Academy Award-winning actress, filmmaker and producer Halle Berry has reached remarkable heights in her professional career, but one can’t say the same when it comes to her personal life, especially her turbulent love life. Her tragic relationship history is back in the spotlight after her first husband, former MLB star David Justice, revealed why their four-year marriage ended. He admitted struggling with Berry’s independence and career-focused lifestyle, even claiming she proposed to him just five months after they met, despite his doubts from the very beginning.

In recent years, Halle Berry has kept her life private, after her three failed marriages, high-profile romances, and messy custody battles have long been a subject of public fascination. Aside from her divorces, the Catwoman actress’s dating life hasn’t been any less private either. And now, David Justice’s claims about their marriage have sparked fresh interest in her past.

Amid the ongoing buzz surrounding her first marriage to David Justice, let’s revisit Halle Berry’s full dating history, from her early romances and marriages to the relationship she calls her ‘longest ever’. Here’s a complete timeline of the men she has loved, lost, and, in some cases, battled in court.

Halle Berry’s first low-profile relationship with Chicago-based dentist, John Ronan

Before she became a known name in Hollywood, Halle Berry was in a relationship with a Chicago-based dentist, John Ronan. They started dating in 1989, and after only two years, it ended on a bitter note. While it wasn’t a high-profile romance, it didn’t come without drama. In 1993, Ronan sued Berry for USD 80,000, claiming he had loaned her the money when she was struggling as an actress. However, Berry asserted that the money was a gift, and the suit was dismissed in 1994.

1992: A short-lived romance with Christopher Williams

After her breakup from John Ronan, Berry was involved in a relationship with R&B singer Christopher Williams in 1992. The two even made a joint appearance on the red carpet for the 1992 NAACP Image Awards. However, the relationship didn’t last long, and the two parted ways in less than a year.

Halle Berry’s first marriage to David Justice

Berry’s first marriage was to former NBA player David Justice, an Atlanta Braves star. Within only five months of dating, the two got married. Recently, Justice revealed in a podcast that Berry was the one who proposed to him, but the latter had doubts about the marriage. However, he didn’t say anything, and the two got married on New Year’s Day 1993.

Justice admitted that after the honeymoon phase of their marriage was over, he struggled with Berry’s independence, which made him doubt having kids with her. He added that his traditional Midwest upbringing clashed with Berry’s lifestyle. In his recent interaction with Matt Barnes on the All the Smoke podcast, Justice said:

“My knowledge and my understanding, my wisdom around relationships, just wasn’t vast. So, I’m looking at my mom – and I’m a Midwest guy. So, in my mind, I’m thinking a wife at that time should cook, clean, [be] traditional, you know? Then I’m thinking, ‘OK, if we have kids, is this the woman I want to have kids with and build a family with?’ At that time, as a young guy, she don’t cook, don’t clean, don’t really seem like motherly, and then we start having issues.”

Halle Berry and David Justice separated in 1996 and got legally divorced the following year. Later, the Boomerang actress hinted that the marriage left her emotionally scarred for a long time. Justice himself has acknowledged that therapy might have saved it.

Halle Berry’s second marriage to Eric Benét was marred by infidelity

Years after her divorce from David Justice, Halle Berry found love in popular R&B singer Eric Benét. The two tied the knot in 2001, and Benét was by the actress’s side when she created history as an Oscar winner in 2002 for her powerful performance in the film Monster’s Ball. 

However, within months of her historic win, reports of Benét’s infidelity surfaced. The R&B singer even sought treatment for sex addiction, but it didn’t last long. In 2002, Benét and Berry separated in 2003. In a chat with Oprah Winfrey in 2004, Berry had desperately tried to save the marriage before filing for divorce. In 2005, their divorce was legally finalised.

Halle Berry’s relationship with Gabriel Aubry ended in a bitter custody battle

In 2006, Berry moved on with model Gabriel Aubry, and within two years of dating, the duo welcomed their daughter, Nahla, in 2008. However, another couple of years later, the relationship ended and sparked a bitter custody battle over Nahla. The custody battle lasted for years, and in 2012, the actress’s attempt to relocate to France with Nahla was blocked by a judge. Things further escalated when Aubry and Berry’s future husband, Olivier Martinez, got into a violent altercation on Thanksgiving Day 2012.

Halle Berry’s third marriage to Olivier Martinez

In 2013, Halle Berry got hitched for the third time to renowned French actor Olivier Martinez, with whom she welcomed her second child and their son Maceo that same year. This marriage also turned turbulent not long after they had their son. Martinez’s infamous fight with Berry’s ex, Aubry, in 2012 was followed by his separation from Berry in 2015, which led to years of divorce battles. 

After their separation, Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez spent years locked in legal battles, finally finalising their divorce in 2023. As part of the settlement, Berry agreed to pay Martinez USD 8,000 a month in child support, plus a percentage of any earnings above USD 2 million. Their conflict reignited in 2024 when Berry accused her third husband of being an ‘aggressive’ and uncooperative co-parent, filing to strip him of legal custody of their son. Martinez, however, denied all allegations.

Halle Berry’s long-term relationship with Van Hunt: A fourth marriage on the cards?

After a history of rocky relationships and three failed marriages, Halle Berry was no longer looking for love. However, she found her ‘person’ in American singer and songwriter Van Hunt. The two went public about their relationship in 2020, and in 2024, the Catwoman actress proudly declared it’s the longest relationship of her life. 

Speaking to Armchair Expert, the actress admitted that before Hunt, she never made it past the three-year mark in any of her relationships. Hunt has even reportedly popped the question to Berry, but the actress hasn’t said ‘yes’ yet. Speaking to Today with Jenna & Friends, the actress said that she hasn’t ruled it out entirely. She said:

“We don’t feel we need to get married to validate our love.”

Berry says her romance with Hunt works because it began naturally and ‘for the right reasons’. After decades of heartbreak, public scrutiny, and legal battles, she has found a rare peace. Whether or not marriage is in her future, the actress believes she’s finally met her true ‘person’.

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