She was a Dental Assistant or something like that and made the bulk of the money until his first big hit.
She probably made all his personal arrangements, kept their house beautiful, raised children, etc. She was also his prop for public events and probably assisted him in getting ready for them.
she may have been part mother, part wife and part estate manager. Knowing wives like this and a few estate managers, who in and of themselves become “Rent a Wife” I can tell you it is a hell of a lot of work.
Take preparing for a party or a viewing of a short for promoting to investors for instance. I have been to many parties that would blow you away and they absolutely do not happen the morning you get up.
You have to decide a theme, who comes. what time will the event start/end, how much of the food and decorating will you do? How much is catered. What is that food. design the menu, map it out, dry run.
Just prepping food takes a minimum of three days for a party of 12. That is after you go grocery shopping on the list you spent days preparing and consulting with other over.
You still have to decide what the decorations will be, how will the table be staged. “Oh darn! I thought that would look good”. No what? Use something else or go shopping for another, whatever, you need to complete the table, room and entrance to the your house.
The day of the party for say 12 people you start at 6 or 7 am and go non-stop. Finishing touches are prepped, caviar dishes staged and iced at the last minute(if it's that). Had a friend prepare caviar a la Mexican style last week. Don't ask what was in it, I don't care about Caviar. Not that it doesn't taste good. It just doesn't do anything for me.
Say the guests arrive at 5:30. Hopefully, the bartender you hired will be there because these guys came in a limo and are going to drink. Alot. What do you know about drinks anyway. Except you like to drink them.
Now everyone goes to wherever you have decided to begin the reception and in the back of your mind you are thinking “I really hope those two servers are on time and know how to serve.
Remember you are the wife of a powerful movie star, not some food runner.
You make pleasant with everyone, charm them. Of course you did you research before they came and got briefed on them by anyone who knows them. You need to know everything because this dinner is important to your husband who has briefed you why this event is important and has also briefed you on the intricacies of the personalities.
You manage the entire affair, which goes on until 12:00am. Everyone is having a good time, they loved the concept of the movie, building, restaurant or whatever project is being promoted.
They leave and your husband smiles and thanks you for the hard work and proclaims success, thank you for the event and your charm.
Now to manage the staff to get the place back in order. No sleep until three am.
So, no, was more than a wife and probably deserves 50%. I personally would just say I am sorry for being someone you don't deserve and write the check.
I go to these events all the time and even act as a waiter sometimes, a dishwasher at others, while others I am a guest.
Good reply.
Unfortunately you’re talking about a world that is foreign to many of the guys here who feel women deserve little or nothing in divorce court. They probably lost half of their Corvette or Comaro in their last divorce and haven’t gotten over it.
Can’t speak for anyone else, but most of Mel’s appeal for me all these years was the fact that he’s a family man.
His wife, though in the background, provided credibility.
Now he has none.