:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/tatum-oneal-070423-6-a00a3a16bba1452881c95b4bb93be611.jpg)
If you’re looking for a quick name to attach to a "husband" label for Tatum O'Neal in 2026, here’s the short version: she isn't married. Honestly, she hasn't been married to anyone since her high-profile divorce from tennis legend John McEnroe back in the 90s.
It’s one of those Hollywood stories that people keep checking in on because Tatum has been in our collective consciousness since she was a kid winning an Oscar for Paper Moon. But these days, her "significant other" isn't a spouse. It’s her recovery, her health, and her kids.
The McEnroe era and why it was the last marriage
Tatum O'Neal and John McEnroe were basically the "it" couple of the mid-80s. You had the youngest Academy Award winner ever and the "bad boy" of tennis. They tied the knot in 1986 and had three kids together: Kevin, Sean, and Emily.
But things got messy. Like, really messy.
By 1992, they were separated, and by 1994, the divorce was final. What followed was a brutal, very public custody battle. Because of Tatum’s struggles with heroin addiction at the time, McEnroe eventually ended up with full custody of the children in 1998. It was a dark period that defined much of her middle years.
✨ Don't miss: Kaley Cuoco Tit Size: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Transformation
Even though that marriage ended decades ago, it remains her only marriage. John McEnroe moved on and married rock singer Patty Smyth in 1997, and Tatum has often spoken about being happy for them. In 2025, the exes actually reunited for their son Kevin’s wedding to Fern Cozine in Napa, California. Tatum told Variety that "the anger is gone."
So, who has she dated since?
Tatum hasn't exactly lived a reclusive life, but she hasn't walked down the aisle again. Around 2015, she made some waves in interviews by being super candid about her sexuality.
She told People and Harper’s Bazaar that she had started dating women. She wasn't really into labels like "lesbian" or "bisexual"—she basically just said she found women to be more "gentle" and "intelligent" than the men she’d been meeting.
"I’m not one or the other," she famously told The Wrap regarding her sexual orientation.
🔗 Read more: Dale Mercer Net Worth: Why the RHONY Star is Richer Than You Think
She's always been someone who refuses to be put in a box. However, she’s also mentioned that she’s very private and doesn't go out much, which makes dating hard. Since about 2020, her focus has shifted almost entirely away from romance and toward surviving some pretty intense health scares.
The health crisis that changed everything
If you're wondering why we don't see Tatum O'Neal on the red carpet with a partner these days, it's because she’s been fighting for her life. In May 2020, she suffered a massive stroke following a drug overdose.
It was a nightmare scenario. She was in a coma for six weeks.
When she woke up, she had aphasia—a condition where you literally lose the ability to speak or understand language because of brain damage. Her son Kevin mentioned that at one point, they weren't sure if she’d ever speak, read, or write again.
💡 You might also like: Jaden Newman Leaked OnlyFans: What Most People Get Wrong
Recent updates in 2025 and 2026:
- Speech and Recovery: She has been in intensive speech therapy and rehab. By early 2026, her progress has been described as "miraculous," though it’s a daily battle.
- Family Reconciliation: She spent a lot of time trying to bridge the gap with her father, Ryan O’Neal, before he passed away in late 2023. Even though she was reportedly left out of his will—which she handled with her signature "keep it" attitude—she seems more at peace with her past.
- Sobriety: Her kids have shared that this "last chapter" is about her wanting to be clean and present for her grandchildren.
Why people get it wrong
There are always rumors floating around. At one point, people thought she was dating Rosie O'Donnell (they were just friends). Others keep waiting for a secret wedding announcement that never comes.
The truth is, Tatum O'Neal’s life in 2026 is focused on quiet survival. She’s living a life that is "clean and aware," as she puts it. For someone who grew up in the chaotic "male-oriented" world of 70s Hollywood and a volatile marriage, she seems to have decided that she doesn't need a partner to be complete.
What to take away from Tatum's journey
If you’re following Tatum’s story, the "who is she married to" question is actually the least interesting thing about her right now. Her current status is a masterclass in resilience.
- Prioritize health over optics: She’s been open about her aphasia and stroke recovery, which helps de-stigmatize those conditions for others.
- Forgiveness is for you: Reconnecting with McEnroe for their son's wedding shows that even the "ugliest" divorces can find a baseline of respect eventually.
- Labels are optional: Her fluid approach to dating in her 50s and 60s reminds us that it’s never too late to explore who you are.
If you want to keep up with her, her Instagram is usually the best place to see rare family photos and updates on her sobriety journey. She remains a singular figure in Hollywood—still standing, still talking, and still doing it on her own terms.