was halted by union demands and left the production facing heavy losses.
Alongside union work, Whoopi Goldberg’s ex-spouse, Trachtenberg, made a few on-screen appearances. He played himself in Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) and later appeared as the “Husky Guy” in John Quinn’s Beach Movie (1998). He also earned “special thanks” credits in Girl Fever (2002), Keeping Up with the Steins (2006), and Hello, My Name Is Doris (2015).
Today, he remains connected to IATSE and continues to take part in demonstrations.
Where Is He Now?
Lyle still lives in Los Angeles County, California. Away from the spotlight of his brief Hollywood years, he has built a family life of his own. He is married to Canadian-born Adrianna Belan, and together they have two daughters, Gabriella and Natasha.
