Shelley Duvall on her wedding day marrying artist Bernard Sampson—July 7, 1970, which also happened to be her 21st birthday. They were married at a small ceremony at her parents’ Houston home, captured in
. This is the very first time her wedding photos have ever been seen!
Shelley’s first marriage to Bernard is often overlooked in the context of her successful career, but it had a significant influence on her personal and professional growth. Their relationship started before Shelley became the widely recognized figure she is today. In the late 1960s, when they first crossed paths, Shelley was still exploring her path in the entertainment industry, and Bernard played a quiet yet meaningful role in her journey.
When they met, Shelley was just beginning to carve out a place for herself as an actress, having been discovered by filmmaker Robert Altman in 1970. She had left Houston, Texas, and was immersing herself in the world of creativity. Bernard, a private and reserved individual, wasn’t involved in the entertainment world but supported Shelley in her pursuits. They shared deeper values and interests, which helped them bond, especially since Shelley wasn’t yet in the public eye. During their early time together, they kept their relationship out of the spotlight, which perhaps contributed to the strength of their connection. Eventually, they decided to marry.
“We’ve known each other since we were sophomores in high school,” Shelley told Show Magazine in 1971. “I was dating his best friend. We were a threesome, doing everything together like hanging out at the rock concerts and the drive-ins, and we’d go for long rides in Bernard’s father’s Cadillac. Then Bernard went away to art school in London for a year, and when he came back last spring he phoned me to come over. My boyfriend was away but I said ok. Because Bernard always had such gorgeous picture books to show me. So I went over to his house and once we started talking, I got this beautiful trembly feeling in the pit of my stomach and I knew I could never be away from him again. Two months later at a party, Bernard pulled me into a closet and pro-posed. I said yes. For a while we lived in a tent wed pitched inside his parents’ house and we slept on pillows.”
The couple tied the knot in 1970, a year that marked a fresh start for both Shelley’s personal and professional life. The wedding was a modest event, far from the glitzy affairs typical of Hollywood unions. For Shelley, marrying Bernard brought a sense of stability as she began starring in major roles under Altman’s direction, with films like Brewster McCloud (1970) and McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971). While her professional life was gaining momentum, Bernard’s presence offered a sense of grounding.
However, as Shelley’s career began to flourish, the demands of her work started to create tension in their relationship. Her rising fame and the increasing pressures of Hollywood clashed with the quieter life Bernard preferred. As Shelley spent more time on set and away from home, their relationship suffered. The physical and emotional distance that came with her hectic schedule made it harder for the couple to maintain the closeness they once shared.
The differences in their lifestyles became another source of strain. Shelley was adapting to the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of Hollywood, while Bernard preferred a quieter, more private existence. Shelley’s transformation from a relative unknown to a well-known figure in the entertainment industry widened the gap between them. Close friends would later comment that the couple seemed to be living in completely separate worlds, and they couldn’t bridge the growing divide.
By 1974, only four years after their marriage, Shelley and Bernard decided to part ways. The pressures of her career, the long periods of separation, and the growing personal differences led them to amicably divorce. Their split wasn’t filled with animosity but was a mutual recognition that they could no longer move forward together. They officially divorced in 1974, marking the end of Shelley’s first marriage.
This period was a pivotal one for Shelley. While the end of her marriage was undoubtedly a personal challenge, it coincided with the rise of some of her most important professional achievements. That same year, she worked on projects like Nashville (1975) with Robert Altman, which cemented her place in Hollywood. Shelley’s career continued to flourish as she took on increasingly iconic roles, including her famous performance in The Shining (1980).
After her divorce, Shelley chose not to remarry for quite some time, focusing instead on her career throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Though she had a few relationships during this time, none led to another marriage. She remained relatively private about her personal life, allowing her body of work to take center stage. Her collaborations with visionary directors like Altman and Kubrick pushed her artistic boundaries, helping her establish a unique presence in the industry.
Bernard Sampson, meanwhile, disappeared from public view after the divorce. He had never been interested in the limelight, even during their marriage, and after they parted ways, he returned to his private life, away from the media and Hollywood. Little is known about his life following the divorce, as he remained out of the public eye.
In the years after her divorce, Shelley continued to build her reputation as a talented and unconventional actress. Her personal life, including her marriage to Bernard, became less of a focus, but it remains an important chapter in understanding the balance Shelley navigated between her personal happiness and her Hollywood career.
