Inside Carmen Electra's Two Failed Marriages: More about Her Relationships

Carmen Electra has had a successful career in the entertainment industry, but she has not been able to find the same success with her marriages. The pop culture icon has been in two weddings, first with basketball star Dennis Rodman and then lead guitarist Dave Navarro, and both ended in divorce.

Carmen Electra, born Tara Leigh Patrick, came into the world on April 20, 1972. A native of Sharonville, Ohio, she attended Princeton High and the School for Creative and Performing Arts. It was at the later school that the actress began her journey into the life of entertainment. She became a professional dancer in 1990.

The following year she met singer Prince who gave her first recording contract. She has also been an actress, model, and media personality. In the middle of all those distinct careers were her two failed marriages, one of which ended very quickly.

Carmen Electra's Marriage to Dennis Rodman

Carmen Electra's first marriage stunned a lot of people. She married the man referred to at that time as the bad boy of basketball. However, she admitted that she has always been attracted to bad boys, so, unlike the fans, she was not surprised by the dating and eventual marriage to Rodman.

Electra and Rodman first met in a Los Angeles nightclub in 1998. They exchanged phone numbers on the night, but the actress initially did not seem that interested in Rodman. She ignored his persistent calls until, one day, she finally picked up. They started dating shortly after and got married the following year.

They had their own reality TV series on MTV titled "Til Death Do us Part: Carmen and Dave."

Electra and Rodman's Lead-Up to the Wedding and Divorce

While they were still dating, Electra experienced one of the saddest days of her life when she, unfortunately, lost her mother and sister in the space of two weeks. They died in August 1998 from brain cancer and heart attack, respectively. Months later, Electra married Rodman in Las Vegas at the Little Chapel of the Flowers.

However, within two weeks, Rodman requested that the marriage be nullified. Electra, for her part, also conceded that the emotions of losing her two closest people may have led her to marry Rodman, who had been helpful during the mourning period, and she was frightened to lose him as well. She said:

“Right after my mom and sister died, I flew to Las Vegas and Dennis and I got married. I guess I was trying to cling to whatever I had. I’d lost my mom and my sister; I didn’t want to lose anyone else.”

Carmen Electra's Marriage to Dave Navarro

After separating from Rodman, it took a few years before Electra entered another publicized relationship. In the early 2000s, Electra met rock and roll artist Dave Navarro and began their courtship. The wedding preparations were documented in their reality TV series on MTV titled "Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen and Dave."

The former couple even posed for a picture with their tongues touching in 2014.

Their wedding took place in November 2003. Carmen and her new husband, Jane's Addiction's lead guitarist Navarro made numerous public appearances and seemed to enjoy their lives under the spotlight. However, the marriage only lasted for less than three years.

Who Are Dennis Rodman and Dave Navarro?

Dennis Rodman is arguably the most high-profile person Carmen Electra has been involved in besides Prince. Dennis Rodman played for various NBA teams, including the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs. Still, his most notable playing days were spent playing alongside Michael Jordan at the Chicago Bulls.

Besides basketball, he was also involved in professional wrestling and even fought on the same team as Hulk Hogan. Furthermore, he appeared in several films, including "Double Team" alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme. Navarro, on the other hand, is best known for his time with Jane's Addiction.

An acclaimed guitarist, he used to be part of the famous group Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has recorded five albums with those two groups and has one solo album to his name, called "Trust no one." Besides music, he served as host and judge on a tattoo competition reality series called "Ink Master."

Carmen Electra Still Friends With Her Ex Dave Navarro

On July 17, 2006, Carmen Electra and her husband, Dave Navarro, announced their separation. There was no public declaration as to what had caused the breakup. Electra officially filed for divorce the following month, and it got settled in February 2007. She did not have children with Navarro or Dennis Rodman.

However, despite the divorce, her relationship with Navarro remained amicable. In an Instagram post dedicated to her former husband, ten years after their marriage ended, she referred to him as her "eternal love" and showed her gratitude for their friendship. She described their relationship as one of great understanding and laughter.

The former couple even posed for a picture with their tongues touching in 2014. That picture led some to suggest that the two had reconciled, but Navarro refuted the speculation by pointing out that the two "will always be the best of friends" via a tweet. They have both since moved on to new partners.

Electra has been linked with various men since the divorce. They include TV personality Simon Cowell, actor Colin Farrell, and swimmer Ryan Lochte. She was even almost married to Rob Patterson at one stage. However, she hasn't remarried and kept much of her private life away from the public eye over the last decade.