Demi Moore Felt 'Betrayed' by Mom's Lie about Biological Dad Yet Later Forgave Her & Became Her Caregiver

Film starlet Demi Moore's mother, Virginia King, was in love with two men before her daughter was born. Moore had a difficult childhood because of her mom's love life and being from a low-income family.

In her memoir, "Inside Out," actress Demi Moore details her upbringing, including her mother Virginia King's love life, addiction, and health matters.

Moore revealed that King's husband, Danny Guynes was less than a year older than her and that they were a match made in heaven.

Guynes had graduated from Rosewell High School a year before King when they were still dating, before leaving for college in Pennsylvania.

King felt insecure upon learning that her boyfriend had a female roommate and did whatever she always had done whenever she felt threatened in a relationship.

In consoling herself, she began seeing another man to make Guynes jealous, which is what she did throughout their relationship.

King started a romantic relationship with Charlie Harmon, a young fireman whose family had moved to New Mexico from Texas. She even married him even though their union was short-lived.

King accomplished what she wanted because Guynes came running back into her life, and she divorced Harmon right away after that.

She and Guynes later tied the knot in February 1962, and her daughter Moore arrived nine months later in November that year.

MOORE ADMIRED HER MOTHER & THEIR FAMILY LIFE DESPITE STRUGGLING

When King, who was just out of Rosewell High School, was pregnant with her daughter Moore, she weighed a hundred pounds.

She was a teenager and labored in pain for nine hours, "only to be knocked unconscious at the last minute, right before I came into this world," Moore explained in her book.

When growing up, the "G.I. Jane" star knew that her mother, whom she called Ginny, was not like other moms. "I can picture her in the car driving us to school, smoking a cigarette with one hand and putting her makeup on –perfectly-with the other, without even looking in the mirror," she stated.

Moore revealed that King was meticulous about her appearance no matter the circumstances. She recalled when her mom made her dad stop three-quarters of the way on their yearly trip to her grandmother's just to put on her curlers and have her hair the way she wanted before they arrived.

The "Ghost" star mentioned that although her mom was not a beauty queen, she knew how to put a look together effortlessly and disclosed how she got her name:

"She was always reaching for whatever was glamorous – she got my name from a beauty product."

Moore was named Demetria, after a shampoo that King saw in a magazine. She told Vanity Fair in August 1991 that she was unsure whether the name came from a hair product or a makeup.

Reflecting on the type of man her father was, Moore described Guynes as a charmer and a con gambler who had a great sense of humor. She added her dad was also a self-destructive person who could not allow good things to happen to him.

Guynes worked in advertising for the Rosewell Daily Record and used to leave his wife a pack of cigarettes and a dollar bill every morning when he left for work. Moore said he was destined for success because he worked hard but played hard.

He would go out partying with one of her uncles, and they were all drinkers who ended up in fights. Guynes used to come home all beat up, said Moore:

"He loved fighting, and he loved watching people fight. When I was little – way too little – my dad would take me to watch local boxing matches with him."

One day she was able to save her mom with the help of her dad. King was suicidal and wanted to suppress the pain caused by her relationship with Guynes. Young Moore revived her mother in the presence of her father, who instructed her on what to do.

The "General Hospital" alum admitted that experience changed something in her, and things were never the same again. "My childhood was over," she revealed to Harper's Bazaar in September 2019. Both her parents were alcoholics and moved the family constantly ahead of debt, infidelities, and explosive fights.

Though her childhood may have been over, Moore continued to be a pawn in her parents' dynamic at home even after discovering that Guynes was not her biological father.

The family home was a toxic environment for little Moore, who, at only age four, got frightened when a stranger came to their house and started pounding on the door. She was clueless about what was happening, "but feeling the fear in my house," she stated.

HOW MOORE DISCOVERED GUYNES WAS NOT HER BIRTH FATHER

When Moore turned fifteen, her mother split from Guynes for good. After their breakup, she learned that the man she had known her whole life was not her birth father.

Before she came into the world, King had left Moore's biological father, continuing a relationship with Guynes. Moore only learned the truth when she was a teen. After snooping in her mother's belongings, she found her parents' marriage certificate.

The "Disclosure" star noticed that her parents wed in February 1963, whereas she was born in 1962. When she asked her mother, King told her it was an error. Moore noted that she knew that her mom had been married before, but that was it.

One day, when driving in the car with her mother, she boldly asked whether Guynes was her birth father, and King admitted that he was not. Two weeks later, Moore visited her aunt in Texas and told her about what she had discovered.

At that time, Harmon resided in Texas, and Moore's aunt called him. He supposedly always wanted to connect with his daughter but was forbidden. Harmon had never even seen a photograph of his child. So, he came over to her aunt's house and stayed.

Moore explained that the experience of her meeting her biological father was surreal, and she could not remember vividly how that encounter went, stating everything else was a blur.

She acknowledged that she was never supposed to know that Harmon existed. He was never involved in her life, and the only father figure she had ever known was Guynes. "When I was born, Danny was there. That's why, for me, he's my father," Moore said.

Knowing that her entire existence was a result of cheating on her mother's part, she expressed that it was the ultimate betrayal because everyone, including her cousin, knew about it except for her:

"It's almost like being a bastard child."

When asked if she ever confronted her mother about her paternity, Moore stated she must have but could not recall being upset because she is accepting. Asked about their mother and daughter relationship, Moore said she did not want to talk about King.

Sadly, two years after the truth came out, Guynes committed suicide. At the time, the "Margin Call" star lived on her own and became distant. Moore revealed that her family did not want to come to terms with the fact that her not real dad had taken his own life.

But she understood why he did it and saw it fitting that he chose to end his life to numb his pain. "I accept and love him for whatever he needed to do. I strongly believe that some of us have to die for others to live," said Moore.

She became her mother's caretaker, a responsibility that Guynes had. Moore said she felt better knowing that she could care for her mom because it made her feel at ease. She stepped up when she needed to.

When Guynes died, King's addiction became worse, and Moore had to be the parent. She said she found a way to handle the situation instead of allowing it to consume her.

Moreover, Moore found a silver lining in that experience, saying it helps elevate and expand us as human beings. She later reconciled with her mother before she passed away in July 1998.

MOORE SAYS WHAT DOESN'T KILL HER MAKES HER STRONGER

Looking back at her complicated past, Moore told the Guardian in October 2007 that she does not want to carry bitterness because of what she experienced as a child and chooses happiness above all else:

"If I look back at my past, I look at those things as my gifts. Some of my lowest points were the most exciting opportunities to push through to be a better person."

Going through that daunting experience made Moore a stronger individual though she does not take it at face value. The fact that she conquered the tough challenges has strengthened her, but she does not perceive herself as a warrior of some sort.

Being a mother herself, Moore decided to do things differently in raising her children, unlike her parents. The movie star is a mom to three daughters, Rumer, Tallulah, and Scout, whom she shares with actor Bruce Willis.

In an interview with Harper's Bazaar in March 2008, Moore said her kids are a gift. When asked if she tried to protect them from the aspects of Hollywood, the proud mom stated all she could do was help them make good decisions because they would have to experience life on their own.

Regarding her relationship with her former husband Willis, whom she was married to from 1987 to 2000, Moore has maintained a cordial, respectful relationship with the "Die Hard" star, including a friendship.

"Look, I'm the product of divorced parents, and my brother and I were the pawns in my parents' game. I never wanted that for my kids," she told the publication.

Moore lived with her brood in Idaho for a long time. When asked which was riskier, being in Idaho, abandoning her career, or going back to Hollywood, the mom of three said she realized that she needed to be with her kids in one place for some time.

The "Flawless" star stated it did not feel like she was risking her career but merely prioritized her brood because they are important. The kids were aged from five to 11 at the time.