Mike Tyson’s ex-wife, Robin Givens, has a successful life after her troubled marriage to the professional boxer. She established herself as an American actress and director.
Their marriage and divorce had drawn considerable media attention.
Highlights
- Robin Givens and Mike Tyson dated in 1987 and love birds married on February 7, 1988, at Holy Angels Catholic Church.
- Their marriage was especially tumultuous, with mental instability and allegations of violence and spousal abuse.
- Robin filed for divorce, citing spousal abuse, in October 1988 and they officially separated on Valentine’s Day in 1989.
Robin Simone Givens entered the entertainment industry as a teen model and appeared in magazines such as Seventeen and Mademoiselle.
She acted in daytime dramas while in school and focused on her acting career. Later, she starred as a guest at Aunt Emma’s Party in the 1978 film The Wiz at only 14.
Robin auditioned for a guest spot on The Cosby Show in 1985, and Bill Cosby persuaded her to drop out of school to pursue acting.
Afterward, she appeared in her breakthrough role as rich girl Darlene Merriman on the ABC sitcom Head of the Class, followed by The Women of Brewster Place, A Rage in Harlem, and Boomerang.
Empire magazine ranked her No. 88 on the “100 Sexiest Stars in Film History” list in May 1995. She portrayed Claudia in the 1996 television movie The Face.
Moreover, she hosted the talk show Forgive or Forget, replacing television personality Mother Love. Likewise, he had hosted the San Diego Black Film Festival for several years.
Mike Tyson And Robin Givens Marriage Fell Apart After Miscarriage
Mike Tyson and Robin Givens began their relationship in 1987 and married on February 7, 1988, in a traditional ceremony at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Chicago.
She had expressed that Mike was physically abusive before they were married.
Mike Tyson with his wife Robin Givens. Tyson was in Moscow to participate in the opening of the first in USSR golf club and meet with boxing fans in Moscow, Russia, on September 15th, 1988 pic.twitter.com/Raoga9V917
— Christopher Brainiac💯 (@Krisbranny) March 4, 2024
Their marriage was especially tumultuous, with mental instability and allegations of violence and spousal abuse.
She described life with him as torture, pure hell, and worse than anything she could possibly imagine in an interview with Barbara Walters on the ABC TV newsmagazine show 20/20 in 1988.
She also addressed him as a manic depressive on national television while he looked on with an intent and calm expression.
Afterward, she filed for divorce, citing spousal abuse, in October 1988, and was granted a temporary restraining order. They officially separated on Valentine’s Day in 1989.
She loves Michael Tyson, but there is continued violence, and she fears for her safety.
Robin’s attorney, Marvin Mitchelson, had mentioned.
According to the book Fire and Fear: The Inside Story of Mike Tyson, Mike admitted that he punched her and mentioned that it was the best punch he had ever thrown in his entire life.
However, he also claimed that the book was filled with inaccuracies.
The married couple didn’t have any children, but Robin had reported having a miscarriage in June 1988.
On the other hand, Mike stated she was never pregnant and only used that to get him to marry her. After marriage, they lived in a mansion in Bernardsville, New Jersey.
Robin had bought a $4.3 million mansion with money withdrawn from Mike’s brokerage account in Bernardsville, New Jersey.
After their divorce, she was criticized negatively within the sports and African-American communities. She was addressed as the most hated woman in America and a gold digger.
Meanwhile, she denied receiving a reported divorce settlement of over $10 million.
Robin released a memoir, Grace Will Lead Me Home, in 2007.
She reflected on the life of her praying grandmother, Grace, her faith in God, her strong will to survive, her experiences of domestic violence, and her feeling abandoned by her father.
Robin Givens, The Mother Of 2 Kids, Dated Several Celebs
Robin Givens adopted her first son, Michael “Buddy” Givens, born in 1992, as a single mother in 1993.
She had a biological son, William “Billy” Jensen, at 34, with ex-boyfriend, tennis player Murphy Jensen in 1999. She dated Murphy in the late 1990s.
Happiness! pic.twitter.com/42ol1inRBe
— Robin Givens (@Therocknrobn) August 15, 2015
Robin married her tennis instructor, Svetozar Marinkovic, on August 22, 1997, but filed for divorce on December 19, 1997, citing irreconcilable differences.
They met on the tennis circuit, as the American actress had been previously linked to other tennis players.
She was rumored to have been dating Michael Jordan in the 1980s after they met at a charity event in Chicago.
Likewise, there was a rumor that she dated Brad Pitt from 1986 to 1987. Mike had mentioned he caught them in bed, but the actress totally denied it.
Robin dated comedian Damon Wayans in late 1980s, meeting at the comedy club. They were both rising stars when they garnered plenty of media attention.
Similarly, she also dated Eddie Murphy in the early 1990s. They met through a mutual friend and were spotted together on various occasions.
She dated supermodel Marcus Schenkenberg in 1999 after meeting him at a glamorous event in New York City.
Robin was rumored to be dating actor Hosea Chanchez in the early 2000s. They met on the set of The Game and were spotted hand-in-hand attending events and premieres.
Moreover, she dated radio personality Howard Stern in 2000 after appearing on his radio show to promote her projects. Their relationship was short-lived but left a lasting impression on gossip columnists.
Additional Information
- Robin Givens, the daughter of Ruth Newby and Reuben Givens, was born in New York City, New York, on November 27, 1964.
- She was raised Catholic with her sister Stephanie in Mount Vernon and New Rochelle, New York.
- She graduated from New Rochelle Academy and enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College as a pre-medical major at 15.
- Her net worth is estimated at $1 million as of 2024.
