Thirty-four years ago, Hollywood watched in disbelief as one of its most famous actresses walked down the aisle once again — this time with a construction worker who lived a world away from the spotlight.
On October 6, 1991, at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, the iconic star married Larry Fortensky, a blue-collar laborer who would become her eighth and final husband. Their union didn’t last forever, but it ended with affection instead of scandal — and their unlikely romance fascinated the public for decades.
A Chance Encounter Behind Rehab Walls
Their story began in 1988 inside the Betty Ford Clinic. The 56-year-old superstar was checking in for a second time. Larry, 36, had arrived after crashing his truck and facing multiple DUI arrests, his stay covered by union insurance. With sun-bleached hair and a working-class charm, he caught her attention.
She later nicknamed him “Larry the Lion.” In 2011, Larry told the Daily Mail, “I knew who she was, but I can’t say I’d really watched her movies.” Still, something clicked between them.
During their six weeks of treatment, a quiet, intense bond formed. He admired her beauty; she fell for his grounded, no-nonsense nature. He described meeting “the real woman,” stripped of the glamour that had always surrounded her. She was captivated by his simplicity — a man who had grown up in a modest California household, never flown on an airplane, and lived far from Hollywood sophistication.
Secret Visits and a Limo Stuck in the Mud
According to Larry, they didn’t begin dating until after they left rehab — though even his sister doubted that. Their romance blossomed while he healed from the crash that had sent him to treatment. The actress sent limousines to pick him up from his remote home, but the car often got stuck in the mud.
Larry tried to keep the relationship hidden, even from family. But by Christmas 1988, she invited him into her world — quite literally. He showed up for a short visit at her estate and “never left.” He found himself surrounded by staff, heavy security, and even a Van Gogh on the wall. It was a universe he’d only seen from afar.
A Wedding Fit for a Legend — and Paparazzi Parachuting From the Sky
On this day 34 years ago, they hosted one of the most extravagant weddings Hollywood had ever seen. Nearly 200 celebrities gathered under a white gazebo at Neverland Ranch.
Jose Eber served as Larry’s best man; Carole Bayer Sager was the maid of honor. Above them, chaos erupted — paparazzi circled in helicopters, and one photographer even parachuted onto the property before being caught.
Inside, things were equally surreal. “Michael Jackson spent the night on the dance floor with a little boy under his arm,” Larry recalled. The guest list ranged from Gregory Peck to Nancy Reagan to Eddie Murphy.
Amid all the glamour, Larry remained the outsider — humble, quiet, and slightly overwhelmed.
Snow Angels, Biker Bars, and a Mischievous Parrot
Larry later shared personal memories of their life together. His favorite photo showed Elizabeth making a snow angel in Switzerland — a spontaneous, childlike moment he cherished. She bought him a Harley, and they’d ride along the coast, stopping at biker bars where she wore a helmet to blend in.
“She loved being treated like a regular person,” he said.
She also had a pet parrot that mimicked her voice, calling out “Larry! Larry!” — much to his annoyance.
He kept working despite her wealth, refusing to be financially dependent. His coworkers teased him when her private chef sent his lunches to the job site.
At night, they watched movies together — but never her own.
The Cracks Begin to Show
Eventually, pressures mounted. Elizabeth persuaded Larry to quit construction and travel with her, but he struggled without his job and routine. Her declining health strained the relationship, and he moved into a separate bedroom. According to his sister, that was “the beginning of the end.”
The constant flash of cameras didn’t help. “I never got used to it,” Larry admitted. “Elizabeth was — I wasn’t.”
Divorce, Hardship, and an Unbreakable Connection
In 1996, they divorced peacefully. Larry left with over a million dollars, but misfortune followed. A 1999 accident left him unable to work, medical bills piled up, and bad investments drained his savings.
Still, they stayed close. They spoke several times a month, and when she learned of his situation, she wrote a letter promising to support him financially. Even after the divorce, she sent money to help him keep his home.
Family tensions rose, fueled by financial disputes, and Larry distanced himself from his siblings and daughter.
Their Final Conversation
Their last phone call came the day before Elizabeth was hospitalized. Her voice was thick with congestion from her worsening heart condition, but she reassured him she would be fine.
She wasn’t. Elizabeth Taylor died on March 23, 2011, at age 79. Larry found out from the news.
“I was sure she’d get better,” he said.
Days later, he received her final gift — a provision in her will leaving him a significant sum, though her children inherited most of her estate.
“I loved her, and I know she loved me,” he said.
Larry Fortensky died in 2016 at 64, marking the end of one of Hollywood’s most unexpected, tender, and human love stories.
