12 Classic TV Stars Whose First Marriages Ended in the Shadow of Fame

America welcomed them into its living rooms every week. They were fathers, cowboys, detectives, singers, hosts and heroes. But behind the familiar faces, their first marriages were reaching turning points that the audience rarely saw. In this video, we look at twelve classic television stars and the stories behind their first marriages — from Don Knotts and Dick Clark to Bob Crane, Eddie Fisher and Johnny Carson. Some relationships ended as careers took off. Others had been struggling long before the public noticed, and in one famous case, the star insisted that the story everyone repeated had it backwards. Using biographies, contemporary newspapers and the public record, we explore the timelines while separating documented facts from assumptions. The timing of a divorce can be striking, but it does not prove what happened behind closed doors. Which of these stories surprised you most? Tell us in the comments. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:50 Don Knotts 3:26 Dick Clark 5:39 Chuck Connors 7:56 Lorne Greene 10:07 Jack Webb 12:28 Dean Martin 14:52 Jackie Gleason 17:02 William Shatner 19:25 Michael Landon 21:33 Bob Crane 23:37 Eddie Fisher 26:00 Johnny Carson 28:55 Closing thoughts #ClassicTV #HollywoodHistory #ClassicHollywood