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The Four Queens: Unveiling The Lives Of Yul Brynner's Wives And Their Untold Legacies

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Few Hollywood legends commanded the stage and screen with the intensity of Yul Brynner, the iconic star forever immortalized as the King of Siam. Behind his celebrated career, which included over 4,000 performances in *The King and I* and an Academy Award, lay a complex and passionate personal life marked by four marriages, five children, and a global existence that spanned continents and cultures. This deep dive, updated for December 2025, explores the distinct women who shared his life, from a Golden Age actress to a Malaysian ballerina, and uncovers the unique legacies each woman left behind. The curiosity surrounding the actor’s private affairs remains high, especially following recent public discussions and revelations from his children, which have shed new light on the final years of the King's life and the lasting impact of his formidable personality. Each of Yul Brynner's wives was a formidable figure in her own right, contributing to the rich tapestry of his extraordinary history and maintaining their own significant careers and social standing long after their time with the star concluded.

The Four Queens of Yul Brynner: A Complete Biography List

Yul Brynner married four times, with each relationship spanning a different phase of his life and career. His relationships were known for their intensity and international flair, reflecting his own cosmopolitan background as a Russian-born actor who became a naturalized U.S. citizen. The following list details the four women who held the title of Mrs. Yul Brynner.

  • First Wife: Virginia Gilmore (1944–1960)
    • Profession: American film and stage actress, later a drama teacher.
    • Marriage Date: 1944
    • Divorce Date: 1960
    • Child: Rock Brynner (son, born 1946).
    • Key Fact: She was instrumental in encouraging Brynner to return to the stage, which led to his career-defining role in *The King and I*.
  • Second Wife: Doris Kleiner (1960–1967)
    • Profession: Chilean model and socialite, known for her close friendship with Audrey Hepburn.
    • Marriage Date: 1960 (Married on the set of *The Magnificent Seven*).
    • Divorce Date: 1967
    • Child: Victoria Brynner (daughter, born 1962).
    • Key Fact: Doris was an accomplished photographer and muse, who passed away recently at the age of 93, maintaining a life of elegance and influence in Paris.
  • Third Wife: Jacqueline Thion de la Chaume (1971–1981)
    • Profession: French socialite, widow of Philippe de Croisset (often referred to as Jacqueline de Croisset).
    • Marriage Date: 1971
    • Divorce Date: 1981
    • Children: Mia Brynner (adopted daughter, born 1974) and Melody Brynner (adopted daughter, born 1975).
    • Key Fact: The couple adopted two Vietnamese children, Mia and Melody, showcasing a commitment to humanitarian efforts during their marriage.
  • Fourth Wife: Kathy Lee (1983–1985)
    • Profession: Ballerina and dancer, born in Ipoh, Malaysia.
    • Marriage Date: April 4, 1983
    • End of Marriage: October 10, 1985 (Yul Brynner's death).
    • Child: None (She was 26 when Brynner died at 65).
    • Key Fact: Kathy Lee was his final companion, remaining by his side during his last two years and his battle with lung cancer.

Virginia Gilmore: The Hollywood Start and the First Son

Virginia Gilmore was Yul Brynner's first wife and a significant figure in his early career. A respected actress of the Golden Age of Hollywood, Gilmore starred in films like *Swamp Water* (1941) and performed extensively on Broadway.

Their marriage, which lasted 16 years (1944 to 1960), produced his first biological son, Rock Brynner, who would later become an author, historian, and professor. The couple's relationship began when Brynner was still making his name in the entertainment world, and Gilmore's established career provided a foundation for his eventual success. She is often credited with encouraging him to take on the role of the King of Siam in Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical, a role that would define his professional life and earn him a Tony Award and an Oscar. After their divorce, Gilmore transitioned her career to focus on teaching drama, serving as a respected faculty member at Yale University.

Doris Kleiner: The Model, The Photographer's Muse, and Audrey Hepburn’s Best Friend

Doris Kleiner, a Chilean model and socialite, became the second Mrs. Brynner in 1960, marrying the actor on the set of his iconic film *The Magnificent Seven*. Their union resulted in the birth of their daughter, Victoria Brynner, in 1962. Victoria has since carved out her own successful career as a brand and image consultant, carrying on the family's artistic legacy.

Doris Kleiner’s life was noteworthy even beyond her marriage to the actor. She was a close and lifelong friend of the legendary actress Audrey Hepburn, a connection that kept her firmly within the international social and artistic elite. Kleiner was also a muse for her husband’s passion for photography; Yul Brynner was an accomplished photographer who often documented the people and places in his life, with Doris being a frequent subject. Doris divorced Yul in 1967 and went on to live a fulfilling life in Paris, proving her independence and influence until her passing at the age of 93, confirming her as a figure of enduring elegance and strength.

Jacqueline Thion de la Chaume: Adoption, Socialite Life, and a Decade of Marriage

Yul Brynner's third marriage was to the French socialite Jacqueline Thion de la Chaume (later known as Jacqueline de Croisset) in 1971. Jacqueline was the widow of Philippe de Croisset, a prominent French publisher, and was a well-connected figure in Parisian society.

Their marriage lasted a decade, ending in divorce in 1981. This period of Brynner's life was marked by a strong commitment to humanitarian causes, particularly the adoption of two Vietnamese children, Mia and Melody, in the mid-1970s. This act highlighted a compassionate side of the famously stern actor. Jacqueline de Croisset's background in the French elite ensured that their life together was one of international travel and high-profile social engagements, balancing Brynner's demanding theatrical schedule with a life of quiet elegance. Her family background, including her parents Robert Thion de la Chaume and Marie Manette Le Blan, solidified her position in French high society.

Kathy Lee: The Final Love and the King's Last Days

The final woman to marry Yul Brynner was Kathy Lee, a Malaysian-born ballerina and dancer who was 33 years his junior. They married in 1983, just two years before his death.

Kathy Lee’s presence in his life coincided with his final, heroic return to the role of the King of Siam on Broadway, a run that was tragically cut short by his terminal lung cancer diagnosis. She remained his steadfast companion and caregiver during his final battle with the disease, providing comfort and stability until his death in 1985 at the age of 65. Following Brynner's passing, Kathy Lee inherited two estates and has since maintained a very private life, largely staying out of the public eye. Her decision to live a quiet life after the intensity of being married to a global superstar in his final years has kept her current whereabouts and activities largely unpublicized, adding a layer of mystery to the final chapter of the King's life.

The lives of Yul Brynner's four wives are more than footnotes to a legendary career. They are stories of accomplished women—actresses, models, socialites, and dancers—who each brought a unique dimension to the life of an extraordinary man. Their individual legacies, combined with the recent family revelations, continue to fuel the public's fascination with the man who was truly a King both on and off the stage.

yul brynner spouse
yul brynner spouse

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