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This Man Is a Famous Actress' Ex-husband & Showed Her a 'Whole Other Way to Live' - She Claimed after 17 Years They Never Legally Married

Titi Dokubo
Feb 20, 2024
08:40 A.M.

Geena Davis was married three times before she met her fourth husband, who became the father of her three kids. Initially, their 15-year age gap was a stumbling block, and she did not take their relationship seriously.

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However, after they married, the couple welcomed three kids when she was almost 50. The actress became a doting mom who revealed that motherhood changed her life.

Unfortunately, her husband filed for divorce and asked for spousal support. In response, Geena Davis claimed that they were never legally married. Their divorce was finalized only four years after their separation. She is now single and living her best life.

Geena Davis at The Hollywood Reporter's Raising Our Voices, presented by Walmart on April 20, 2022 | Source: Getty Images

Geena Davis at The Hollywood Reporter's Raising Our Voices, presented by Walmart on April 20, 2022 | Source: Getty Images

Geena Davis felt isolated and confused after a string of box office disappointments and several failed marriages. The model-turned-actress was also worried about aging in the industry.

She revealed that it was painful for her to be an outsider in Hollywood in her 40s. Davis never thought her career would slow down as she aged.

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By her 40s, Davis had been married three times. She was first married to Richard Emmolo from March 25, 1981, to June 1984. Her second marriage to Jeff Goldblum on November 1, 1987, ended in 1991. On her third walk down the aisle, she married Renny Harlin from September 18, 1993, to June 1998.

Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum at the 62nd Annual Academy Awards on March 26, 1990 | Source: Getty Images

Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum at the 62nd Annual Academy Awards on March 26, 1990 | Source: Getty Images

GEENA DAVIS ON MEETING HER FOURTH HUSBAND

At 42, Davis attended a party where she met Dr. Reza Jarrahy, the man who would be her fourth husband. He was only 27 and was different from the men she had been with in the past.

Davis was used to being with men she thought she could fix and make perfect. So, she always found her worth by sacrificing everything for her partner's sake.

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Geena Davis at the Oscars on March 25, 1991 | Source: Getty Images

Geena Davis at the Oscars on March 25, 1991 | Source: Getty Images

However, she realized that the way she felt had nothing to do with the men, but everything to do with how she felt about herself. Davis knew that she was damaged and had to fix herself.

Despite fitting the bill of the kind of man she wanted in her life, Davis thought it would be an unlikely affair because their age gap was initially a stumbling block.

Geena Davis at the 61st Annual Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon on March 21, 1989 | Source: Getty Images

Geena Davis at the 61st Annual Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon on March 21, 1989 | Source: Getty Images

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Even though he was handsome, the actress worried that 15 years was a lot of difference. She said:

"I remember thinking, This guy is cute and ridiculously young."

However, she decided to give him a chance for the fun of it as she was not thinking about the future. When they started spending time together, she realized that the age difference did not matter.

Geena Davis and Dr. Reza Jarrahy at the opening night of the 2003 Maui Film Festival | Source: Getty Images

Geena Davis and Dr. Reza Jarrahy at the opening night of the 2003 Maui Film Festival | Source: Getty Images

GEENA DAVIS' MARRIAGE AND KIDS

Davis did not hesitate to get married for the fourth time. She knew she had made permanent changes in her life, and with Dr. Jarrahy, she could be herself.

Davis declared that she had discovered "a whole other way to live" by having him in her life. The couple married in the Hamptons on September 1, 2001.

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Geena Davis and Dr. Reza Jarrahy at the 6th Annual Costume Guild Awards reception on February 21, 2004 | Source: Getty Images

Geena Davis and Dr. Reza Jarrahy at the 6th Annual Costume Guild Awards reception on February 21, 2004 | Source: Getty Images

They welcomed their first child, Alizeh Keshvar Davis Jarrahy, in 2002 when Davis was 46. In 2004, the couple had a set of twin boys, Kaiis Steven Jarrahy and Kian William Jarrahy.

Even though she welcomed kids later in life, Davis believed it was precisely the right time and with the right person. She had always wanted kids and knew that having them earlier would have meant being over-involved in their lives.

Dr. Reza Jarrahy and Geena Davis at the inaugural ball and premiere screening of "Commander-in-Chief" on September 21, 2005 | Source: Getty Images

Dr. Reza Jarrahy and Geena Davis at the inaugural ball and premiere screening of "Commander-in-Chief" on September 21, 2005 | Source: Getty Images

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However, she said it was a challenging experience as she had to raise three kids under three years old. She was not sure she would love them equally, but she does. "The Accidental Tourist" actress said:

"I always felt lucky that I had my kids late, because I just feel like I changed so much. I always knew I wanted kids, but what I was doing waiting that long, I don’t know."

Despite showering her kids with love and trying to raise them right, Davis acknowledged that it was overwhelming.

Alizeh Keshvar Davis Jarrahy, Reza Jarrahy, Kaiis Steven Jarrahy, and Kian William Jarrahy at the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital's Kaleidoscope 5 on May 6, 2017 | Source: Getty Images

Alizeh Keshvar Davis Jarrahy, Reza Jarrahy, Kaiis Steven Jarrahy, and Kian William Jarrahy at the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital's Kaleidoscope 5 on May 6, 2017 | Source: Getty Images

A DOTING MOTHER OF THREE

Before her children became teenagers, Davis admitted that she felt a bit swamped thinking about it. When she thought about college, dating, or driving, she felt like she had plenty of time to spend with them.

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She relished being a mother and did her best not to repeat the mistakes from her childhood. She wanted her kids to feel acknowledged because she learned to stifle things as a child.

Reza Jarrahy, Alizeh Keshvar Davis Jarrahy, Kian William Jarrahy, Geena Davis, and Kaiis Steven Jarrahy at the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital's Kaleidoscope 5 on May 6, 2017 | Source: Getty Images

Reza Jarrahy, Alizeh Keshvar Davis Jarrahy, Kian William Jarrahy, Geena Davis, and Kaiis Steven Jarrahy at the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital's Kaleidoscope 5 on May 6, 2017 | Source: Getty Images

Davis grew up in a generation where they told kids they should be seen and not heard. However, she taught her children to express themselves and let them know that they did not have to hide their emotions.

The doting mother made sure to spend as much time with her kids. She would put things off to be there for them, especially before taking their night baths.

The "Thelma & Louise" actress tried to give a balanced upbringing to her kids and was conscious of the media they consumed. Also, she never wanted her children to go into acting because she wanted them to have real-life jobs.

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Kaii Davis Jarrahy being honored at the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital's Kaleidoscope 5 on May 6, 2017 | Source: Getty Images

Kaii Davis Jarrahy being honored at the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital's Kaleidoscope 5 on May 6, 2017 | Source: Getty Images

DIVORCE AND SETTLEMENT

In May 2018, Dr. Jarrahy filed for divorce from Davis after separating in November 2017. In his documents, he cited irreconcilable differences and sought spousal support after 17 years of being married.

He also sought joint legal and physical custody of their children and asked the judge to deny any request by Davis for spousal support.

Reza Jarrahy and Geena Davis at the premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" on December 14, 2015 | Source: Getty Images

Reza Jarrahy and Geena Davis at the premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" on December 14, 2015 | Source: Getty Images

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When Davis filed her documents, she asked the judge to dismiss Dr. Jarrahy's divorce petition. She claimed they were never legally married as they never returned the marriage license to the court clerk, making their union illegal.

The actress also claimed that if there were no marriage, there would be no property to split, and he would not be entitled to spousal support since he was not a spouse.

Geena Davis at the Tribute To Geena Davis during the 45th Deauville American Film Festival on September 10, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

Geena Davis at the Tribute To Geena Davis during the 45th Deauville American Film Festival on September 10, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

Even though Dr. Jarrahy believed the marriage was valid, Davis revealed that they kept separate bank accounts and credit cards. They also never owned any real property as a couple.

On December 3, 2021, their divorce became official, and the couple agreed to change the last names of their twins from Davis-Jarrahy to Jarrahy, with Davis being a second middle name for the boys.

Davis revealed that she was at peace with life and aging as her life had gotten better every year. She is not afraid of getting older and loves how she looks.

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