Traded to an older man for money as a child, now she’s a famous actress

This talented actress’ journey to fame and fortune was long and traumatic, but it is a testament to her ability to overcome a painful past.

Born Demi Gene Guynes on November 11, 1962, she was thrust into a chaotic life almost immediately, as her father, Charles Harmon Sr., an Air Force airman, abandoned her mother, Virginia King, after just two months of marriage, leaving Virginia to raise Demi on her own.

Shortly after Demi’s birth, her mother remarried Dan Guynes, a man who worked in newspaper advertising. Unfortunately, Dan’s frequent job changes led the family to relocate numerous times during Demi’s childhood.

Early years
Demi’s early years were marked by significant physical and emotional challenges, struggling with kidney disease and having to undergo two surgeries to correct a severe case of strabismus (a condition that caused her eyes to cross).

When Demi turned 13, her life was turned upside down once again when she discovered that the man she had believed to be her father, Dan Guynes, was actually her stepfather. Upon learning this, Demi moved in with her grandmother, distancing herself from her mother’s troubled home.

Career beginnings
After dropping out of Fairfax High School as a teenager, Demi ventured into modeling, signing with Elite Modeling Agency. However, her true calling was acting, which she pursued shortly after marrying musician Freddy Moore in 1981.

Demi adopted her husband’s surname and kept it throughout her career, even after their marriage ended five years later. Her early acting career included roles in General Hospital and films like Choices, No Small Affair, and Blame It on Rio. However, it wasn’t until 1985, when she starred in St. Elmo’s Fire, that she gained wider recognition.

The real turning point in her career came in 1990 when she starred in the romantic fantasy film Ghost. The movie became a massive hit, propelling Demi to A-list status in Hollywood. She continued to solidify her place in the industry with roles in A Few Good Men, Indecent Proposal, and Disclosure. In 1995, Demi briefly became the highest-paid actress in Hollywood for her role in Striptease, earning a record-breaking salary of $12 million, according to Vanity Fair.

In her personal life, Demi married actor Bruce Willis in 1987, and the couple became one of Hollywood’s most famous pairs. They had three daughters together — Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah — but their marriage ended in divorce in 2000. Despite the split, Demi and Bruce maintained a strong co-parenting relationship.