Who is Lyle Trachtenberg? Whoopi Goldberg’s Ex-Husband Was A Union Organizer

Lyle Trachtenberg is the ex-husband of Whoopi Goldberg. He is interestingly the third and the very last spouse of the renowned actress. But, before being Whoopi’s husband, Lyle was already known to many as a union organizer for IATSE, a labor union.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the life of Lyle and his current whereabouts.

Key Takeaways

• Lyle Trachtenberg dedicated 32 years to working at the IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees).
• Lyle was married to Whoopi Goldberg and their interracial marriage only lasted for a mere year. 
• He is currently married to Adrianna Belan and the couple has two kids.
• The union organizer has a net worth of $1 million.
• He now lives in Santa Monica, California with his wife and children.

Lyle Trachtenberg’s Parents, Education

Born on January 1, 1956, Lyle is currently 68 years old in 2024. His parents raised him in Los Angeles, California, US. Although not much is known about his family, Lyle did post an old picture of his late father, Robby, for Father’s Day.

For his college, Lyle went to the University of California and studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree from 1976 to 1980.

Lyle Trachtenberg was a Union Organizer at IATSE

Lyle was a part of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), a North American labor union that represents a huge number of artists, technicians, and craftspersons in the entertainment industry.

He joined the organization in 1943 and contributed for 32 years before retiring as an International Representative.

During his time there, Trachtenberg was involved in several milestones of the union, including the first-ever agreement of the organization with the AICP (Association of Independent Commercial Producers, Inc.) on November 6, 1996.

He Was Also An Actor

In addition to being a union member, Lyle has also appeared in a few movies, although not all the credits are listed. His IMDb credits start from 1996 when Trachtenberg appeared in From Dusk Till Dawn which was written by Robert Kurtzman and Quentin Tarantino.

The very next year, in 1997, Lyle was in Full Tilt Boogie, a documentary that followed the production of From Dusk Till Dawn.

After that, the former actor played the Husky Guy in Beach Movie in 1998. The John Quinn film follows a guy named Link who is struggling with money problems while conflicted between his love and his passion. Beach Movie was the last time Lyle ever appeared on the screen.

Lyle Trachtenberg First Met Whoopi Goldberg in 1994

Lyle’s first meeting with Whoopi was when he visited the set of the movie that the actress was shooting, Corrina Corrina (1994). The two hit it off instantly and began dating. 

They Got Engaged The Same Year

It wasn’t long before the two got engaged in the same year. During an interview with the LA Times in August 1994, Whoopi showed off her diamond ring and proudly claimed that Lyle had designed it himself.

“He designed this himself. And he’s a union man so you know it was real money,” she explained.

Trachtenberg and Goldberg’s Wedding Was A Simple Affair

Soon after the engagement, Lyle and Whoopi exchanged their wedding vows on October 1, 1994. The ceremony was held at Whoopi’s house in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California. 

Whoopi walked down the aisle with Lyle in a wedding dress that was designed by the Toronto designer, Kim Ironmonger.

As a matter of fact, Lyle and Whoopi had a mixed marriage which soon dissolved in divorce. 

They Divorced in 1995

Lyle and his then-wife Whoopi divorced only a year after their nuptial, with no reported reason. An interesting thing to note is that Lyle was Whoopi’s third and final husband. She never married anyone after her separation from Lyle. 

But, before him, Goldberg was married twice, first to Alvin Martin and then to David Claessen. 

Lyle Trachtenberg Is Now Remarried to His Second Wife 

After his divorce from Goldberg, Lyle got married to his current wife, Adrianna Belan, in August 1998. They have been together for more than 25 years as of 2024. His 2nd spouse Adrianna often posts pictures of Lyle on her Facebook, showing her love and appreciation for her husband.

On their 20th anniversary, Lyle’s wife surprised him with a ticket for a musical show at The Walter Kerr Theatre.

Trachtenberg Has Two Children With His Wife

Lyle and Belan are parents to two kids: both daughters, Gabriella and Natasha Trachtenberg. The couple welcomed their first daughter, Gabriella on November 7, 2008. Their second daughter, Natasha, was born in 2012.

Trachtenberg is a loving father and does his best to include himself in every single part of his children’s lives. Even though he doesn’t like uploading much on social media, his daughters are a matter of exception.

In his own words, “I’m not a big ‘poster,’ but the kids bring sunshine and joy that compels me occasionally to spread our … blog-o-sphere!”

Lyle’s Net Worth

Lyle has an estimated net worth of at least $1 million, earned from his long-term work at the IATSE as an international representative. He also earned a minor amount of his fortune from the movies he acted in.

On the other hand, his ex-wife, Whoopi is worth $60 million.

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