John F. Kennedy Jr.’s tumultuous romance with actress Daryl Hannah saw its final chapter unfold amid personal tragedies and simmering tensions, detailed in the newly released “JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography.”
Their relationship, which began in their teenage years on St. Martin, rekindled in 1989 through the intervention of Hannah’s stepfather, Jerrold Wexler, despite Kennedy dating Christina Haag and Hannah being involved with singer Jackson Browne.
Described as volatile by close friends, Kennedy confided in 1993 about friction between Hannah and his mother, Jackie Onassis, prompting him to temporarily reside in a friend’s basement. Sources portrayed Hannah, known for her roles in “Kill Bill” and “Splash,” as affectionate but emotionally demanding—a trait Kennedy struggled to manage.
Their connection, according to acquaintances, lacked the intimate spark that defines lasting partnerships. “You never saw them look each other in the eye, you know, lovingly,” remarked one observer, highlighting their fundamental disagreements.
A pivotal moment in their relationship occurred in May 1994 when tragedy struck—Hannah’s dog, whose care Kennedy had taken responsibility for in Central Park, tragically died in an accident involving a car. Hannah organized a memorial in Los Angeles, insisting Kennedy transport the dog’s ashes westward, a task that left him deeply conflicted.
“While grieving his mother Jackie’s worsening condition back in New York, Kennedy felt resentful,” recalled a friend. “He was compelled to attend a funeral for Hannah’s dog—a decision he bitterly regretted amidst his mother’s battle with cancer.”
Carole Radziwill, then married to Kennedy’s cousin Anthony Radziwill, recalled a dinner with Kennedy during that turbulent weekend. “John was furious,” she recounted, “feeling that Daryl’s insistence on his presence in Los Angeles was a form of punishment. It was a tumultuous time, overshadowed by grief and discord.”