What happened between John McEnroe and Tatum O’Neal? Marriage and divorce explored as couple reunite for son Kevin McEnroe’s wedding

Former tennis player John McEnroe and his ex-wife Tatum O’Neal were in attendance at their eldest son, Kevin McEnroe’s, wedding on June 14, 2025. He married Fern Cozine almost two years after getting engaged in 2023. People magazine shared exclusive photos from the wedding.

As per reports, the former couple had a long struggle over their children’s custody after their split. However, speaking to Variety before their son’s wedding, Tatum O’Neal said:

“The anger is gone.”

Kevin also weighed in, saying:

“She’s going to make a speech at the wedding. I think since this happened, everybody has rallied and has wished you the best.”

For the unversed, Tatum O’Neal is well-known for films like The Bad News Bears, Paper Moon, Circle of Two, and others. She and John tied the knot in 1986 after dating for around two years.

The former couple did not have a grand wedding. They gathered with a few close friends and family members at St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church.

However, according to a report by Hello Magazine, around 500 people stood outside the church only to have a glimpse of the newlyweds. Remembering the day, he shared a statement with The Guardian, saying:

“I remember thinking, 'I’m going to fly under the radar' with my ex-wife. Like, who the hell are you kidding? The level of attention exploded! There was way more than I’d ever gotten with any person or any thing. Oh my God! So then you dig in your heels.”

John McEnroe married Patty Smyth after separating from Tatum O’Neal

When Tatum O’Neal chose to end the relationship, McEnroe admitted that he was struggling emotionally. Although he didn’t feel completely broken, he found it difficult to manage daily responsibilities.

During the first six months after the split, his focus was on ensuring the kids were okay and getting them to school. Eventually, someone pointed out that his kids were noticing his emotional state, including moments when he cried, and that it wasn’t healthy for them.

Their divorce was finalized in 1994, and John McEnroe tied the knot with singer Patty Smyth in 1997. John and Tatum O’Neal had three children in total. However, following their split, a battle arose over their custody, and John ended up with sole custody.

Kevin McEnroe is the author of Our Town: A Novel, which came out in 2015. Speaking of her ex-husband with People Magazine that year, Tatum O’Neal said:

“John was really nice to me at Kevin's reading at The Strand bookstore. I was very impressed how he has evolved, and for being able to talk to me. I would say there isn't a relationship, but there is respect now.”

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Kevin reflected on his parents’ troubled relationship, saying that growing up in that environment felt normal to him since he didn’t know anything different. He explained that he and his siblings were raised in a household where their parents rarely spoke.

He admitted he couldn’t compare it to more communicative divorces, as he had no experience with that, but acknowledged that it was challenging at times, something he believed many children of divorced parents go through.

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