The 1970s were packed with bold personalities, big hair, and unforgettable romances. Some couples captured hearts on screen, while others made headlines with their real-life love stories.
Whether they were rock stars, movie legends, or pop icons, these pairs left a lasting mark on pop culture. Here are 15 famous couples from the ’70s that fans still talk about today.
1. John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Few couples blurred the line between love and activism quite like John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Their famous “Bed-Ins for Peace” turned their honeymoon into a global protest, making headlines worldwide.
They moved to New York City in 1971 and threw themselves into political causes.
Their creative partnership produced music, art, and controversy in equal measure. They stayed together until Lennon’s tragic death in 1980, leaving behind a legacy that still resonates deeply today.
2. Sonny Bono and Cher
Matching outfits, catchy songs, and a hit TV show — Sonny and Cher had it all. “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour” premiered in 1971 and quickly became must-watch television for millions of American families. Their banter felt real because, well, it was.
They divorced in 1975, yet reunited professionally for another TV run just a year later. Their chemistry was simply too entertaining to walk away from completely.
3. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward
Hollywood has seen countless romances, but Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward stood apart by actually making their marriage last. Married since 1958, they carried their love story all the way through the turbulent 1970s with quiet grace and mutual respect.
Newman once joked about fidelity, saying why go out for hamburgers when you have steak at home. Their devotion to each other became a rare, inspiring example in an industry where relationships rarely survive the spotlight.
4. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor
No couple in Hollywood history has had a more dramatic love story than Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. They married, divorced, and then remarkably married each other again in 1975 — making Burton the only man Taylor wed twice.
The reunion lasted less than a year, but the world watched every moment.
Their passionate, stormy connection kept tabloids busy throughout the decade. Even their breakups felt cinematic, larger than life in every possible way.
5. Mick Jagger and Bianca Jagger
Studio 54 had many regulars, but none turned heads quite like Mick and Bianca Jagger. Their 1971 wedding in St. Tropez was pure spectacle, setting the tone for a marriage that played out under the brightest of spotlights.
They were the definition of rock royalty.
Bianca’s sharp style and Mick’s swagger made them the ultimate ’70s power duo. They separated in 1977, with divorce finalized in 1978, but their glamorous era together is still endlessly referenced in fashion and pop culture.
6. Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley
Elvis and Priscilla Presley were one of the most recognized couples in the world when they announced their divorce in 1973. Married since 1967, their split shocked fans who had long admired them as a fairy-tale pair.
Priscilla had stood by Elvis through his wildest years of fame.
Even after the divorce, their bond never fully disappeared. They remained connected through their daughter Lisa Marie, and fans continued to see them as one of rock and roll’s most legendary romances.
7. Farrah Fawcett and Lee Majors
When Farrah Fawcett’s red swimsuit poster hit stores in 1976, it became one of the best-selling posters in history — and her marriage to Lee Majors only added to the couple’s superstar appeal. He was “The Six Million Dollar Man”; she was the angel everyone wanted to be.
Together, they were Hollywood gold. They married in 1973 and separated in 1979.
Their combined fame made them one of the decade’s most photographed and talked-about pairs.
8. Diane Keaton and Woody Allen
Their relationship started when Diane Keaton auditioned for Woody Allen’s Broadway show back in 1969, and what followed was one of cinema’s most celebrated creative partnerships. Their collaboration on “Annie Hall” in 1977 earned Keaton an Academy Award and became a defining film of the decade.
Romantic feelings eventually faded, but their friendship and professional respect never did. Keaton has spoken warmly of Allen throughout the years, crediting him with shaping her early career in meaningful ways.
9. Ali MacGraw and Steve McQueen
Sparks flew on the set of “The Getaway” in 1972, and Ali MacGraw and Steve McQueen didn’t bother hiding it. MacGraw left her marriage to be with McQueen, and they wed in 1973.
Their relationship had the intensity of a Hollywood thriller — passionate, electric, and ultimately unsustainable.
McQueen’s controlling behavior and MacGraw’s stalled career created growing tension between them. They divorced in 1978, but their brief, fiery union remains one of the most talked-about romances of the entire decade.
10. Carly Simon and James Taylor
Two of the most gifted singer-songwriters of their generation fell in love and made beautiful music together — literally. Carly Simon and James Taylor married in November 1972 after meeting the previous year, and their duets like “Mockingbird” became instant classics that still get radio play today.
Their careers were deeply intertwined, which brought both joy and pressure. The marriage ended in 1983, but the music they created together during the ’70s remains a beloved piece of that era’s soundtrack.
11. The Captain and Tennille
“Love Will Keep Us Together” wasn’t just a chart-topping hit for The Captain and Tennille — it felt like a personal motto for Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille. The husband-and-wife duo dominated the pop charts in 1975 and even landed their own ABC variety show in 1976.
Their wholesome, upbeat image was a refreshing contrast to the decade’s flashier acts. Fans adored their genuine warmth and musical chemistry, making them one of the most beloved pop couples the ’70s ever produced.
12. Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg
Across the Atlantic, European audiences were captivated by the unconventional love story of British actress Jane Birkin and French provocateur Serge Gainsbourg. Their relationship was as artistic as it was controversial, producing music, films, and cultural moments that defined an era of European cool.
Their 1969 duet “Je t’aime… moi non plus” had already shocked the world before the ’70s even began. They stayed together until 1980, and Birkin later said Gainsbourg was the great love of her life.
13. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Aristotle Onassis
When Jackie Kennedy married Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis in 1968, the world was stunned. Their union carried into the early 1970s and kept them as one of the most photographed couples on the planet.
Wealth, power, and mystery surrounded every public appearance they made together.
Aristotle Onassis passed away in March 1975, ending their chapter. Jackie went on to build a respected career in publishing, but her years as Mrs. Onassis remain a fascinating footnote in 20th-century history.
14. Barbra Streisand and Jon Peters
Before Jon Peters became one of Hollywood’s most powerful producers, he was known largely as Barbra Streisand’s boyfriend. Their romance began in 1973 and lasted a decade, with Peters helping shape Streisand’s career during one of her most creatively explosive periods.
He produced her 1976 film “A Star Is Born,” which became a massive hit and earned her an Oscar for Best Original Song. Their personal and professional bond made them one of the entertainment world’s most dynamic and closely watched pairings throughout the ’70s.
15. Sally Field and Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds was arguably the biggest movie star in America during the late 1970s, and Sally Field was right there beside him — both on screen and off. Their chemistry in “Smokey and the Bandit” felt effortless because it was rooted in a real relationship that fans found completely irresistible.
They dated from the late ’70s into the early ’80s, and Reynolds later said she was the love of his life. Their pairing felt fun, warm, and genuinely electric every time cameras rolled.