Real-Life Celebrity Breakup: Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith

Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith’s nearly two-decade-long romance took Hollywood by storm in the 1990s, and though they are no longer romantically linked, the pair still remains very close.

They managed to blend their families beautifully and are committed to staying friends for the sake of them. From how the couple first met to their eventual split, find out more about this once great celebrity romance.

How Did Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith Meet?

The two actors first locked eyes at the Academy Awards in 1989, but she was married to actor Don Johnson at the time. After seeing her at the awards show, Banderas asked director Pedro Almodovar who she was and took a liking to her right away.

Reconnected
Six years after they first connected, the soon-to-be couple was cast in the 1995 romantic comedy Two Much. Griffith was still married to Johnson at the time, and Banderas was married to actress Ana Leza, but they still fell in love. Banderas later revealed they tried to be respectful to their spouses, but they couldn’t help their feelings towards one another.

Wedding
They divorced their respective spouses and their relationship moved forward. One year after their movie was released, Banderas and Griffith tied the knot on May 14, 1996, in London. The ceremony was very private and low-key.

Growing Their Family

Griffith was pregnant with their first child when they tied the knot. She gave birth to their daughter, Stella del Carmen, on September 24, 1996. Banderas also became a stepfather to Griffith’s two other children, Alexander Bauer and Dakota Johnson, from her two previous marriages.

Parting Ways
After almost two decades together, Griffith and Banderas announced their split in June of 2014. The divorce became official on December 4, 2015. However, despite the split, the once-blended family has remained close. Dakota Johnson presented Banderas with the Hollywood Actor Award in November 2019 and affectionately referred to him as Papi.

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