10. Reese Witherspoon
Reese’s brother was arrested for sexual battery
On October 5, 2002, Reese Witherspoon’s older brother, John, was arrested after he entered a Nashville neighbor’s home and tried to undress and kiss a woman while she slept. John, 34, pled guilty to lesser charges, and according to his attorney, he “took her word for it,” because he was drunk and blacked out on the night in question. Reese, 31, helped her brother after he finished his two years on probation by making him her personal assistant on the ironically titled film Our Family Trouble.
9. Gavin Rossdale
Gavin had a secret love child
In 2004, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, 42, were happily married and planning for a baby. But that October, Gwen got shocking news — Gavin’s 15-year-old goddaughter was actually his love child with former flame Pearl Lowe. “He stopped returning my calls,” Pearl says. DNA tests confirmed that Daisy Lowe was in fact his daughter. Gwen, 38, was said to be devastated, but soon after announced she was pregnant with her and Gavin’s baby Kingston, now 18 months. “You get through the rocky times,” Gwen has said.
8. Michelle Williams
Michelle’s dad faces tax evasion charges
Michelle Williams has been estranged from her father, Larry, since she was 15, but she’s still upset that the IRS charged the 64-year-old stock market trader with evading $1.5 million in taxes after he flew to Australia. “It’s a strange thing having one’s father locked up, but you get used to it,” Michelle, 27, says. When he was arrested in May 2006, it wasn’t lost on Michelle that her dad was detained in her ex Heath Ledger’s native country. “Of all places,” she says. “It’s like, could you pick somewhere else to be arrested?”
7. Woody Harrelson
Woody’s father was a convicted hit man
Woody Harrelson was only 7-years-old when his father, Charles, killed a Texas businessman and was put in jail. “I don’t feel he was much of a father,” says Woody. “He took no part in my upbringing.” Later, while Woody was attending college, his father was arrested again for the murder of a federal judge. Charles denied it and appealed to his son for support. “He was no saint,” says Woody, 46. “But I think he’s innocent of that killing.” Charles died in March while serving two life sentences.
6. Sara Evans
Sara claimed her husband had kinky desires
When country singer Sara Evans’ marriage to Craig Schelske fell apart last year, she aired his dirty laundry in court papers. Sara, 36, alleged that her husband of 13 years “kept a list of ads seeking casual and ménage-a-trois sex and had nude photos of himself indulging in sexual acts with other women,” on their home computer. Sara’s biggest concern was that their children Avery, 8, Olivia, 4, and Audrey, 3, were being exposed to the smutty shots. After Craig made shocking claims about Sara, they both agreed to drop their allegations and resolve their divorce “amicably.”
5. Tobey Maquire
Tobey’s dad was a bank robber
Growing up, Tobey Maguire’s home life was far from perfect. At the age of 3, his parents split and he was forced to live with other family members. Then, in 1993, when Tobey was 18, his down-on-his-luck dad, Vincent, a cook, robbed a California bank and served two years in prison. Says a family friend of the shocking situation: “Tobey is aware his dad made a rash decision which cost him dearly. He was broke and has been a model citizen ever since.” Tobey, 32, learned a valuable lesson. “Growing up the way I did, I have a very serious ambition to make money and have some security,” he says.
4. Orlando Bloom
Orlando didn’t know who his real dad was
Growing up in Canterbury, Kent, England, Orlando Bloom believed that author and civil rights activist Harry Bloom was his father. Harry died when Orlando was only 4, and family friend Colin Stone became his legal guardian. It wasn’t until Orlando was a teenager that his mom, Sonia, admitted that Colin was actually his biological dad. “As long as I can remember, Colin has been a good friend, but I always thought Harry was my real father,” says Orlando, 30. “I don’t remember much about Harry, but my mother always speaks highly of him,” he says.
3. Halle Berry
Halle’s dad was abusive
Halle Berry’s parents divorced when she was a toddler. But her mom, Judith, invited her dad, Jerome, to move back into their Ohio home when Halle was 10 because she felt her daughters needed a father figure. Halle calls that year “the worst of my life,” because of Jerome’s violent behavior. “He abused my mother and my sister Heidi constantly,” she admits. Although she wasn’t harmed, “I was dealing with a lot of guilt,” Halle, 41, says.
2. Charlize Theron
Charlize’s mom killed her father
On June 21, 1991, Charlize Theron’s dad returned to their South African home after a long night of drinking. “My dad had a disease,” Charlize, 32, says. “He was an alcoholic.” Charlize says her dad never physically harmed her, but admits “he was a verbal abuser.” So when he fired a shotgun into the then 15-year-old’s bedroom, her mom, Gerda, shot and killed her husband. The court ruled it self-defense. “If my daughter was in the same situation, I’d do the same thing,” admits Charlize.
1. Nicole Richie
Nicole’s real dad was in Lionel’s band
Nicole Richie has always known Lionel and Brenda Richie as her mom and dad. But her real parents were actually members of Lionel’s band, who gave her up when she was 3-years-old. “My parents were friends with Lionel and they trusted that they would be better able to provide for me,” reveals Nicole, 26. So the Simple Life star — who was officially adopted when she was 9, a year before Lionel and Brenda divorced — was raised in an upscale LA suburb, where she met best friend Paris Hilton and dealt with her famous dad’s constant absence. “When Nicole came along, I was gone,” Lionel, 58, admits. Though her teens were rocky — she went to rehab for heroin addiction — Nicole is now very close with Brenda and Lionel.
