Kelly Preston passed away on July 12, 2020, after a long battle with breast cancer, and we continue to miss her. However, before her demise, she enjoyed a fairytale love with John Travolta, and this is something we find comfort in. Their marriage of 29 years made them one of Hollywood's long-lasting and most loved couples as they stayed with each other through thick and thin. The pair navigated the loss of a son, cheating rumors, and a shared religion until death did them apart.
But before finding her Mr. Right, Kelly dabbled with dating some of Hollywood's bad boys. Perhaps, of all her past lovers, the most notorious turns out to be none other than Charlie Sheen. The unlikely duo was quite an item in the '80s, and here is all you need to know about their unconventional relationship.
10 They Were Engaged For Three Years
Before Kelly's marriage with John Travolta, she and Charlie dated for three years. The duo was a hot item in Hollywood and one of the most talked-about couples. They attended several star-studded events together. While it is not sure how their romance began, things got heated around the late eighties, and by 1987 the Two and A Half Men star popped the question.
9 He Proposed With A 2.5-Carat Ring
To declare his love for Kelly, Charlie went all out in his true nature and proposed with a 2.5-Carat pink diamond ring in April 1989. The giant rock reportedly cost a whopping $200,000, and Kelly fell in love with it. Unfortunately, the heavy price of the glamorous ring wasn't enough to stop Kelly from calling off the engagement in 1990. However, she didn't let go of the ring for a while, even after they ended things.
8 The Gunshot Wound That Broke Things Off
A year after Charlie and Kelly's engagement, the couple lived in a luxury townhouse community in Malibu when the Jerry Maguire actress suffered a gunshot wound to her arm. According to reports, Kelly was moving one of Charlie's jeans when the revolver he forgot in the back pocket went off. Kelly suffered injuries on her wrist and ankle and was taken to St. John's hospital for stitches. Shortly after, Kelly broke off their engagement.
7 They Split The Money Engagement Ring
Although their breakup wasn't contentious, Kelly hesitated to return the ring to Sheen when he requested it. At the time, things were already kicking off with Travolta as the Grease actor has already proposed with a six-carat diamond ring. However, it was later reported that Kelly and Sheen agreed to sell the engagement ring and equally split the money made from the sale.
6 Sheen Denied The Shooting
At the time of the incident, it was rumored that Sheen shot Preston in the arm. However, it wasn't until about three decades later that the notorious actor addressed the scandal. During his My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not an Option tour, Charlie finally shed some light on the event, revealing that Kelly accidentally shot herself. He explained that Kelly had picked up the pants with the revolver while in the bathroom when it fell and discharged. The bullet struck the toilet, and the shrapnel from the toilet injured her. Then, in his usual humorous nature, Sheen said to the audience:
"I heard a f-----g gunshot go off. I thought She did it. She finally f-----g did it. She killed herself, and they're going to f-----g blame me.'"
5 Kelly Defended Sheen
Regardless of the controversial way things ended between Charlie and Kelly, the late actress had nothing but love for her former fiance. Amid his array of legal troubles and substance abuse issues, Kelly, during an interview with People, showed love to Sheen, saying:
"We were together for a year, and he wasn't drinking, and he wasn't doing drugs, and there's a beautiful person in there. He really is a great man. I think there's a way back for anyone. I always have hope, and my prayers are with him."
4 Travolta Loved Kelly During Her Engagement
Kelly found her eternal love in Travolta, who was her husband for 29 years until her demise. However, it was no coincidence that the revered couple got engaged a year, barely after she ended things with Charlie. Kelly and Travolta actually met in 1896 on a movie set, and it was love at first sight for the Hairspray actor, but Kelly was still married to Kevin Gage. The late actress went on to date two more people, including Charlie, before finally settling down with Travolta, but he loved her through it all.
3 Sheen Has A History Of Violence Against Women
When news broke that Kelly suffered a gunshot wound in Charlie's home, tabloids reported that the actor shot her. Even though that wasn't the case, it wasn't inconceivable that fingers were pointed at the Platoon star, given his violent past. In the summer of 1990, Charlie checked into rehab around the time of his broken engagement for alcohol addiction. In subsequent years, he was embroiled in several legal battles stemming from abuse towards women. Charlie was charged for assaulting his former girlfriend, Brittany Ashland, arrested on domestic violence charges during his third marriage to Brooke Mueller. He was also given a restraining order from his second wife, Denise Richards.
2 Kelly's Dating History
Before finding forever after with Travolta, Kelly had quite a dating history. Between 1985 and 1987, she was married to Kevin Gage, and the pair starred in the movie Spacecamp. However, the former lovebirds called it quits after two years, with Kelly sharing years later that she was with the wrong person. After Gage, Kelly had a serious thing with George Clooney after they met at a party. The duo even moved in with George getting her a pig pet, but their relationship barely lasted a year.
1 Charlie's Wild Dating History
Unlike his former fiancee, Charlie has had a tumultuous dating history. After Kelly, the actor tied the knot with Denise, and together they welcomed two girls. However, their marriage ended after four years after Denise claimed Charlie tried to kill her. His third marriage was to Brooke Mueller, and together they welcomed twin sons. Other women in Charlie's past include Robin Wright, Winona Ryder, Bree Olson, and Heather Hunter.