Why did Dick Van Dyke first wife divorce the star? Michelle Triola controversy explored

Dick Van Dyke, who was previously in a long time relationship with actress Michelle Triola, recently revealed more about his sixteen year married life with Arlene Silver. Dick Van Dyke was previously married to Margie Willet, who divorced him for a combination of factors, including his alcholism and, specifically, after he became embroiled in an affair with Michelle Triola.

Dick Van Dyke married Margie Willet in 1948, the former couple had known each other a long time, and decided to marry while they were in their early 20s. They had four children: Christian, born 1950, Barry, born 1951, Stacy, born 1955, and Carrie Beth, born 1961. The couple divorced in 1984 after thirty-six years of marriage.

More about Michelle Triola, the former actress who was in a relationship with Dick Van Dyke for thirty four years

Michelle Triola was born on 19 November 1932 in Chicago before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Hollywood. She was previously married to actor Skip Ward, but the couple divorced in 1962, after just six months of marriage.

Soon after this, Triola met actor Lee Marvin in 1964 during the filming of their movie, Ship of Fools, and the two started dating after Lee Marvin divorced his first wife, Betty Ebeling. The two of them initially lived at Michelle Triola's apartment, but over time, as the Point Blank actor went on to achieve greater accolades, both of them moved into his newly purchased Malibu beach house, according to the Los Angeles Times.

During this time, according to a 1979 article by the New York Times, Michelle Triola put her career on hold as she helped Lee Marvin further his career in any way she could. In May 1970, although they were not legally married, Michelle Triola legally added "Marvin" to her name and was from that point on known as Michelle Triola Marvin.

The problem arose just a month later in 1970 when the former couple suddenly broke up, and Michelle Triola was asked to leave Marvin's Malibu beach house. This happened when Lee Marvin ended their relationship and began dating his high school ex-girlfriend, Pamela Feeley. The couple eventually married in 1970 and remained together until the Cat Ballou actor died in 1987. After their breakup, Michelle Triola took up the job of a secretary, one where she would meet eventually meet Dick Van Dyke.

In February 1972, Michelle Triola filed a case against Lee Marvin after he cut off the monthly expenses he was paying her. Michelle Triola, who was represented by attorney Marvin Mitchelson, in the landmark case, argued that the actor had made verbal promises during their relationship to take care of her. According to The Los Angeles Times, Mitchelson further stated that during the six-year relationship, the actor had earned $3.6 million, arguing that Triola was entitled to $1.8 million, that is, half of it.

During the proceedings of the trial, Michelle claimed that Lee Marvin had forced her to get an abortion twice, with one resulting in her inability to have children. The court case was extensively covered by newspapers, setting a new precedent regarding the division of assets in live-in relationships.

The case went on for a few years, and later, Triola was awarded $104,000 to help with her transition into her career after the end of her relationship. However, the Court of Appeals overturned the verdict. Although the new precedent arguing that the court must recognize non-marital relationship contracts was upheld, the court found no such contract existed in the case of Michelle Triola, leading to the dismissal of her claim.

Dick Van Dyke and Michelle Triola Marvin began their relationship in 1975 and were together for thirty four years untill her death in 2009 from lung cancer.

In his memoir, "Keep Moving," published in 2016, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang actor talked about how their relationship began. Excerpts obtained by Daily Mail read:

Trending

"She was easy to talk to, she understood me. At the time, Michelle was suing actor Lee Marvin, with whom she had a six-year relationship. I was drawn into a relationship. I was involved with a woman other than my wife. It was unbelievable. I was writhing in guilt. By 1976 I had to do something. I needed to be honest."

After Michelle Triola Marvin died in 2009 at the age of seventy six, Dick Van Dyke began a relationship with makeup artist Arlene Silver, who is forty six years his junior. The pair married in 2012 and celebrated their thirteenth anniversary back in February this year.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback