Inside Melanie Griffith’s 'Elegant' Former Home Banderas Left Her after Divorce — He'll Love Her until Death

• Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas married, making the actor a dedicated stepfather and husband.
• The two spent nearly two decades together, although they ultimately went their separate ways.
• After the two separated, Banderas left Griffith with the large house they bought together in 2002.

Antonio Banderas is widely recognized for his suave looks and his roles as smoldering action heroes in films much like "The Legend of Zorro" and "Once Upon a Time in Mexico." Besides his roles in iconic action films, the actor also devoted himself to his family, standing by their side through thick and thin.

Banderas married his second wife, Melanie Griffith, in 1996. Like Banderas, Griffith had also been married previously. The actress had one son, Alexander Bauer, from her marriage to the actor Stephen Bauer and a daughter, Dakota Johnson, from her relationship with the "Miami Vice" star Don Johnson.

Marrying Griffith meant Banderas became a stepdad to her two children, and while this would daunt people without kids of their own, Banderas stepped into the role without hesitation. The actor was proud to help look after his two stepchildren, and not long after Banderas and Griffith married, they welcomed a new member of the family.

Following the divorce, Banderas remained close with Griffith and her two children.

Banderas and Griffith named their new little girl Stella, and luckily, the family blended well. The "Mambo Kings" star spoke candidly about his relationship with Griffith, saying they were extremely happy together, even though they had problems to work through — most of which originated with Griffith's substance abuse.

Although Griffith struggled with addiction for years, Banderas stuck with her, helping her through challenging times and encouraging her to keep trying to recover. After 17 years of marriage, Banderas praised Griffith for her commitment to getting sober and the progress she had made over the years.

Staying Friends Even after Their Divorce

With their marriage slowly approaching two decades, things sadly started to fall apart. They went their separate ways in 2014, and Griffith later commented on their divorce, noting that the union mostly ended because she was unable to find a way to deal with her substance abuse problems effectively.

Luckily, the divorce seemed to end amicably, with Banderas leaving Griffith the $4.3 million log cabin mansion in Aspen, Colorado, that the pair had bought together.

Despite the divorce, Banderas had played a crucial role in the lives of Griffith's children, with the actress' daughter commenting, "He loved my mother and my siblings and I so fiercely and so big and so loud that it would change all of our lives forever." Johnson reportedly even lovingly called Banderas "Paponio."

Following the divorce, Banderas remained close with Griffith and her two children. The actor had devoted so much of his life to building lasting relationships with the family that he couldn't separate from them even if he wasn't technically part of their clan any longer. He confessed that Griffith was still a close friend after they separated.

Banderas also admitted that he still loved his ex-wife and would always adore her until his death, even though they no longer shared a life. The two actors even took to spending holidays together, reuniting their children and reliving the days they spent as a family.

After the divorce, Banderas also remained a committed father figure to his own daughter, Stella. He opened up about the young woman, revealing that she shares her parents' creativity. Banderas noted that Stella loved reading books from a young age and, over the years, developed into a skilled writer.

Just like with his two daughters, Banderas also shared a close bond with his stepson. The actor recalled how "beautiful" the time they all spent as a family was, and although he doesn't spend as much time in the U.S., having left the home he shared with Griffith entirely to her, the actor commented, "My family is in Los Angeles."

Inside the Home Banderas Left Griffith after the Divorce

Luckily, the divorce seemed to end amicably, with Banderas leaving Griffith the $4.3 million log cabin mansion in Aspen, Colorado, that the pair had bought together. Although Griffith held onto the eclectic home for years, she eventually decided to put the house on the market.

The gorgeous mansion stretches over 7,400 square feet and features five bedrooms and six bathrooms. Built in 1994, the previous owner reportedly used the property as a ceramics studio, and many of the tiles in the house were made exclusively for the property. The house also features stunning floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the space with natural light.

A massive stone fireplace serves as the home's focal point, blending beautifully with the light wooden beams and wall surrounding it. Situated on the backside of the breathtaking Aspen Mountain, the wood perfectly complements its natural surroundings and offers its residents awe-inspiring views of the solitary woods.

Carrie Wells, a broker with Coldwell Banker, noted how unique the house's placement on the mountain is. The property allows for year-round entertainment in the form of mountain biking, dirt biking, skiing, and snowmobile routes. According to Wells, the family would visit the property to break away in winter and summer.

Griffith herself decorated the home, with Wells commenting, "She describes the look as 'funky elegant.'" The decor features everything from leather couches and wood-lined countertops to stained glass chandelier covers. The house even has a billiard room, complete with a pool table looking out over Aspen Mountain.

One of the house's most impressive features, however, is the wine cellar, big enough to hold up to 9000 bottles. The cellar is also predominantly made from wood and is lit by warm lights throughout the space. Meanwhile, the back patio offers a lovely space to enjoy one of the many bottles of wine along with the summer Aspen sun.

Griffith decided to put the house on the market since she and her family stopped vacationing there as frequently as they used to. Wells commented that Griffith's children have all grown up and started careers of their own, which hindered them from visiting the gorgeous mountain property as often as they'd like.

The actress initially put the house on the market for the original $4.3 million, although she was forced to drop the price by almost $500,000 in 2018. Griffith and Banderas acquired the property in 2002, but the actress was the sole owner after they parted ways.