Linda Hamilton and James Cameron will forever be intertwined in the pop culture consciousness thanks to the Terminator franchise, but their matrimonial connection behind the camera is arguably just as dramatic as some of her most memorable film roles.
Like Hamilton’s Sarah Conner character, the once-obscure actress was physically transformed by playing the role that saw her change from a demure waitress to a certified action hero with biceps that could rival co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger. With this impressive character arc that spanned multiple movies came Hamilton’s launch into international super-stardom with the success of Cameron’s 1991 effort Terminator 2: Judgement Day, a box office giant that is still considered to be one of the greatest action films of all time. Hamilton would later reprise her role in 2019’s Terminator: Dark Fate, which was produced by Cameron.
The workplace, inevitably, often serves as fertile ground for the genesis of many romances, so it isn’t surprising to hear that the frequent creative collaborators would eventually fall in love. However, Cameron — who has been wed five times in total — was married when he filmed the first Terminator movie, so it would not be until after his 1991 divorce from fellow Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow that he could finally pursue a romance with Hamilton. That same year, Hamilton moved in with Cameron and the two had a child together in 1993, according to Nicki Swift.
Marriage and subsequent divorce
Hamilton and Cameron would remain together for five years in total and only a year and a half as a married couple. It was during Cameron’s filming of his mega-blockbuster Titanic that he would inevitably fall in love with another woman while still being married to Hamilton. Eventually, Cameron divorced the Dante’s Peak star in 1999 in favor of former actress and environmental advocate Suzy Amis in 2000, to whom he remains married to this day. However, all of these spousal upheavals would not go without consequences affecting Cameron’s net wealth.
As part of the divorce settlement, Hamilton requested half of Cameron’s earnings from Titanic, which was reportedly north of $100 million at the time. This agreement netted Hamilton $50 million as a result, according to CBS News.
When you combine this divorce payout with the earnings that Hamilton has gained from her film roles over the years, as well as from successful real estate sales, it places her net worth at $70 million total, as reported by Celebrity Net Worth.
Currently, Hamilton has a recurring role on the delightful SyFy comedy Resident Alien where she plays a government agent obsessed with tracking down extraterrestrials on Earth.
Published: Jun 23, 2023 06:10 pm