Exactly 34 years ago, a construction worker and a world-famous actress exchanged vows in a star-studded wedding that shocked the entertainment world. On October 6, 1991, this legendary actress married blue-collar worker Larry Fortensky at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. This was her eighth and final marriage. Their unlikely romance fascinated the tabloids, and although the marriage did not last, it ended with lasting affection rather than scandal. Sparks Fly Behind Clinic Walls.

Their story began behind the locked doors of the Betty Ford Clinic in 1988. The global icon was there for her second stay, at age 56. Larry was 36, a sun-tanned construction worker with a troubled history. He had been arrested several times for driving under the influence and had crashed a truck shortly before entering the clinic. His insurance paid for his treatment. Elizabeth would later call him “Larry the Lion.” In a 2011 interview with The Daily Mail, Larry said, “I knew who she was, of course, but I can’t say that I ever watched her movies.”

As the weeks passed, their bond grew stronger. Larry became very protective of Elizabeth and disliked the harsh rehab methods used at the clinic. Both stayed enrolled for six weeks, and during that time, their emotional connection deepened unexpectedly. Larry admitted that she was beautiful and said he was not “bad-looking” either. He also said, “The person I met was the real woman, without all the movie star nonsense. We bonded quickly.” Elizabeth was drawn to his simplicity and was fascinated by a man who was unaffected by fame.

Larry was a twice-divorced high school dropout from Stanton, California. He was raised in a working-class family and lived such an ordinary life that he had never even flown on an airplane.

A Hidden Love and a Limo in the Mud
Larry said their romance started after they left the clinic, but not everyone believed that — including his sister, Donna. Regardless, their spark grew during a time when Larry was still recovering from his accident and did not have a car. Elizabeth often sent a limousine to pick him up, but Larry’s home was so remote that the limo frequently got stuck in the mud. During this secret relationship, Larry’s family had no idea he was dating a famous actress. Donna remembered overhearing Larry call someone “honey.” When she asked if he was dating the superstar, Larry told her to mind her own business.

By Christmas 1988, Elizabeth invited Larry to stay at her home. Larry said, “I went for a few days and never left.” Her home had a real Van Gogh painting on the wall, full staff, and high security everywhere. It was a different world, and Larry was welcomed inside.

Helicopters, Paparazzi, and a Parachute Intruder
Exactly 34 years ago today, their wedding took place in grand Hollywood style. It was everything the public expected from a global icon. More than 200 celebrities gathered under a white gazebo at Neverland Ranch in California’s Santa Ynez Valley to witness their vows. Elizabeth’s close friend Carole Bayer Sager was maid of honor, and celebrity hairstylist Jose Eber was Larry’s best man.

Despite the glamour, chaos ruled outside. Larry said he could barely hear their vows because of helicopters full of paparazzi flying overhead. Security was busy. One photographer even parachuted onto the property but was caught before taking any photos. Inside, the reception was surreal. Larry recalled, “Michael Jackson spent the night on the dance floor holding a small black kid.” Elizabeth loved Michael and never believed the child abuse rumors; Larry was more doubtful.

The guest list read like a who’s who of Hollywood royalty: Liza Minnelli, Eddie Murphy, Gregory Peck, Nancy Reagan, and many others. While Elizabeth surrounded herself with stars, Larry kept it simple, inviting only his siblings.

Snow Angels, Secret Burgers, and a Cheeky Bird
In an interview with The Daily Mail, Larry shared many personal memories. One favorite was a photo from Switzerland in 1992 showing Elizabeth lying in the snow. He remembered how she suddenly wanted to play outside. Without hesitation, she put on a coat, went into the cold, collapsed in the snow, and laughed as she made a snow angel. “That is my favorite picture. I keep it by my bed,” he said. “Elizabeth had a childlike spirit. Even though she was 20 years older than me, she never seemed old.”

Larry also loved riding a Harley with Elizabeth along the Pacific Coast Highway. She gave him the bike for their second Christmas together. To avoid attention, Elizabeth wore a helmet, and they stopped at biker bars for burgers. People pretended not to know her, and she enjoyed that. “She loved burgers and beer. She was down-to-earth, at least as much as someone who had been a star since childhood could be,” Larry said.

Elizabeth also had a pet parrot named Alvin, trained to call out “Larry, Larry.” Larry was not amused, saying, “That [expletive] bird sounded just like her. I’d be running all over the house.”

When it came to gifts, Larry never tried to outdo Elizabeth. She once gave him a BMW for his birthday. He gave her chocolate-covered roses for Christmas and even bought her a dog. “When we went to England for her birthday, I bought her a Shih-tzu named Sugar. She loved that dog,” Larry said.

Though their life together seemed like a fairy tale, Larry insisted he never wanted to be a kept man. Even married to one of the world’s biggest stars, he kept working. He woke early and went to his job. Elizabeth got up with him to eat breakfast but never cooked. “Elizabeth never cooked. She’d go back to bed after I left,” Larry said. However, she made sure he was cared for. A private chef prepared his lunch, which was delivered to his work site — something his coworkers teased him about. After work, Larry came home for dinner with Elizabeth, and they watched movies together, though never one of hers.

Cracks Behind the Glamour
The happiness they shared slowly faded. At Elizabeth’s insistence, Larry quit construction and traveled with her, but he felt lost without his work. As Elizabeth’s health declined, their intimacy decreased, and Larry moved out of their shared bedroom. His sister Donna said that was “the beginning of the end.”

Larry also struggled with the constant media attention. “Everywhere we went, there were cameras. Elizabeth would constantly put on lipstick because she never knew when she was being photographed. I found that hard,” Larry admitted. “It wasn’t my cup of tea. Elizabeth was used to it; I never got used to it.”

A Million Dollars and a Letter of Love
In 1996, Elizabeth asked for a divorce. She said they were both unhappy and did not want their relationship to end bitterly. Larry returned to his simple life, now with over a million dollars. But in 1999, he had a serious accident that left him unable to work. Medical bills piled up, and poor real estate investments drained his savings.

Despite everything, Larry and Elizabeth stayed in touch, speaking several times a month. After hearing about his accident, Elizabeth wrote a letter expressing concern for his health and finances. She promised to send money monthly until she died or the funds ran out. Larry accepted her help reluctantly. Later, when Larry’s sister told Elizabeth he was close to losing his home, Elizabeth sent more money. Still, the house was eventually repossessed.

Money caused tension in Larry’s family. He fought with siblings over finances and eventually cut off his sister Linda for talking to the National Enquirer. He also ended contact with his daughter Julie, who tried to get money after his accident.

The Final Goodbye
Although their marriage ended, Elizabeth and Larry cared deeply for each other. Their last conversation happened the day before Elizabeth went to the hospital. Her voice was weak because of fluid in her lungs caused by heart disease. She reassured Larry that everything would be okay. Larry never spoke to her again. Elizabeth Taylor died on March 23, 2011, at age 79. Larry found out about her death days later while watching television. “I was so shocked. I was sure she would go home, and I would talk to her again,” he said.

Afterwards, Larry received papers from Elizabeth’s lawyers. In them was a final gift: a large sum of money left to him in her will. Most of her fortune went to her children, as expected. “I love her, and I always will. I know she loved me too,” Larry told The Daily Mail.

Larry Fortensky died in 2016 at age 64, closing the chapter on one of Hollywood’s most unlikely and heartfelt love stories.