David Claessen

by doveclove Fri Jun 11 2021 Updated On Thu Dec 15 2022
David Claessen

David Claessen is the ex-husband of an American actor, author, comedian, and television personality Whoopi Goldberg.

He is a director and cinematographer.

First wife, Whoopi Goldberg

David moved to the United States in 1986, and in the same year, he met his future wife, Whoopi

They met each other during the production of a documentary named Who Are They? and soon began dating.

The couple got married back in 1986. But their married life didn't last long, and they got divorced after two years of marriage in 1988.

In their short period of married time, the couple didn't welcome any children. 

Before that, Whoopi married Alvin Martin, to whom she has one daughter, Alexandrea Martin

David Claessen with his ex-wife Whoopi Goldberg
David Claessen with his ex-wife Whoopi Goldberg  Source: YouTube 

In 2011, his ex-wife interview with famous English Broadcaster Piers Morgan said that she never loved the man who was married. 

She explained that when a marriage is done. There should be commitments between both partners. But she never felt she was committed to them. 

After her last and final divorce from her third husband, Lyle Trachtenberg, she never got married.

Second Marriage

After his first marriage failed, he married Kareen Green in 1992. Their marriage lasted for ten years. They officially separated in 2002.

He married for the third time to Taiye Selasi in 2013. She is a writer and photographer. 

She was born in London. Her debuted novel is Ghana Most Go which was published in 2013.

They got a divorce in 2015. His marital status is single now. 

About His First Wife

Whoopi was born in 1955, November 13, as Caryn Elaine Johnson in father Robert James Johnson Jr. and mother, Emma Johnson.

She was the only daughter and the youngest after her big brother Clyde in the Johnson family. 

David Claessen ex-wife Whoopi
David Claessen ex-wife Whoopi   Source: Instagram

Her father was a teacher, and her mother was a nurse by Profession. She and her big brother Clyde were raised by their single mother, Emma.

David Claessen with his ex-wife Whoopi Goldberg
David Claessen with his ex-wife Whoopi Goldberg  Source: YouTube 

She described her mother as a strong and erudite person. Her mother used to work two jobs to support Whoopi and her big brother Clyde

Whoopi dropped out without completing high school-level education. She started her first appearance on the screen back in the eighties.

Director Mike Nichols was in love with her performance which leads her to the show Broadway. But, unfortunately, it didn't become once.

She also attracted the attention of director Steven Spielberg after looking at her Broadway performance, which leads her to a leading role in his film The Color Purple which was based on a novel.  

Her first lead role in the movie The Color Purple became one of the amazing debut performances in movie history back in the eighties.

Excited to talk about the new book

David’s ex-wife, Whoopi, gave an interview to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert“ where she talked about her new book and what she likes doing, and many more. 

Whoopi entered the show and started the conversation by introducing her cousin, who was present there as a pianist. She said that her cousin had done his DNA test, and it came to know that he was Whoopi’s third cousin. 

The host of that show then asked her about Nancy Pelosi, who was about to leave for the US, for which Whoopi sarcastically replied that it’s none of her concern and she doesn’t care about anyone. 

Whoopi just wanted to talk about her book, which she had written, and for her, it’s the only thing that mattered. The host tried to ask some questions about something else, which she ignored as she just wanted to talk about her book. 

Whatever questions she was asked expect about her book, she just answered it by saying that it’s none of her business and she doesn’t care. The host then asked her about the book that she had written. 

The name of the book is The Unqualified Hostess, and she was asked why she named it that. 

Whoopi opened that many people would have never expected that she could write something like that, so she is kind of an unqualified hostess to those people. 

To know more about the interview, here’s the link

Career of David

He has had a passion for the entertainment industry from a young age. He started his career in 1981

He has worked with a well-known director. He has directed some award-winning movies such as The Rosa Parks, Love Song, and many more.

His hard work and dedication can be seen in his movies and documentary.

Relationship is not her thing

Whoopi Goldberg gave an interview to ABC News where she talked about her relationship and her new book "If Says You Complete Me: Run!".

Whoopi's new book was dedicated to her brother's life, and the interviewer found that title very funny. 

Then the interviewer asked her why she dedicated that book to her brother. 

She replied that she and her brother were very close to each other. They used to talk about their relationship and think about why they both had an unsuccessful relationship, and because of all that, she dedicated that book to her brother. 

Sadly his brother passed away before she was able to release that book. But Whoopi had told almost everything about that book to her late brother, and sadly, he couldn't read the finishing part of the book. 

She gives some relationship advice too. She had failed relationships, so she wants people who are dating to see a red flag to take their relationship in a long way. 

Back then, her mom said to leave the marriage at her wedding if she didn't want to marry that person. 

But she was so silly that she told her mom she didn't want to insult that man that she was going to get married with by leaving the marriage ceremony as there were many guests. 

She thinks that every relationship needs to give and take policy every second, which was not her thing. 

She was not interested in that, and because of that, her relationship didn't work, and she preferred being single instead of doing that in a relationship. 

Her daughter Alex was also invited to that interview, and Whoopi revealed that her daughter married for the third time with the same person. 

Then they talked about their new documentary saying that it's related to its family and it's fantastic. 

They explained about their documentary, and then the interview was ended. 

To know details about the documentary, check the link.

Net Worth 

David and his ex-wife's net worth and income sources are shown below. 

 David Claessen Whoopi Goldberg (ex-wife)
Net worth $1-5 million $60 million 
Income cinematographerAmerican actor, author, comedian, and television personality

Age, Height, and Weight 

  1. He was born on 6 March 1959 in Netherland. His current age is sixty-two.
  2. He is Dutch.
  3. He was married three times.

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