When television icon Lee Majors captured global attention as the star of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Fall Guy, his off-screen life drew equal fascination. Over several decades in the Hollywood spotlight, the actor has walked down the aisle four times. Each marriage reflects a different era of his personal evolution and the changing landscape of celebrity culture.
Understanding the personal history behind the Hollywood legend requires looking closely at the four women who shared his life: Kathy Robinson, Farrah Fawcett, Karen Velez, and Faith Noelle Cross. Their stories reveal the pressures of fame, the difficulty of maintaining relationships under public scrutiny, and the search for stability.
Kathy Robinson: The Early Years Before Fame
Long before television fame arrived with roles in The Big Valley, Lee Majors married his first wife, Kathy Robinson, in 1961. At the time, Majors was navigating life in Kentucky and working toward an acting career, while Robinson was an aspiring young actress.
- The Timeline: Married in 1961, the couple welcomed their son, Lee Majors Jr., in April 1962.
- The Split: The marriage proved short-lived, ending in divorce by 1964.
Lee Majors Jr. eventually followed his father into the entertainment industry, working as an actor and appearing alongside him in television projects like The Fall Guy and bionic reunion films. Despite the early separation, this first chapter set the stage for Majors' swift rise in television.
Farrah Fawcett: Hollywood Royalty and the Ultimate 1970s Power Couple
By 1973, Majors had reached television superstardom, and his marriage to actress Farrah Fawcett created one of the most famous pairings of the decade. They were the quintessential golden couple of Hollywood, chased by photographers and idolized by fans.
- The Romance: Fawcett legally took the hyphenated surname Farrah Fawcett-Majors as her career skyrocketed with Charlie's Angels.
- The Strain: Demanding production schedules tore the marriage apart. Majors later recalled an infamous year where they managed to see each other for a mere two weeks out of twelve months due to conflicting filming locations.
- The Separation: The pair separated in 1979, finalizing their divorce in 1982.
Even after parting ways, their connection lingered in pop culture lore. Songwriter Jim Weatherly famously wrote the mega-hit "Midnight Train to Georgia" after a phone call with Fawcett where she mentioned catching a flight home, turning her real-life romance with Majors into the blueprint for a classic song. You can read more about classic television history through profiles on Wikipedia.
Karen Velez: Family Life in the Late Eighties
Following his high-profile divorce from Fawcett, Majors married former Playboy Playmate Karen Velez in 1988. This chapter shifted away from peak-era television glamour toward a focus on family and raising children.
- The Children: The couple welcomed a daughter, Nikki, in 1988, followed by twin sons, Dane Luke and Trey Kulley, in 1992.
- The Shift: During this period, Majors deliberately stepped back from heavy filming schedules to dedicate more time to his children.
- The End: The marriage concluded with a divorce in 1994.
Velez remained a private figure in the years following their split, while Majors continued balancing television guest roles with fatherhood.
Faith Noelle Cross: Finding Lasting Stability
In 2002, Lee Majors found lasting partnership when he married actress and model Faith Noelle Cross during a private ceremony in Italy. Unlike his whirlwind relationships from earlier decades, this union brought long-term stability.
- The Connection: The couple met on a blind date set up by publicists in the mid-1990s and bonded over shared values and quiet companionship.
- The Partnership: Faith has occasionally collaborated with Majors on independent film projects and stood by him through health hurdles, including heart bypass surgery in 2003.
- The Milestone: The pair renewed their wedding vows in Honolulu in 2008, solidifying a marriage that has now endured for more than two decades.
Common Misconceptions About Lee Majors and His Marriages
Public interest in classic television stars often generates rumors, particularly regarding Hollywood relationships from the 1970s and 1980s. Setting the record straight helps clarify his personal history:
- Did Farrah Fawcett and Lee Majors have children together? No. Despite intense media speculation during their marriage, they never had children. Majors' children came from his marriages to Kathy Robinson and Karen Velez.
- Was Faith Noelle Cross his third wife? No. Cross is his fourth wife. Karen Velez was his third.
- Did career pressures cause all of his early divorces? While work commitments heavily fractured his marriage to Fawcett, each relationship faced distinct personal challenges native to different stages of his life and aging career.
For broader context on classic entertainment milestones, reference archives provided by Biography.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times has Lee Majors been married?
Lee Majors has been married four times: to Kathy Robinson, Farrah Fawcett, Karen Velez, and Faith Noelle Cross.
When was Lee Majors married to Farrah Fawcett?
They married in 1973, separated in 1979, and finalized their divorce in 1982. During the marriage, she used the professional name Farrah Fawcett-Majors.
Who is Lee Majors currently married to?
He has been married to actress and model Faith Noelle Cross since November 2002. The couple renewed their vows in 2008.
How many children does Lee Majors have?
He has four children in total: one son (Lee Majors Jr.) with his first wife Kathy, and three children (Nikki, Dane, and Trey) with his third wife Karen Velez.
