Lyle Trachtenberg is the ex-husband of Whoopi Goldberg. Born on 1st of January 1956 and presently 68 years old, Trachtenberg is a former American actor and a well-known unionist with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Though the California native tried his hands at acting, he never really made it big as an actor. Today, he is still with the IATSE, functioning as its organizer, and has gained a reputation for being troublesome.
Even with his acting gig and activities as an IATSE organizer, Lyle only became famous after he got wedded to the globally acclaimed multi-award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg. However, their union, which was Whoopi’s third, was short-lived.
Lyle Trachtenberg’s Biography Summary
- Full Name: Lyle Trachtenberg
- Gender: Male
- Date of Birth: 1st of January 1956
- Lyle Trachtenberg’s Age: 68 years old
- Ethnicity: White
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Marital Status: Married
- Lyle Trachtenberg’s Spouse: Whoopi Goldberg (ex-wife) and Adrianna Belan (current wife)
- Lyle Trachtenberg’s Children: Natasha and Gabriella Trachtenberg
- Lyle Trachtenberg’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 6 inches
- Lyle Trachtenberg’s Height in Centimeters: 168 cm
- Lyle Trachtenberg’s Net Worth: Approximately $1 million
- Famous For: Being a unionist for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the ex-spouse of Whoopi Goldberg
- Lyle Trachtenberg’s Twitter: thetrack54
How Old is Lyle Trachtenberg?
Lyle Trachtenberg is 68 years old presently. He was born in the movie capital of the U.S., Los Angeles, California, on the 1st of January 1956; this makes him an American national. The internet space is not overflowing with details of his childhood, but it is common knowledge that Lyle is the only child of his parents.
His father’s name has never been mentioned, but reports said he earned a living from the entertainment industry in his capacity as a theatre actor. His mum, on the other hand, was a teacher of the English Language at one of the local high schools.
Lyle’s father played a major role in his decision to join the entertainment industry. According to the CA native, the motivation to act came from his dad, and while in high school, he started shaping his life to follow that path and also did sports. Lyle played a lot of soccer as a high school student, including American football.
Trachtenberg is a Bachelor’s Degree Holder
The name of the high school Lyle Trachtenberg attended is not known, but he actively participated in his school’s drama club, thanks to the experience he gathered watching his dad’s performances at local theatres.
In 1976, Lyle’s quest for further educational achievements led him to join the University of California, Los Angeles, to study for a degree, graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts. His particular discipline was never mentioned.
His Work at the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
Upon the completion of his university education, Lyle Trachtenberg made moves to become part of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). This is the body that is comparable to a labor union in the entertainment industry. Its job functions include serving over a hundred thousand craftspersons, technicians, and artisans in fields like television productions, heather, movies, and trade shows.
Rising through the ranks, Lyle became a known influential organizer by the middle of the 1990s, garnering quite a notoriety for IATSE’s troublemaking activities on the sets of many independent films. His behavior, reports said, led so many directors/producers to lose lots of funds. Some of the indie moviemakers he caused trouble for include the likes of Allison Anders.
While she was working on the production of her film Grace of My Heart in 1995, Allison encountered Lyle and his trouble-making colleagues in the second week. Alongside producers Dan Hassid and Ruth Charny, Allison was working with non-union crew members who had been with them for a while when Trachtenberg appeared at lunchtime. Being denied entry did not deter Lyle one bit as he stood outside the catering truck, listing the benefits of joining IATSE. By the end of time lunch, IATSE gained 25 new members.
Talks got so tense to the extent that discussions of a makeshift strike ensued. However, they were eventually allowed to start filming again after the producers and the unionists reached an amicable agreement. This was just one of the troublesome experiences producers have gone through at the hands of the influential organizer, as many others also narrated their own experiences, which were all unpalatable. Despite the bad reputation he has garnered as part of IATSE, Lyle Trachtenberg is still an active member to date.
He Has Made a Few Onscreen Appearances
Despite his childhood aspirations of making it big in the movies, Lyle Trachtenberg didn’t find much success in onscreen roles. His debut appearance was recorded in 1995 on The 21st Annual People’s Choice Award. The following year, the unionist showed up in From Dusk Till Dawn – Robert Rodriguez’s action-horror, where he portrayed himself alongside movie greats like Hervey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, and George Clooney.
The movie, which was written by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Kurtzman, was centered on a couple of convicts who held people hostage at a vampire-filled truck stop. The movie was a huge success; it was nominated for 13 awards and won seven.
In 1997, Trachtenberg appeared in the documentary movie Full Tilt Boogie, playing himself as an I.A.T.S.E. Union Organizer. This was centered on the makings of Dusk Till Dawn. He scored his final role the next year in Beach Movie – a comedy that cast him in the role of the Husky Guy. Written by John Quinn, the film starred the likes of Gabrielle Anwar and Alex DeBoe and was all about a man who faced the risk of losing his surfing and his girlfriend Sunny; these were most dear to him.
Lyle Trachtenberg’s Movies
| Movie | Date |
| From Dusk Till Dawn | 1996 |
| Full Tilt Boogie | 1997 |
| Beach Movie | 1998 |
What is Lyle Trachtenberg’s Net Worth?
Lyle Trachtenberg’s net worth is $1 million. Over the years, he has received a lot of credit for his association with some projects. 2002’s Girl Fever gave him “special thanks” for his involvement in the movie. He equally received “special thanks” for Keeping Up with the Steins and My Name Is Doris in 2015.
Other productions that gave him “special thanks” include All Souls Day: Dia de los Muertos, House of the Dead 2, Transylmania, and 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
He Retained Some Hobbies From Childhood
As earlier mentioned, the young Trachtenberg had his eyes set on joining the acting profession and was equally good in sports. However, his liking for sporting activities never made it to the pro-level, but he still enjoys playing games like tennis, golf, and basketball.
While he was in his 20s and 30s, the unionists frequented the gym for training sessions, which were scheduled weekly. While the gym activities were channeled towards keeping fit, Lyle also adhered to a strict diet to aid in facilitating his fitness. However, recent development has made him renege on his gym schedule, which is beginning to dwindle.
The IATSE organizer is a guy who loves traveling; he has touched most parts of the United States, albeit on work-related tours. He has also gone on vacations in Europe severally, staying in cities like Dubrovnik in Croatia and Thessaloniki in Greece.
How Did Lyle Trachtenberg Meet Whoopi Goldberg?
There isn’t much information on how Whoopi Goldberg and Lyle Trachtenberg met and became an item, but there are some tidbits to go by. The celebrity couple was said to have met in 1992 before Lyle kick-started his acting career, though Whoopi was already well-established as an actress.
Their path reportedly crossed on the set of a movie whose title wasn’t mentioned. Reports said they wasted no time in commencing a romantic relationship that culminated in marriage a few years later in 1994.
Was Whoopi Goldberg Lyle Trachtenberg’s First Wife?
The records never mentioned Lyle Trachtenberg’s past love life before meeting Goldberg, which has been taken to mean that the Sister’s Act star was his first wife. On the other hand, Whoopi had been through two divorces before meeting Lyle.
The American actress, comedian, TV personality, and author first tested the turbulent waters of matrimony as an 18-year-old girl. She became the wife of Alvin Martin in 1973, and they stayed together for some years, divorcing in 1979 after the birth of their daughter, actress Alexandra Martin.
The multiple award winner’s next marriage was to cinematographer David Claessen. Their union, which commenced on the 1st of September 1986, lasted till 1988 before they called it quits.
How Long Did Lyle Trachtenberg’s Marriage to Whoopi Goldberg Last?
Lyle Trachtenberg got married to Whoopi on the 1st of October, 1994, after they dated for a few months. Details of the couple’s life together as husband and wife were never made public, but their union was barely a year old before it hit the rocks in 1995.
It is true that Lyle’s marriage with Goldberg didn’t last, but it obviously impacted positively on his fame. Today, the unionist is best known as the former husband of the actress, making millions of Whoopi’s fans seek to know him as well. But with the thirteen-time Emmy nominee also failing in her third marriage to the hard-hitting blue-collar veteran, fans are curious about the reason behind her incessant failures in marriage. Who has the problem, Goldberg or her exes?
Whoopi Goldberg and Lyle Trachtenberg Relationship
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Duration of Marriage | 1 year |
| Marriage Date | 1st October 1994 |
| Divorce Date | 1st October 1995 |
| Duration of Dating before Marriage | 9 months, 3 days |
| Total Relationship Duration | 1 year |
| Whoopi Goldberg’s Occupation | Actress |
| Whoopi Goldberg’s Notable Works | The Color Purple (1985), Ghost (1990), Co-host of The View (since 2007) |
| Whoopi Goldberg’s Date of Birth | 13th November 1955 |
| Whoopi Goldberg’s Birth Place | Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA |
| Whoopi Goldberg’s Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Lyle Trachtenberg’s Occupation | Actor |
| Known for | Being the 3rd husband of Whoopi Goldberg |
| Relationship Public View | Whoopi Goldberg has expressed satisfaction with the end of her marriages, indicating she was not meant to be married. |
| Whoopi Goldberg’s Views on Marriage | She has mentioned that she does not wish to be married or share her personal space and time permanently with someone else. |
The Reason Behind Their Divorce
The multiple award-winning actress herself came up to speak about the reasons for her failed marriages. In a January 2017 interview session, she revealed herself to be the culprit. According to the world-famous entertainer, all her three marriages didn’t get a hundred percent commitment from her.
It took a while, but Whoopi came to the realization that she was just becoming something she wasn’t ready for. Feeling the love that married people were supposed to feel never came naturally to her, and the actress soon came to appreciate that she didn’t even want any part of it. Thus, Goldberg put the entire blame on herself, saying she was the common denominator as she never felt love for any of her exes.
Apart from not feeling love for her ex-husbands, Whoopi also talked about her commitment to her daughter Alex Martin, who she says remains No.1. She revealed this in a September 2019 panel discussion, saying any man who enters her life shouldn’t expect to be given priority as that has already been given to Alex. Besides, the commitment is believed to have increased now that she is a grandmother and a great-grandmother. The veteran actress jokingly said her would-be spouse will probably find himself as the ninth with the current situation, as it is now glaring that she no longer has time for a romantic entanglement.
Goldberg’s confession sure vindicated all her exes, especially Lyle Trachtenberg, whose union with the actress lasted the shortest time. Their divorce proceedings were never publicized. Thus, it is difficult to say whether it was amicable or not.
Does Lyle Trachtenberg and Whoopi Goldberg Have Children Together?
From what is obvious, Lyle Trachtenberg and his ex-wife don’t share any children, and considering their short-lived marriage, the chances were really slim. However, during their union, Lyle played the role of stepfather to the actress’ only child, Alexandrea “Alex” Martin, who is currently in the movie industry as an actress and doubles up as a producer.
Lyle Trachtenberg Married Actress Adrianna Belan After Ending Things with Goldberg
It is common knowledge that Lyle Trachtenberg and Whoopi went their separate ways in 1995. However, the amount of time that elapsed before the IATSE unionist moved on with his life is not known. The reason for this grey area is that Lyle never publicized the details of his next nuptials. Fans only got to hear that he has tied the connubial knot a second time.
Lyle’s second wife is none other than Adrianna Belan, the former Canadian actress who currently earns a living as a marketing director. The duo is already parents to two beautiful daughters, Natasha and Gabriella Trachtenberg, and are presently residing in Los Angeles.
The second marriage for the unionist was far better than what he experienced the first time around. From the looks of it, their union has lasted for quite a while. This conclusion is drawn from the ages of the couple’s two daughters, who are well on the way to becoming adults. They are a happy family of four who have been severally spotted in public together.
What We Know About Lyle Trachtenberg’s Current Wife Adrianna Belan
Adrianna Belan’s profile on LinkedIn says she worked for several years as an actress but currently works with Timothy Cline Insurance as a Director of Marketing.
Born in Canada, Adriana studied at the University of Western Ontario from 1992 to 1996, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Being someone with an inclination towards academic excellence, Adrianna went for further educational qualifications at McGill University. She completed her studies in 1998 with another degree in Public Relations Management.
Immediately after the completion of her studies in 1998, Lyle Trachtenberg’s wife joined Wolfsdorf Associates, working in her capacity as a technical writer for four years. She also spent 12 long years working as a producer before scoring her current job at Timothy Cline Insurance. Attaining the position of Director of Marketing in a big insurance company is not an easy feat, but Adrianna sure deserves it as she has worked long and hard for it.
With that said, we must also acknowledge the fact that the wife of the union representative once played active onscreen roles as an actress. Some of her best-known productions include Room 6, Alpha Dog, and Mostly Ghostly.
FAQs
Who is Lyle Trachtenberg?
Lyle Trachtenberg is Whoopi Goldberg’s ex-husband. He is also an actor and a well-known unionist with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Is Lyle Trachtenberg Still Married?
Lyle Trachtenberg is still married to Adrianna Belan, his second wife, and they have two kids together. Adrianna is a Canadian-born actress and business executive.
Who is Whoopi Goldberg?
Whoopi Goldberg is an American actress, comedian, singer, and talk show host. She is popular for her appearance in movies such as Sister Act.
How Long Did Lyle Trachtenberg’s Marriage to Whoopi Goldberg Last?
Their union was barely one year before it hit the rocks.
Was Whoopi Goldberg Lyle Trachtenberg’s First Wife?
Whoppi is believed to be Trachtenberg’s first wife, as records do not show that he was previously married.
How Long After Whoopi Goldberg Did Lyle Trachtenberg Remmary?
The amount of time that elapsed before the IATSE unionist moved on with his life is not known, as he didn’t publicize the details of his next nuptials.