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7 Famous People Who Lost Fiances

Updated April 22, 2024 29.9K views 7 items

List of celebrities who lost fiances or significant others, loosely ranked by fame and popularity. A few famous people have suffered the devastating blow of losing a fiance before they got the chance to walk down the aisle. They can only dream of the life that could have been. One of these celebrities actually became an advocate for victim's rights after her fiance was gunned down.

Who is the most famous person who lost their fiance? Keanu Reeves tops our list. The Matrix star's fiance, Jennifer Syme, died in a car accident. He has said of these tragedies, “Grief changes shape, but it never ends.” Reeves has not been romantically linked to any leading ladies since Syme's death.

Nancy Grace's fiance Keith Griffin was shot by a former co-worker in 1979. Grace credits the incident as her motivation to fight for victim's rights. Grace is now married to her husband David Linch, but she told Good Housekeeping that she didn't think she would ever get married. "After I lost my fiancé, it seemed like it would be better to always be alone than to risk being hurt again... But then someone came into my life, and I realized: This is worth the risk."

Do you think it is possible to get over the death of a fiance? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Keanu Reeves
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In 1999, Keanu Reeves and his fiancee, Jennifer Syme, were heartbroken when she gave birth to his stillborn daughter, Ava Archer Reeves. Just 18 months after the tragedy, Syme died in a car accident when she drove into a row of parked cars after a party on the morning of April 2, 2001.
- Age: 60
- Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
All Keanu Reeves Movies, RankedSee all
- 1John Wick
  2,429 Votes
- 2The Matrix
  2,688 Votes
- 3John Wick: Chapter 2
  1,286 Votes
Meryl Streep
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Meryl Streep lived with actor John Cazale for three years until his death from lung cancer in March 1978, when he was only 42 years old. She said of his death, "I didn't get over it. I don't want to get over it. No matter what you do, the pain is always there in some recess of your mind, and it affects everything that happens afterwards."
- Age: 75
- Birthplace: Summit, New Jersey, USA
- Dig Deeper Which Actress Do You Think Will Be The Next Meryl Streep?
- Also ranks #1 on The Best Living American Actresses
The Best Meryl Streep MoviesSee all
- 1Sophie's Choice
  734 Votes
- 2The Devil Wears Prada
  871 Votes
- 3Kramer vs. Kramer
  583 Votes
Nancy Grace
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Metaweb
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Nancy Grace's fiance Keith Griffin was shot to death by a former co-worker in 1979. Grace credits the incident as her motivation to fight for victim's rights.
- Age: 65
- Birthplace: Macon, Georgia, USA
Omarosa Manigault
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The Apprentice alum Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth was engaged to Sin City actor Michael Clarke Duncan when he died of a heart attack in 2012.
- Age: 50
- Birthplace: Youngstown, Ohio, USA
Michelle Dockery
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Kevin Winter
Getty images
In December 2015, Downton Abbey actress Michelle Dockery's fiancé John Dineen died from a rare form of cancer at the age of 34. At the time of his death, the actress was at his bedside at Marymount Hospice in Cork, Ireland.
- Age: 43
- Birthplace: Barking, Essex, England, UK
- Also ranks #11 on The Best Downton Abbey Actors
- Also ranks #144 on The Most Beautiful British Women
Scott Eastwood
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Kathy Hutchins
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Scott Eastwood is an object of much sexual fascination. As it turns out, his somewhat aloof demeanor when it comes to women stems from tragedy. Speaking with GQ Australia, Eastwood detailed the death of a girlfriend in an automobile accident.

It's easy to fall in love when you're young, right? And then you start to realize those feelings of love and stuff — passion, love, lust — sometimes they come very quickly, but they can also leave quickly. I've lost friends before; I've lost some great friends. But, I had never lost someone I had been really intimate with. Maybe it's made it harder for me to date.
Eastwood admitted he still hasn't spoken to the woman's family since her death. "I still haven't found the right words."
- Age: 38
- Birthplace: Carmel, California, USA
Vera Brittain
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Author Vera Brittain's fiance Roland Leighton was killed in World War I.
- Age: Dec. at 76 (1893-1970)
- Birthplace: Newcastle-under-Lyme, United Kingdom

Keanu Reeves

Meryl Streep

Nancy Grace

Omarosa Manigault

Michelle Dockery

Scott Eastwood

Vera Brittain