That strange whooshing sound you may have heard at the beginning of the week was a collective intake of breath followed by a whaaaaat?? When people first read that Kimberly Stewart, Rod Stewart's daughter is pregnant with Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro's child. It got us here at PopEater thinking about other surprising couples. Maybe some of them are familiar but hats off to those pop culture mavens who scoff at this entire list with a weary, "Oh please I knew them all!"
Funnyman Will Arnett was married to 'Carlito's Way' actress Penelope Ann Miller from December 9, 1994 to January 18, 1995.
Helen Mirren was in a four year relationship with Liam Neeson. The two met on the set of 'Excalibur' where they filmed a rather torrid love scene that was eventually cut out of the movie. In an interview with Irish television Mirren playfully said that she has, "a soft spot for Irish men," and Neeson was a, "prize that she took home from Ireland, a tourist memento."
Liam Neeson also dated Brooke Shields who he has said he seriously considered proposing to and had a relationship with Julia Roberts. The two appeared in the forgettable 'Satisfaction' together.
When Brooke Shields attended Princeton she dated the star football player Dean Cain. He later donned a pair of tights and became a T.V. Superman. The pair who was surely the most gorgeous couple of campus dated for two years.
Simply Red singer Mick Hucknall who has admitted to bedding over a thousand women and at the height of his fame was sleeping with three women a day, dated Catherine Zeta-Jones and model Helena Christensen.
Character actress Brenda Vaccaro dated a young Michael Douglas who was at the time a big TV star in 'The Streets of San Francisco' for five years.
John Stamos dated Paula Abdul. 'Full House' fans may remember that a pre-teen D.J. Tanner had a Paula Abdul poster tacked up on her bedroom wall. Stamos claimed once that the diminutive pair would still be together if it wasn't for the media.
Former teen idol Leif Garrett dated a then unknown starlet named Nicolette Sheridan for six years.
Openly gay actor Neil Patrick Harris who recently had twins with his partner David Butka admitted on the Howard Stern show that he dated 'Brady Bunch' star Christine Taylor. He went on to sheepishly confess that their brief relationship made him realize that he truly, really, honestly was not interested in women. He reasoned that if he didn't feel anything for such a gorgeous gal then maybe he ought to be playing for the other team.
The guy Christine Taylor did go on to marry, Ben Stiller, had a long on again off again relationship that even included an engagement with 'Big Love' star Jeanne Tripplehorn.
Remember who Tom Cruise dated after he abruptly divorced Nicole Kidman? Penelope Cruz (who went onto date Matthew McConaughey) and then he dated Colombian bombshell Sofia Veraga. Supposedly the two broke up when the 'Modern Family' star backed out of a visit to the Scientology Center in Clearwater, Florida. Almost immediately afterwards, Cruise met Katie Holmes and the rest is couch jumping history.
Tom Cruise also had a relationship with Cher as did his fellow 'Top Gun' actor Val Kilmer.
Fisher Stevens dated Michelle Pfeiffer.
'Dirty Dancing' star Jennifer Grey was engaged to Matthew Broderick and Johnny Depp.
While filming 'Valmont' Colin Firth fell in love with 'Agnes of God' actress Meg Tilly. They had a son William in 1990.
Brad Pitt narrowly avoided being beaten to a bloody pulp when he was dating Robin Givens, Mike Tyson's estranged wife in 1989. One evening Pitt showed up at Given's home only to find the fearsome boxing champ waiting there.
Before marrying Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker dated Nicolas Cage,
John F. Kennedy Jr and had a long live in relationship with Robert Downey Jr.
Sean Penn was engaged to 'Ordinary People' star Elizabeth McGovern.
Aussie actor Heath Ledger dated both Naomi Watts and Heather Graham.
And if you scoff at this list claiming to have known all this already, then you need to get out more!
