When people look up the Lou Diamond Phillips ex wife history, they usually want to clear up the timeline of the actor's past marriages. Lou Diamond Phillips has been married three times. Two of those marriages ended in divorce, making him an actor with two high-profile former wives: filmmaker Julie Cypher and makeup artist Kelly Phillips.
Understanding his marital history means looking closely at how each relationship began, why they ended, and what those former spouses went on to achieve after parting ways with the La Bamba and Courage Under Fire star.
Julie Cypher: The First Marriage
The first Lou Diamond Phillips ex wife is film director Julie Cypher. The pair met during the production of the film Trespasses in the mid-1980s, where Cypher was working as an assistant director. They married on September 17, 1987, just as Phillips was experiencing a massive surge in Hollywood following his breakout roles in La Bamba and Stand and Deliver.
Their marriage lasted for roughly three years before they separated in 1990, with their divorce finalizing that same year. The split gained significant media attention later because of what happened afterward. Shortly after their separation, Cypher met rock musician Melissa Etheridge while assisting on a music video. Cypher came out as a lesbian and entered a high-profile, decade-long relationship with Etheridge.
Even though their marriage ended decades ago, Cypher remains a frequent point of interest in biographies about Phillips. Cypher went on to direct films like Teresa's Tattoo (which featured Phillips in the cast) and shares two children with Etheridge.
Kelly Phillips: The Second Marriage
Following his split from Cypher and a brief public engagement to actress Jennifer Tilly, Phillips married makeup artist Kelly Phillips in April 1994. This marked the longest of his marriages up to that point, lasting over a decade.
During their 13-year marriage, Kelly and Lou welcomed three daughters together: twins Grace and Isabella, born in October 1997, and Lili Jordan, born in September 1999. The family maintained a relatively visible presence in Hollywood during the late 1990s and early 2000s as Phillips continued steady work in film, television, and on Broadway.
The couple separated in 2003, though the legal process took several years. Their divorce was officially finalized in July 2007. Kelly Phillips largely stepped back from the public eye following the split, focusing on raising their three daughters away from intense tabloid scrutiny. Phillips has often spoken about how much he values his role as a father to his daughters, maintaining active co-parenting dynamics despite the end of the marriage.
Life After Divorce: Current Marriage
To understand the full context of his past divorces, it helps to look at his current chapter. Following his separation from Kelly Phillips, the actor met makeup artist Yvonne Boismier. The two married in August 2007, shortly after his second divorce was finalized.
Phillips and Boismier have remained together for nearly two decades, welcoming a daughter together in late 2007. Boismier has also collaborated creatively with her husband, illustrating his science fiction novel Tinderbox: Soldier of Indira published through Aethon Books. This stable partnership stands in contrast to the heavily publicized breakups of his earlier years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times has Lou Diamond Phillips been married?
Lou Diamond Phillips has been married three times. His first wife was Julie Cypher (1987–1990), his second was Kelly Phillips (1994–2007), and his current wife is Yvonne Boismier, whom he married in 2007.
Who are the children of Lou Diamond Phillips?
He has four daughters in total. He shares three daughters (Grace, Isabella, and Lili Jordan) with his second ex-wife, Kelly Phillips, and one daughter with his current wife, Yvonne Boismier.
Did Lou Diamond Phillips and Julie Cypher have children together?
No, Lou Diamond Phillips and Julie Cypher did not have any children during their three-year marriage. Cypher later had two children with her subsequent partner, Melissa Etheridge.
Why did Lou Diamond Phillips divorce his second wife?
Phillips and Kelly Phillips separated in 2003 after nearly a decade of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce proceedings took several years, officially concluding in July 2007.
