Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner’s Troubled Relationship and Affair That Led to their Demise

Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner's tumultuous love affair began in 1943 when they first laid eyes on each other.

The couple reunited in 1948 and soon found themselves in the midst of a scandalous relationship.

The famous crooner, who passed away in 1998, had been secretly dating the actress for months before they were spotted having dinner together in 1950, marking their first public outing as a couple.

Their romance faced heavy criticism, especially since Frank's wife, Nancy Barbato, was left at home taking care of their two children and a newborn baby.

At the time, Ava was already a Hollywood star and considered one of MGM's most prized possessions.

However, her personal life was far from simple.

She was married to Mickey Rooney when she began her relationship with Frank.

Ava had a reputation as a serial cheater, having gone through multiple affairs and two previous marriages before even considering marrying Frank.

Despite their complicated personal lives, the couple's desire to be together remained unwavering.

Frank was captivated by Ava even before they met, declaring that he would marry her upon seeing a photo of her.

The high-profile nature of their affair made it all the more intriguing, especially considering Ava's young age of 23 and her two failed marriages.

However, Frank's career suffered a blow when he was terminated from his contract with MGM.

Their scandalous relationship lasted for several months, with their love affair making headlines worldwide.

The public heartache became too much for Frank's wife Nancy, who eventually filed for divorce in 1951, leaving Frank free to pursue Ava.

A few days later, Frank and Ava got married in Pennsylvania.

Their marriage caused a scandal and even drew condemnation from the Roman Catholic Church.

However, their honeymoon period was short-lived.

Just one day before the wedding, Ava received a letter from a prostitute claiming to have been sleeping with Frank for months.

This revelation fueled jealousy and doubt in Ava's mind even before they exchanged vows.

Their marriage did not bring stability to the couple.

They became known for their public fights, followed by passionate reconciliations.

Despite marrying Ava, Frank struggled in his career and relied on her MGM salary to support them financially.

This situation was a source of embarrassment for Frank, making it difficult for him to escape public humiliation.

Jealousy, fiery tempers, and insecurities plagued their marriage, leading to frequent public brawls.

Additionally, Ava had two abortions during their marriage, feeling that their unstable relationship was not suitable for raising a child.

In 1953, after filming Mogambo, Ava impulsively traveled to Madrid to engage in a steamy affair with Spain's most popular bullfighter, Luis Miguel Dominguin.

She filed for divorce from Frank a year later.

However, Frank did not grant the divorce until 1957.

In the intervening years, he made numerous attempts to win Ava back through romantic gestures, both in private and in public, but without success.

The end of their relationship became a topic of widespread discussion, with their names and faces appearing in every newspaper and magazine imaginable.

Ironically, Frank's tragic love story became the catalyst for his successful music career, as the public heartbreak humanized the once cocky singer into an unlucky-in-love crooner.

While Frank's career flourished, Ava's faded away.

She moved to London, where she lived a quiet life away from the press and paparazzi.

She remained unmarried for over 30 years.

In her later years, Ava's life descended into chaos, marked by alcoholism and a stroke that left her unable to speak.

Her excessive drinking took a toll on her beauty, which began to fade.

Despite being the one who filed for divorce, the split had a profound emotional impact on Ava.

She kept a photo of her and Frank from their early days together on her bedside table until her death in 1990.

Frank was devastated by Ava's passing but went on to marry twice more.

His second marriage, to Mia Farrow, lasted from 1966 to 1968.

He then married model Barbara Marx in 1976 until his death in 1998 at the age of 82.

In conclusion, the toxic marriage and affairs between Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner tore them apart and left an indelible mark on both of their lives.