Audie Murphy’s first wife, Wanda Hendrix, and he divorced after a brief marriage.
Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier of World War II and a celebrated movie star, married actress Wanda Hendrix in 1949. Their marriage was highly publicized, but it quickly became apparent that the union was troubled. Murphy suffered from what would now be recognized as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which affected his behavior and made the marriage difficult for Hendrix.
The couple’s relationship was strained by Murphy’s frequent nightmares, mood swings, and bouts of depression, likely stemming from his wartime experiences. Hendrix reportedly found Murphy’s behavior, including his handling of firearms during his episodes, to be frightening. These challenges, coupled with the pressures of their public lives, led to the deterioration of their marriage.
After only a few years, the marriage ended in divorce in 1951. Despite the end of their marriage, both Murphy and Hendrix continued with their respective careers. Murphy went on to star in several more films, often drawing on his military background for roles, and Hendrix continued acting in Hollywood. Murphy’s struggles with PTSD and his subsequent marriages remained a part of his complex personal story until his untimely death in a plane crash in 1971.
