Marie and Harry Karl had one of Hollywood's most tempestuous relationships. Between 1947 and 1958 they married and divorced twice! They could not live with each other but they never stopped loving each other. Marie met Harry at party at Ann Miller's house in 1946. He was born on March 9, 1914 in New York City. Harry was the owner of Karl's Shoe Stores, the nations largest retail shoe chain. He was divorced and had a daughter. Harry proposed to Marie but she was still legally married to Vic Orsatti. She went to Reno to get divorced and had a fling with mobster Bugsy Siegel. Marie and Harry were married on September 19, 1947. Their reception was held at the Champagne room at Ciro's and they went to Chicago for their honeymoon. Harry was actually in debt when they married and Marie had to support him! For a while they lived with Marie's parents. In 1950 the couple adopted a son, Harrison, and a daughter, Denise. Harry got out of debt and became one of the richest men in the country. He lavished Marie with expensive gifts including a 25 carat diamond ring and several mink coats. In 1954 he bought her a custom built Le Mans Cadillac roadster with a television inside. The family moved to a five acre Beverly Hills estate with a full staff of servants. Marie had numerous health problems and she started to believe she was allergic to Harry. He spent more than one million dollars trying to cure her. During Marie's 1954 DUI trial Harry was arrested for assaulting a reporter. The couple fought constantly and Marie claimed that Harry abused her. After numerous separations she divorced him on November 23, 1954 on the grounds of mental cruelty. During their time apart he dated Rhonda Fleming and Zsa Zsa Gabor. By January 1955 Marie and Harry were back together. On June 14, 1955 they remarried in Yuma, Arizona. After a violent fight in May 1956 Harry was arrested and Marie filed for divorce again. They reconciled a few months later. Marie suffered six miscarriages before giving birth to their daughter, Tina Marie, in September 1956. Harry and Marie's marriage finally ended when she accused him of plotting her 1957 kidnapping. She moved on to a new relationship with actor Michael Wilding. On April 17, 1958 she and Harry were divorced for a second time. Marie received one million dollars in the settlement. Later that year she attempted suicide. Harry rarely saw their three children and Marie sued him over child support. He married actress Debbie Reynolds in 1960. Debbie helped raise the children after Marie's death. Harry later went bankrupt and died on August 7, 1982 following heart surgery. The 1991 movie The Marrying Man was loosely based on Harry and Marie's stormy romance.
What Marie Said...
About their marriage: "Now, for three months, I, Marie McDonald, have been Mrs. Harry Karl. I love this guy who has given me his name. What's more I completely respect and admire him. I'm a lucky girl."
About being allergic to Harry: "We didn't know what it was at first. Then it happened again and again. Just being near him might start it. The doctors said it was my nerves that were kicking up. They said Harry's very presence was a trigger that set off a chain reaction of physical and emotional disturbances."
About Harry abusing her: "He hit me in the stomach. I almost lost the baby. Our marriage really is over this time."
About Harry wanting a divorce: "I didn't know anything about it until I read it in the papers. If Mr. Karl wants me to file for a divorce, then I'll file for one. But I previously talked to his attorney and was told everything was to remain status quo. This was a shock."
About their relationship: "Harry was just as much in love with the glamour of my career as he was with me as a woman. He fell in love with me because I was Marie McDonald, a movie star who was glamorous on and off the screen. Harry has some fine qualities. But like most husbands, he has his shortcomings and needs a certain kind of understanding."
About why she married Harry: "Because I needed shoes."
About rumors they would reconcile again: "A million times no. You can't reheat up yesterday's mashed potatoes."
