Brenda Vaccaro Opens up About Her “Hippie Wedding” to Michael Douglas, and Admits She Regrets the Way It Ended

In the new issue of Closer Weekly, Brenda Vaccaro opens up about her relationship with Michael Douglas, admitting she chose the "wrong road" at the time. Professionally Brenda Vaccaro's journey has taken some amazing turns, from a stage role with Lauren Bacall to films with Barbra Streisand and Al Pacino, nabbing an Emmy and Golden Globe along the way.

But offscreen it wasn’t always smooth sailing, thankfully she found happiness with her “breathtakingly beautiful” ex-model/manager/real estate exec hubby Guy Hector, who she has been with for 31 years. “I’ve had the most amazing life!” Brenda, 75, tells Closer. “I feel spirited, hopeful and excited about the future. I want to do it all!”

Brenda and Michael in 1975.

Brenda tells Closer she lived with Michael Douglas for seven years in the ‘70s and “almost got married.” "I did Midnight Cowboy, he fell in love with me and asked his dad, Kirk Douglas, to introduce us and offer me a part in [1971’s] Summertree,” she explains of their meeting. "He was a great guy and I loved him, but I did not want to marry him.”

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“This was the 1970s. No one got married,” Brenda tells Closer. "Then we decided to have a “hippie wedding” at my agent’s house. We said vows that we loved each other and would be together forever. Finally, it came time to say that we were doing it for real. I said, “Yes,” then wound up backing out of it. I really messed that one up.”

“I fell madly in love with someone else, [actor] Don Stroud. There was this really strong connection — spiritually, sexually and so overpowering I could not handle it,” Brenda says. "My dear friend Robert Shaw, who was making Jaws, told me what I was doing was rash and I was making a mistake — that momentary pleasures like the one with Don would lead to lasting regrets if I broke up with Michael.” Turns out Robert was right. "I regret all of it. Everything was different back then. There were a lot of drugs. We hung out with Anjelica Huston and Jack Nicholson, and it was a crazy time.”

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Brenda tells Closer she is now happily married to her husband Guy. "He came to my house for a charity event and my dog ran into his arms. He took my dog when I filmed a picture in Denver. It started as a great friendship, and when we did a great road trip to Northern California, we decided this was going to happen."

For more on Michael and Brenda, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly, on newsstands now — and be sure to sign up for our newsletter for exclusive news!