Drew Barrymore has walked down the aisle three times, navigating a deeply public romantic life that has evolved right alongside her decades-long career in Hollywood. From whirlwind youth marriages to building a blended family later in life, her journey reveals a continuous search for stability and connection after growing up in the intense spotlight.
Understanding Drew Barrymore's marriages requires looking past simple tabloid headlines to examine how her views on love, family, and commitment shifted over time. Each relationship marked a distinct era of her life, shaped by her unique upbringing and her public evolution from a child star into a talk show host and mother.
Jeremy Thomas: The 1994 Whirlwind Marriage
At just 19 years old, Barrymore married Welsh-born bar owner Jeremy Thomas on March 20, 1994. The two had only known each other for about six weeks before tying the knot in a very early morning ceremony at Thomas's Los Angeles bar.
The marriage was remarkably brief. Barrymore filed for divorce less than two months later, and the legal separation was finalized in 1995. Looking back, this union reflected the fast-paced, impulsive choices of her turbulent teenage years following her emancipation and early independence from a conventional childhood. It set an early precedent for how intensely public her romantic decisions would become. To explore the complete picture, we recommend the recent report by The New York Times.
Tom Green: The High-Profile Romance
In March 2000, Barrymore began dating comedian Tom Green after the two worked together on the set of Charlie's Angels. Their relationship captured the eccentric pop-culture energy of the early 2000s, blending alternative comedy with mainstream movie stardom.
They married on July 7, 2001, in a private ceremony in Malibu surrounded by friends like Cameron Diaz and Courtney Love. However, the marriage faced intense personal pressures, including a house fire that destroyed their home and Green's diagnosis of testicular cancer. Green filed for divorce in December 2001, just over five months after the wedding. Despite the rapid dissolution, both maintained a spirit of mutual respect, and Green later expressed support for her transition into talk show hosting.
Will Kopelman: Building a Family and Co-Parenting
Barrymore's longest and most grounded marriage was to art consultant Will Kopelman. The pair announced their engagement in January 2012 and married on June 2, 2012, in California. During this marriage, Barrymore embraced motherhood, welcoming two daughters: Olive, born in 2012, and Frankie, born in 2014.
Unlike her previous marriages, this union represented a deliberate effort to build the stable, traditional family structure she felt she missed out on during her own unconventional childhood. When they announced their separation in April 2016, Barrymore described the divorce as the "death of a dream," noting that it was especially painful because there was no singular scandal or betrayal to point to—just two people who tried exceptionally hard to make it work.
The Biography archives note that Barrymore and Kopelman prioritized an amicable split, keeping their daughters as the central focus. Kopelman remarried in 2021, and Barrymore has spoken openly about finding peace with their modern, blended family dynamic, where all parties work together for the children.
Major Relationships Prior to Marriage
Long before and between her legal unions, Barrymore's high-profile romances regularly dominated entertainment news.
- Leland Hayward III: At age 16, Barrymore was briefly engaged to producer Leland Hayward's grandson in 1991.
- Jamie Walters: She dated the Beverly Hills, 90210 actor and musician from 1992 to 1993, with matching tattoos marking the era.
- Justin Long: Her on-and-off relationship with actor Justin Long in the late 2000s won over fans, and the two have since maintained a close, public friendship, even appearing as guests on The Drew Barrymore Show.
How Her Views on Romance Changed
Following her divorce from Kopelman, Barrymore took a radically different approach to dating. She spent several years intentionally single, focusing entirely on raising her daughters and launching her daytime talk show.
She has been candid in interviews about overcoming emotional struggles and dealing with grief after her third divorce. Rather than seeking another marriage, Barrymore shifted her definition of a happy ending away from romantic partnerships toward personal growth, daily contentment, and active parenting. Her journey illustrates a transition from impulsive youthful attachments to a mature, self-reliant independence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times has Drew Barrymore been married?
Drew Barrymore has been married three times: first to Jeremy Thomas in 1994, second to Tom Green in 2001, and third to Will Kopelman in 2012.
Who are Drew Barrymore's children?
She shares two daughters with her ex-husband Will Kopelman: Olive, born in 2012, and Frankie, born in 2014.
Why did Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman divorce?
The couple divorced amicably in 2016 after four years of marriage. Barrymore noted that there was no specific scandal or single inciting incident, but rather the painful realization that they could not make the relationship work despite trying very hard.
Is Drew Barrymore currently married or dating?
Barrymore is not currently married. After her 2016 divorce, she chose to remain intentionally single for extended periods to focus on raising her children and building her career.
