Diandra Luker is a prominent American film producer and businesswoman. She was once married to renowned Hollywood actor Michael Douglas.
However, their divorce received significant media attention, catapulting Luker into the public eye. Luker tied the knot with Douglas when she was quite young, and they enjoyed a blissful marriage for a considerable period before parting ways.
Early Life & Education
Diandra Luker’s birth year is 1956 and she was born on a small island in Majorca. The specific date of her birth is not widely known. Her father was a former diplomat from Switzerland and America, while her mother was of Anglo-French heritage.
Luker’s father had a job that required frequent travel, which led to her attending a boarding school in Switzerland. Eventually, she relocated to the United States to pursue her higher education.
At the age of 19, Diandra Luker enrolled in the ‘Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service’ located in Georgetown. It was at the swearing-in event for US President Jimmy Carter that she first crossed paths with famous actor Michael Douglas.
Their relationship blossomed and just two weeks later, Douglas asked for Luker’s hand in marriage. The couple tied the knot in March of 1977.
Career
During her teenage years, Diandra Luker was highly engaged in charitable activities and was a dedicated member of the ‘Red Cross.’ Her passion for giving back led to her being recruited by the Board of Directors of the ‘Metropolitan Museum of Art’ to create documentaries for their ‘Office of Film and Television.’
For a short time, Luker also had a career as a model. She was recruited by ‘Forbes Models,’ an agency known for representing renowned models like Carolina Herrera and Donna Karan.
Following her marriage to Michael Douglas, Luker began creating documentaries for television. One of her works was featured on the ‘PBS’ channel as part of the American Masters series in 1991. Luker was responsible for producing the episode titled ‘Frederic Remington: The Man and His Canines.’
In 1993, Luker served as the co-producer for the documentary titled ‘Beatrice Woods: Mama of Dada,’ which was broadcast on the ‘PBS’ channel. The film focused on the artistic career and personal story of Beatrice Wood, a prominent ‘Dada’ artist.
The audience greatly valued the documentary. Luker served as one of the producers for the film ‘Off The Menu: The Last Days of Chasen’s’ in 1997. Luker’s first film appearance was in 2008, and she also worked as a co-producer for the movie ‘Broken Lines.’
Diandra Luker & Michael Douglas’ Marriage
In March 1977, Diandra Luker and Michael Douglas tied the knot and enjoyed a blissful marriage for many years. They welcomed their son, Cameron Douglas, in 1978. However, after ten years of marriage, their relationship began to deteriorate and they faced a rough patch in their marriage.
It was in 1995 that they began living apart, and in 2000 the couple officially divorced. As part of the divorce agreement, Douglas paid Luker a total of $45 million.
Following her divorce, Luker was romantically involved with businessman Zach Hampton Bacon III. In 2004, the pair welcomed twin sons, Hudson and Hawk, who were born via a surrogate.
However, the relationship ended not long after. Luker then adopted a daughter, Imira, from Kazakhstan. She also served as the godmother to the late Casey Johnson, the heiress of ‘Johnson & Johnson.’
Diandra Luker’s son, Cameron, was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 5 years in prison. Luker was also subjected to criticism for her son’s actions. Many newspapers alleged that it was her own greed that led to her son’s descent into drug addiction.
Diandra Luker faced significant backlash for her request for a substantial amount of spousal support from Michael Douglas, who was battling cancer. She defended her position by stating that she was simply asking for what she believed was rightfully hers.
