Barbara Stanwyck's Heartfelt Journey Through Love, Loss, and Resilience

Barbara Stanwyck's Reflections on Love and Loss

In 1981, the legendary Barbara Stanwyck, then 73 years old, sat with a reporter, her fingers gently brushing against a gold cigarette case. This art deco-style box, adorned with a sunburst of her face and a brilliant ruby—her birthstone—was more than just an accessory; it was a cherished gift from her second husband, Robert Taylor. Reflecting on her life, Barbara admitted, "Losing someone you love, whether through death or divorce, is one of the hardest things you’ll ever face." Her words carried the weight of experience, shaped by a life filled with both triumphs and heartaches.

Barbara, often nicknamed "The Queen" for her commanding presence, was Hollywood's highest-paid actress during her heyday. She graced the silver screen in iconic films like Stella Dallas, The Lady Eve, and Double Indemnity. Yet, beneath the glamour and success, she endured a lifetime of personal struggles, many at the hands of the men she loved. From the abandonment by her father in childhood to a turbulent first marriage, Barbara found solace and happiness with Robert Taylor. However, the end of their 12-year union left an indelible mark on her heart. Yet, she emerged as a survivor, saying, "If someone decides they want their freedom, there's nothing left to fight for. You have to let go." Her resilience was a testament to her strength.

A Tale of Two Hearts: Barbara and Robert Taylor

Barbara's journey with Robert Taylor began in 1947, when she fondly reminisced about their first meeting. "The night I first met you, at a dinner party at the old Trocadero in Hollywood, my first thought about you was, 'He’s a lot of fun,'" she recalled. It was a moment that sparked a connection that would shape much of her life. Barbara deserved happiness after enduring a painful first marriage to vaudeville star Frank Fay. Their union, which began around the time she broke out in Broadway’s 1927 hit Burlesque, eventually soured as her burgeoning movie career overshadowed his fading one. Frank's alcoholism turned him mean and physically abusive, leading to their divorce in 1935.

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When Barbara met Robert, she described herself as emerging from an "emotional Black Hole of Calcutta." Dan Callahan, author of Barbara Stanwyck: The Miracle Woman, characterized Robert as a "great relief" for Barbara. "He was a little younger than her and incredibly handsome," Callahan told Closer. The couple bonded over their shared humor, strong work ethic, and mutual love for horses. Barbara had built Marwyck, a San Fernando Valley breeding farm, in 1937, while Robert eventually purchased his own ranch nearby.

Despite their deep connection, their relationship wasn't without challenges. In 1938, Photoplay magazine published an article titled "Hollywood’s Unmarried Husbands and Wives," which cast a spotlight on their under-the-radar romance. The article sniped, "They’re always invited together [to events] just like man and wife. They spend quiet evenings together at either one or the other’s place." Fearing scandal, Robert's studio pressured him to marry Barbara. "In those days, the studio really did own you," Callahan explained. On May 14, 1939, Barbara and Robert tied the knot under their legal names, Miss Ruby Stevens and Mr. Arlington Brugh. Years later, Robert admitted he felt pressured and uncertain. "I wasn’t even sure I was in love," he confessed. "The only thing I was allowed to say about the whole thing was 'I do.'"

World War II and the Strain on Their Marriage

When World War II broke out, Robert paused his film career to enlist in the U.S. Navy. At 32, he was deemed too old for overseas duty but served as a flight instructor for three years. During this time, Barbara's career flourished, leading to periods where they saw little of each other. "During the 1940s, Barbara was working all the time," Callahan noted. "And he was serving, so there was a stretch where they weren’t together much." When they did reunite, the pressure to maintain a public front strained their relationship. "It became more about, 'We are a couple. We are photographed for magazine layouts,'" Callahan said. "The pressure of having to put up this front began to erode their marriage."

Compounding their challenges, Robert's affections began to wander. There are accounts of his affair with Lana Turner during the filming of Johnny Eager in 1941. "She became an obsession. I had to have her, if only for one night," Robert admitted in the biography Robert Taylor: The Man With the Perfect Face. Despite rumors of a suicide attempt by Barbara upon learning of the affair, she later denied it. "It is not true that I attempted suicide upon learning of the affair between Robert and Lana Turner," Barbara clarified. Callahan confirmed the story was false, noting an earlier incident where Barbara had accidentally cut her hand. "The media tends to exaggerate," he added.

A decade later, Barbara flew to Rome to confront Robert over his rumored affair with an Italian actress on the set of Quo Vadis. "It was just not good publicity," Callahan explained. "It became a matter of saving face." The couple ultimately divorced in 1952, with a judge awarding Barbara their Hollywood mansion and 15 percent of Robert's earnings until she remarried. She never did. "Bob and I didn’t stay friends," Barbara admitted, though they reunited on-screen for 1964's The Night Walker.

Reconciliation and Legacy

Even after their divorce, Barbara couldn't forget Robert. When Robert passed away in 1969 at age 57, his second wife, German actress Ursula Thiess, reportedly invited Barbara to visit him in the hospital. "Barbara went to his funeral and wept," Callahan recounted. "It was unusual behavior for her. She didn’t often show her emotions in public. She also kept photographs of him as she grew older." Despite the heartache, Barbara found peace in time. "We became friends again," she said. "Time does take care of things."