Daryl Hannah, 65, Is Back in the News for Her ’90s Relationship With JFK Jr.—but Now She’s Married to a Rock Icon

Daryl Hannah, the statuesque blonde star of ’80s classics like Blade Runner, Splash, Wall Street and Steel Magnolias, has recently been making headlines for her opposition to the way she’s depicted in the hit series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette. Hannah dated JFK Jr. in the early ’90s, before the handsome political scion married Bessette, and earlier this month, she expressed her displeasure with the show in a fiery New York Times opinion piece.

There’s more to the Kill Bill actress’ love life than just JFK Jr. Prior to dating him, she was in a contentious relationship with singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, and she’s been happily married to musical icon Neil Young since 2018. Read on for a look at Hannah’s eclectic relationship history.

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Inside JFK Jr.’s Romantic History—and Why Carolyn Was 'The One'

America has long been fascinated by political dynasties, and the Kennedy family, in all its power, glamour and tragedy, has an enduring appeal that’s lasted over six decades. President Kennedy’s son, John F. Kennedy Jr., was in the spotlight from childhood, as his father’s funeral took place on his third birthday, and he continued to […]

Daryl Hannah and Jackson Browne: An actress-musician relationship that ended in drama

Daryl Hannah was in a relationship with “Running on Empty” and “Somebody’s Baby” musician Jackson Browne from 1983 to 1992. During their near-decade together, Hannah appeared in the music videos for his songs “Tender Is the Night” and “You’re a Friend of Mine” and the couple was frequently seen together on the red carpet.

Sadly, the partnership came to a bitter end when Hannah alleged that Browne had physically abused her. Browne denied these accusations, and in 2003, he sued Fox Television Studios, the producer of America’s Prince: The JFK Jr. Story, for featuring scenes referring to the alleged abuse in the TV movie. Browne won the case, and the offending scenes were removed. Hannah has not spoken publicly about the relationship and its subsequent legal drama.

Daryl Hannah and JFK Jr.: A high-profile romance that’s back in the news

In the early ’90s, Daryl Hannah had an on-and-off romance with John F. Kennedy Jr. for around five years. They first met while vacationing with their families in the Caribbean and reconnected when Kennedy’s aunt, Lee Radziwill, married Herbert Ross, the director of Hannah’s 1989 film Steel Magnolias.

During their relationship, there were wild rumors that Jackie Kennedy didn’t like Hannah and that their 1994 breakup could be attributed to the fact that Hannah had Kennedy attend a funeral for her dog (who was killed in a freak accident while he was walking him) shortly before his mother’s death.

Hannah and Kennedy’s turbulent relationship has reentered the cultural conversation due to its exaggerated portrayal on Love Story. The show’s depiction of Hannah (played by Dree Hemingway) is less than flattering, and in a viral New York Times essay, she slammed the “tragedy-exploiting television series,” writing, “The character ‘Daryl Hannah’ portrayed in the series is not even a remotely accurate representation of my life, my conduct or my relationship with John. The actions and behaviors attributed to me are untrue.” When asked about the controversy, Hemingway said, “I respect her,” adding, “It’s a sensitive thing to play somebody, a real person, and, I mean, all I can speak to is me as an actress. But, I love her.”

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While Hannah and Kennedy shared some happy times and made for quite the striking couple, she expressed discomfort with the public fixation on her relationship as far back as 1993, when she quipped, “It’s getting really annoying. I get asked about it all the time. This morning I call up my plumber, and even he asks me. Oh, brother, I’m just trying to get my pipes fixed. Why can’t people talk about something else?”—33 years later, we’re somehow still talking about it!

Daryl Hannah and Neil Young: A happy later-in-life marriage with a rock hero

In 2018, at 57, Daryl Hannah married “Heart of Gold” singer and former Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young member Neil Young, 15 years her senior. The actress hadn’t been previously married and never had children, while the musician had divorced his wife of 36 years, Pegi Young, four years earlier, and had two sons and a daughter. Hannah and Young were first spotted together shortly after his divorce, leading to much speculation about the circumstances of the marriage’s demise.

Initially, Hannah and Young were considered a bit of a surprising couple, not least for their age gap, but they’ve now been together for over a decade. They share a passion for environmental activism and are frequent creative collaborators, as Hannah has directed the experimental Young concert films Paradox (2018), Mountaintop (2019), Barn (A Band, A Brotherhood, A Barn) (2022) and Coastal (2025) and worked on his stage backdrops and album covers.

Young’s gritty, hippie-ish rock stardom couldn’t be more different from Kennedy’s storybook political pedigree, but after years of romantic chaos, it’s clear that Hannah has finally found her match. Reflecting on filming his shows, the Roxanne star said, “He really has a lot of trust in me, and gave me so much creative support. Neil believes in me wholeheartedly, and I’ve never experienced that before in any relationship.”