Marguerite Belafonte Didn't Approve of Harry Belafonte's Career – More about the Late Actor's First Wife

Marguerite Belafonte, the first wife of the late Harry Belafonte, was known for her disapproval of her husband's career as an actor and musician. Despite being married for almost a decade, their relationship was tumultuous.

Harry Belafonte was an iconic singer and actor with two Grammys and one Emmy Award, among others, and was also known as a civil rights activist. He was born Harold George Belafonte Jr. on March 1, 1927, and grew up experiencing poverty.

Growing up was not smooth sailing as his mother worked several jobs while his father, who later left them when he was a boy, worked as a cook. Although he was born in New York, he spent his early years in Jamaica before returning to New York in 1940.

In 1944, he joined the US Navy after dropping out of high school. Upon his discharge, he worked as a janitor and later became a stagehand for American Negro Theater.

He later studied drama with Bea Arthur and Marlon Brando before he went into music with his early performances at a jazz club. By 1949, he landed his first recording deal and soon dropped popular music and performed in notable New York clubs.

Harry made his Broadway debut in 1953 and soon succeeded as an actor. However, before gaining success in the entertainment industry, he had already met his first wife, Marguerite Byrd.

Harry Belafonte Told Marguerite Belafonte He Might End up Marrying Her after Their First Dance

Marguerite was born Frances Marguerite Byrd to a family of high achievers and had huge dreams for her life. She planned to have multiple graduate degrees and wanted to become a child psychologist despite having siblings who were teachers.

She had met Harry while he was still in the Navy as a sailor at the US Navy's Storekeepers School, and he fell in love with her at first sight, vowing to marry her. His school was at the Hampton Institute, where she was studying psychology.

He was later impressed by the fact that her family lived in a house and not an apartment in Washington. However, he knew that her background would make it challenging for him to have an intimate relationship with her. But he had hope.

Additionally, she led an anti-sailor group in her school, making dating her more challenging. Despite being under a rule that sailors could not date coeds, Harry, fortunately, scored a first date with Marguerite and even got to dance with her. While they were on the dance floor, he asked her to be nice to him, and when she asked him why, he replied:

"Because I might just end up marrying you."

Marguerite was shocked by his outburst and asked Harry if the world had run out of men; the artist revealed that he saw a trace hint of a smile. They became friends, but he later learned she was dating someone else.

However, he did not lose hope as he realized she was not wearing an engagement ring. Sometime later, she watched him perform in a play and hugged him after the performance.

As they took a stroll that night, he pushed her against the railing of a bridge, playfully threatening to throw her over if she did not agree to marry him. She accepted his proposal, and they set a June 18 date for their wedding, but he was scared she would change her mind.

Marguerite Belafonte Became Harry Belafonte's First Wife, but the Marriage Was Never Smooth

On June 18, 1948, Marguerite, then working at a nursery, did not disappoint Harry, as they went to City Hall to get married. She had informed her parents of the wedding the night before, leaving them in shock as they felt she was making a rash decision.

His mother also disapproved because she felt he was too young to get married at only 21. Her parents did not attend, but she had an aunt and teachers from her workplace serve as witnesses.

The couple then had their honeymoon at Beaver Lodge in Pennsylvania, where he had worked as part of their entertainment staff. After their honeymoon, she moved back to Manhattan, where she worked.

From the early days of their marriage, Marguerite and Harry struggled. First, there were financial differences between them as he was a struggling actor while she earned less than 80 dollars per week.

They also had different outlooks on life, as she was studying to earn a Ph.D. in psychology and felt acting was not a practical career path to follow. She expected him to grow out of it and get a real job guaranteeing a steady income.

Two months after their wedding, she was confirmed pregnant, and they welcomed their first child, Adrienne Michelle Belafonte, on May 27, 1949. Their troubles increased in the early 1950s after he met fellow actress Julie Robinson.

On September 22, 1954, Marguerite welcomed their second daughter, Shari, and later found letters Julie had written Harry Belafonte. This was the last straw that caused the couple to separate. Despite the letters, the actor revealed that he did not have an affair until after they had split, but she did not believe him.

By January 1957, news of their divorce plans had already hit the media, but his wife still thought miracles could happen. On February 28, 1957, after spending six weeks in Las Vegas with Harry and their daughters, she filed for divorce, and on March 1, 1957, their divorce was broadcast over the news.

Marguerite Belafonte Was Happily Married a Second Time after Divorce from Harry Belafonte

In 1958, Marguerite wrote an essay responding to one of Harry's essays. Her piece titled "The Tragedy of Divorce" was published in Ebony that year. She later worked as a women's news editor and as a fundraiser for the NAACP Freedom Fund.

She also acted in the 1959 movie, "Night of the Quarter Moon," alongside Julie London, John Drew Barrymore, Anna Kashfi, Dean Jones, Nat 'King' Cole, and others. Years later, she fell in love and got married.

She had met her next husband, Dr. Edward Mazique when she was pregnant with her first daughter. They got married in 1965, and he had a good relationship with her ex-husband and even helped him get an honorary degree from Morehouse College.

Marguerite suffered a heart ailment and died at 74 on February 15, 1998. However, before her death, her daughter Adrienne fell in love and married a white man despite her disapproval. Adrienne had met David Biesemeyer at school, and even when her mother transferred her to Mexico to continue her education, he followed her there.

She now works as the Executive Director at Anir Foundation after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies and a Master of Arts in Community Counseling.

Marguerite's second daughter, Shari, received a Master of Fine Arts in Drama and became an actress and producer. She was married to Robert Harper for over a decade before they divorced. Two years later, she married actor and visual effects artist Sam Behrens.