Courteney Cox has had a romantic history full of big names and bright stars, mirroring her successful career. In 1984, she danced with Bruce Springsteen in the dark, and a decade later she landed the iconic role of Monica Geller on Friends, propelling her to superstardom.
During the height of her career, Cox's personal life rivaled the drama of her onscreen relationships. While portraying Monica's love affairs with Dr. Richard Burke and Chandler Bing on the sitcom, Cox was also romantically linked to some of the biggest names in Hollywood. However, after a six-year relationship with Michael Keaton ended, the Cougar Town star admitted to USA Today in 1997 that she realized relationships were more challenging than she expected and acknowledged the need for self-improvement.
During an interview, the Dirt actress shared that she still believed in the possibility of actors having successful relationships with each other, emphasizing the significance of being with someone who shares the same creative and passionate drive. Following her own advice, Cox tied the knot with her Scream co-star, David Arquette, in 1999 and remained together for over a decade until their separation in October 2010. After their divorce was finalized, Cox spoke candidly to Ellen DeGeneres about her relationship with Arquette beyond their marriage.
Cox expressed her deep affection for her ex-husband on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in January 2013, describing him as her "best friend in the world" and admitting that she loves him. Despite their amicable split, the actress advised others to avoid divorce if they can, but acknowledged that in her case, it ultimately brought positive changes. "We've both grown and changed, and I think we both appreciate each other more," Cox stated, expressing hope that her ex-husband feels the same way.
In 2013, Courteney Cox began a new relationship with musician Johnny McDaid. Despite a relatively short six-month dating period, the couple became engaged. While the engagement was called off in 2015, Cox and McDaid eventually reunited and expressed their happiness and love for each other in interviews with We and Us magazines. McDaid even stated that he had never loved anyone as much as he loved Cox.
Scroll down to see which famous faces Cox has been linked to over the years:
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Courteney Cox’s Dating History: From Michael Keaton and David Arquette to Johnny McDaid
Courteney Cox's romantic history is as glittering as her career. From twirling under the spotlights with Bruce Springsteen in 1984, the Alabama-born actress landed the role of Monica Geller in the iconic sitcom Friends in 1994. It was this role that catapulted her to the pinnacle of superstardom.
During the height of her success on the show, Cox's personal life became just as eventful as her onscreen love affairs. While her character Monica was involved with the charming Dr. Richard Burke, played by Tom Selleck, and her best friend Chandler Bing, played by Matthew Perry, Cox was romantically linked to some of Hollywood's biggest names. However, the actress admitted in a 1997 interview with USA Today that relationships were more challenging than she initially anticipated and that she had some personal growth to work on after the end of her six-year relationship with Michael Keaton.
She shared that they remained close friends and co-parents to their daughter, despite the end of their romantic relationship. Cox also spoke about the importance of communication and honesty in any type of relationship, whether it be romantic or platonic.
Cox expressed her affection for her ex-husband on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in January 2013, calling him her "best friend in the world" and stating that she loves him. Despite this, she advised others to avoid divorce if possible, sharing that it worked out for her and her ex-husband because they have both grown and changed, leading to a deeper appreciation for each other. Cox expressed her hope that her ex-husband shares this sentiment.
The actress from Bedtime Stories found new love in musician Johnny McDaid that year and got engaged after only half a year of dating. Although they broke off their engagement in 2015, they later reignited their love. Cox shared in a May 2016 exclusive with We that they were happy and in love, while McDaid expressed his deep feelings for her, saying, "I know that I’ve never loved like I love this woman," in an interview with Us.
Scroll down to see which famous faces Cox has been linked to over the years:
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Ian Copeland
The music agent and Cox dated in the early ‘80s before the actress rose to fame. According to Copeland, the two nearly married, but Cox’s career led to an eventual breakup.
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Paul Brown
Cox attended the 1987 Emmys with boyfriend Brown, whom she dated for about a year.
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Michael Keaton
The couple first met in 1988 when Cox expressed her admiration for Keaton's performance in Clean and Sober to a mutual friend. They began dating the following year and were together for almost six years before ending their relationship in July 1995.
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Kevin Costner
The pair, who starred in 3000 Miles to Graceland together, were rumored to be romantically involved in the mid ‘90s.
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Adam Duritz
Duritz had a romantic relationship with Jennifer Aniston prior to his involvement with Cox in 1997. Cox even made an appearance in the Counting Crows' music video for “A Long December” in 1996. Duritz spoke about his experiences dating both Friends stars in a 2014 interview with Men’s Health, stating that they were both lovely women and that he enjoyed his time with them.
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David Arquette
The couple tied the knot in San Francisco in 1999, three years after meeting on the set of Scream. However, after over a decade of marriage, they announced their separation in October 2010 and their divorce was finalized in 2013. Together, they have a daughter named Coco, born in June 2004.
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Brian Van Holt
Cox ended her relationship with Arquette and subsequently dated her fellow Cougar Town cast member for a brief period, ultimately ending things in October 2013. Rumors initially circulated in June of the same year, suggesting that the two had started seeing each other six months prior.
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Johnny McDaid
The couple, who got engaged in June 2014 after a whirlwind romance, split up after a year and a half. However, they reconciled in spring 2016 and have been going strong ever since. Despite the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, they managed to maintain their relationship while living apart for nine months. Finally, in December 2020, they were able to reunite in person after a long time apart. Cox expressed her happiness, saying, "We love each other and we're happy."