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THEN AND NOW: Hugh Hefner's former girlfriends and wives

Libby Torres   

THEN AND NOW: Hugh Hefner's former girlfriends and wives
Hugh Hefner and Crystal Hefner in 2014.Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Playboy
  • Hugh Hefner was romantically linked to numerous women throughout his lifetime.
  • The magazine founder was married three times, and had lots of girlfriends in between.

Hefner's first wife was Mildred Williams.

Hefner
Hugh Hefner in 1963.      Bettmann/Contributor via Getty Images

The couple, who were reportedly childhood sweethearts, tied the knot in 1949, and remained married for about a decade.

However, while Hefner was away serving in the Army, Williams had an affair with another man, which devastated Hefner.

Hefner and Williams had two children together — a son, David, and a daughter, Christie.

Marilyn Cole reportedly had a brief fling with Hefner following his divorce.

Marilyn Cole reportedly had a brief fling with Hefner following his divorce.
Model Marilyn Cole (center left) and Hugh Hefner in 1971.      Crawshaw/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

Cole was Playmate of the year in 1973, and went on to marry Victor Lownes, a businessman who also worked for Playboy enterprises.

Cole later became a sports journalist.

Cole later became a sports journalist.
Marilyn Cole in 1973.      Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

She wrote an essay for the Guardian in 2003 about her love of professional boxing and her experience covering the sport.

Lillian Muller was another reported fling of Hefner's in the 1970s.

Lillian Muller was another reported fling of Hefner
Lillian Muller in the 1980 TV film "Once Upon a Spy."      Walt Disney Television Photo Archives / Contributor

Muller was an actress and model who was scouted by Playboy in London. She went on to appear on the magazine's cover several times, and was later named Playmate of the year in 1976.

Muller and Hefner reportedly dated from 1976 to 1977, and remained friends after their breakup.

Muller has continued acting in the years since her Playboy covers.

Muller has continued acting in the years since her Playboy covers.
Lillian Muller in 2004.      Giulio Marcocchi/Getty Images

According to IMDB, Muller has appeared on "Starsky and Hutch," "Charlie's Angels," and "Magnum P.I.," as well as in a music video for Van Halen.

Barbi Benton and Hefner had an on-again, off-again romance.

Barbi Benton and Hefner had an on-again, off-again romance.
Barbi Benton and Hugh Hefner in 1970.      PA Images via Getty Images

Benton and Hefner first met in 1968 on the set of the syndicated TV show "Playboy After Dark" — she was 18, and Hefner was 42. The couple dated for several years, and Benton even moved into the Los Angeles Playboy mansion with Hefner. She also appeared on the cover of Playboy several times.

Benton and Hefner broke up for good in 1976, and the model married entrepreneur George Gradow in 1979.

Benton continued to act until the mid-1980s.

Benton continued to act until the mid-1980s.
Barbi Benton in 2020.      Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

Benton had small roles on "Charlie's Angels," "CHiPs," and "Murder, She Wrote," and appeared repeatedly on "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island," according to her IMDB page.

The model has two children with Gradow. She appeared on a 2005 episode of E!'s reality show "The Girls Next Door," which featured Hefner and his then-girlfriends Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt, and Kendra Wilkinson.

Carrie Leigh lived with Hefner at the Playboy mansion in Los Angeles for several years in the 1980s.

Carrie Leigh lived with Hefner at the Playboy mansion in Los Angeles for several years in the 1980s.
Carrie Leigh and Hugh Hefner in 1984.      Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

The model reportedly met Hefner when she was just 19, and moved in with him in 1983 before breaking it off a couple years later.

Leigh later condemned life with Hefner.

Leigh later condemned life with Hefner.
Carrie Leigh in 1990.      Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Leigh went on to file several lawsuits against Hefner, and told the Washington Post in 1999 that life at the mansion was "almost like a cult."

Per the Post, Leigh got married and had a child after leaving Hefner. She also appeared in several films and TV shows, including "Blood Relations" and "The New Mike Hammer."

Hefner's second wife was model and 1989 Playmate of the year Kimberley Conrad.

Hefner
Hugh Hefner, Marston Hefner, and Kimberley Conrad in 1991.      Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

The couple tied the knot in 1989, and had two sons during their marriage: Marston in 1990, and Cooper in 1991. They separated in 1998.

Conrad has remained largely out of the spotlight since her marriage to Hefner ended.

Conrad has remained largely out of the spotlight since her marriage to Hefner ended.
Kimberley Conrad in 2006.      Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Although they separated in 1998, Hefner and Conrad's divorce was finalized in 2009. Hefner told People at the time that Conrad had wanted to remain legally married for their sons.

Mandy and Sandy Bentley dated Hefner from 1999 to 2000.

Mandy and Sandy Bentley dated Hefner from 1999 to 2000.
Sandy Bentley, Hugh Hefner, and Mandy Bentley in 2000.      Arnaldo Magnani / Contributor via Getty Images

The twins lived with Hefner at the Los Angeles Playboy mansion during their relationship, and appeared on the May 2000 cover of the magazine.

The twins had small roles on several TV shows after their breakup with Hefner.

The twins had small roles on several TV shows after their breakup with Hefner.
Brande Roderick, Mandy Bentley, and Sandy Bentley in 2016.      Mike Windle/Getty Images for Playboy Enterprises

Both Mandy and Sandy had bit parts on "Sex and the City" and "Two and a Half Men" in 2000 and 2005, respectively. According to her IMDB page, Mandy also appeared as a courtesan in the 2002 film "The Scorpion King."

Actress Brande Roderick was another of Hefner's girlfriends in the early 2000s.

Actress Brande Roderick was another of Hefner
Brande Roderick and Hugh Hefner in 2001.      Brad Elterman/Newsmakers via Getty Images

The couple dated from 2000 to 2001. Roderick was also named Playmate of the year in 2001.

Roderick has continued acting in recent years.

Roderick has continued acting in recent years.
Brande Roderick in 2019.      Presley Ann/Getty Images

The "Baywatch" actress has appeared in numerous films, including "The Nanny Diaries" and the 2004 "Starsky and Hutch" movie.

In addition to her acting career, Roderick also works as a realtor in southern California, according to her website. She has two children with husband Glenn Cadrez, whom she married in 2007.

Izabella St. James dated Hefner in the early 2000s.

Izabella St. James dated Hefner in the early 2000s.
Bridget Marquardt, Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner, Zoe Gregory, Sheila Levell (back row), Cristal Camden and Izabella St. James in 2003.      Denise Truscello/WireImage

They met when St. James was 26, and dated from 2002 to 2004.

St. James later said that she "got seduced by the Playboy lifestyle" during her relationship with Hefner.

The actress went on to publish a memoir about her time with Hefner at the mansion.

The actress went on to publish a memoir about her time with Hefner at the mansion.
Izabella St. James in 2017.      Amy Graves/Getty Images

Published in 2006, "Bunny Tales: Behind Closed Doors at the Playboy Mansion" detailed St. James' time with Hefner and his other girlfriends.

St. James had several small film roles following her breakup with Hefner, including parts in "Thunder Over Reno" and "Ninja Cheerleaders."

She also appears to run a dog rescue called The Pug Queen, which focuses on saving abused or abandoned pugs and connecting them to adopters.

Holly Madison was Hefner's "number one" girlfriend during her time at the mansion.

Holly Madison was Hefner
Hugh Hefner and Holly Madison in 2002.      David Klein/Getty Images

The couple dated from 2001 to 2008, and Madison was one of several of Hefner's girlfriends featured on the E! reality show "The Girls Next Door."

Madison recently spoke out against Hefner in the docuseries "Secrets of Playboy."

Madison recently spoke out against Hefner in the docuseries "Secrets of Playboy."
Holly Madison in 2017.      Michael Bezjian/Getty Images for TAO

Following her breakup with Hefner, Madison starred on a short-lived "Girls Next Door" spinoff show called "Holly's World," which focused on her new life in Las Vegas.

Madison also performed in a burlesque show in Vegas from 2009 to 2012, and had bit parts in the 2009 film "The Telling," and in "Sharknado 3," which premiered in 2015.

That same year, Madison released her memoir about her life at the mansion, titled "Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny."

Madison tied the knot with entrepreneur Pasquale Rotella in 2013, but the couple separated in 2018. They have two children together: daughter Rainbow Aurora, born in 2013, and son Forest Leonardo Antonio, born in 2016.

Recently, Madison has condemned Hefner and her experience at the mansion.

On A&E's docuseries "Secrets of Playboy," which takes a closer look at the men's magazine and the life of its founder, Madison compared life at the mansion to being in a "cult," said she was offered drugs by Hefner and considered suicide during their relationship, and alleged that most women who aspired to Playmate of the year had to sleep with Hefner to secure the title.

Hefner's son Cooper seemingly denied the allegations against his father in a January tweet, and the Playboy brand has distanced themselves from Hefner in recent statements.

Kendra Wilkinson also dated Hefner while starring on "Girls Next Door."

Kendra Wilkinson also dated Hefner while starring on "Girls Next Door."
Kendra Wilkinson and Hugh Hefner in 2006.      Michael Buckner/Getty Images for AFI

The reality show aired from 2005 to 2010.

Wilkinson has since become a realtor.

Wilkinson has since become a realtor.
Kendra Wilkinson in 2021.      Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Following her split with Hefner in 2009, Wilkinson tied the knot with pro football player Hank Baskett. They divorced in 2018, and share two children together: son Hank Jr., 11, and daughter Alijah, 7.

Wilkinson also starred on a "Girls Next Door" spinoff called "Kendra" from 2009 to 2011, and released a memoir called "Sliding Into Home" in 2010.

Following her divorce, Wilkinson received her real-estate license and became a realtor. Her new career is currently the focus of a Discovery + show called "Kendra Sells Hollywood."

Bridget Marquardt dated Hefner from 2002 to 2009.

Bridget Marquardt dated Hefner from 2002 to 2009.
Bridget Marquardt and Hugh Hefner in 2006.      Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Like Madison and Wilkinson, Marquardt also lived in the Playboy mansion and starred on "Girls Next Door."

Marquardt now hosts a podcast about paranormal experiences.

Marquardt now hosts a podcast about paranormal experiences.
Bridget Marquardt in 2021.      Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

After ending things with Hefner, Marquardt began dating filmmaker Nick Carpenter, who she met in 2008. The couple got engaged in 2015.

Marquardt studied paranormal investigation and research while living at the Playboy mansion in Los Angeles, and later became certified in paranormal investigation and parapsychology, according to Nylon.

She currently hosts a podcast called "Ghost Magnet." On the podcast, Marquardt speaks with guests about their experiences with spirits, and even invited Madison on for an episode to speak about the "ghosts" in the Playboy mansion.

Kristina and Karissa Shannon were 18 when they first met Hefner.

Kristina and Karissa Shannon were 18 when they first met Hefner.
Kristina Shannon (left) and Karissa Shannon (center) with Hugh Hefner in 2009.      David Livingston/Getty Images

After being recruited to do a test shoot for Playboy magazine, the twins were named Playmates for July and August 2009, and received an invitation from Hefner to move into the Playboy mansion in Los Angeles in 2008.

Karissa recently revealed that she became pregnant by Hefner during her time at the mansion, but decided to have an abortion.

The twins later appeared on season 9 of the British reality series "Celebrity Big Brother."

The twins later appeared on season 9 of the British reality series "Celebrity Big Brother."
Kristina (left) and Karissa Shannon in 2015.      Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Kristina and Karissa have also appeared in several porn films since leaving the mansion, and were recently featured on a special episode of "Secrets of Playboy."

Crystal Harris married Hefner in 2012.

Crystal Harris married Hefner in 2012.
Hugh Hefner and Crystal Hefner in 2014.      Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Playboy

The couple first met in 2008 at a party at the Playboy mansion, but rekindled their romance after Wilkinson, Madison, and Marquardt moved out.

Hefner and Harris were originally supposed to be married in 2011, but Harris called off the wedding just a few days before they were due to tie the knot. They later finalized their marriage in 2012, when Harris was 26 and Hefner was 86, and remained together until Hefner's death in 2017.

Harris is currently dating Ryan Malaty.

Harris is currently dating Ryan Malaty.
Crystal Harris Hefner in 2020.      Jerod Harris/Getty Images

Harris frequently shares photos with Malaty to her Instagram account.

The model has also recently weighed in on the allegations against her late husband. Harris seemingly confirmed Madison's claim that Hefner took and distributed sexually explicit, non-consensual photos of intoxicated women during nights out at the mansion.

Harris also said she was "exploited like never before" during her marriage to Hefner in an emotional Instagram post.

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