How Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee got married on the beach 30 years ago — four days after their first date
Forget being written in the stars — this love was written in the sand.
Such were the beachside vows that Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee exchanged in Cancun, Mexico 30 years ago on Feb. 19, 1995 — just days after their first date.
The nuptials of the ‘90s icons — the bombshell and the bad boy — were straight out of a sweeps episode of “Baywatch.”
The Mötley Crüe drummer had secretly followed Anderson down to Cancun and quickly made his intentions clear on their first date.
“The first thing he said to me was ‘I’m going to marry you,’” Anderson told Larry King in 2002. “And I said, ‘What? No one’s ever said that to me in a first sentence.’”
And sure enough, Lee popped the question just a few days later.
“That night at a disco called the La Boom, I took off my pinky ring, put it on her finger and asked her to marry me,” he said in Mötley Crüe’s 2001 autobiography “The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band.”
“She said yes, hugged me, and stuck her tongue down my throat.”
With the bride wearing a bikini and the groom rocking board shorts, the two got married the very next day after the proposal.
“We asked the hotel to find someone to perform a marriage ceremony,” wrote Lee in the book. “We gave blood, sniffed out a marriage license, and were on the beach getting married before the day was over.”
They sealed the deal by tattooing each other’s names on their ring fingers.
Although their tumultuous marriage would only last until 1998 — while the love affair would be on and off again for years after that — Anderson and Lee were one of the most iconic couples of the ’90s.
“It really was love at first sight,” Anderson told People in 2015. “I only knew him four days before I married him.”
However, they actually met on New Year’s Eve at Hollywood’s Sanctuary, weeks before they got hitched.
“Suddenly, a waitress came over and said, ‘Tommy, here’s a shot of Goldschäger. It’s for you, from Pamela Anderson,’” Lee recalled in his 2004 memoir “Tommyland.”
“I pushed my way into [her] booth, slid over her girlfriends’ laps and forced myself a space right next to her. Then I grabbed her face and just licked the side of it, from chin to temple.”
Face-licking aside, Lee was a gentleman that night. “She was so beautiful, I couldn’t even bring myself to think of defiling here with thoughts of lust,” he wrote. “I just stared at her all night, and she just stared back.”
Indeed, at the end of the night, Lee simply walked Anderson back to her friend’s car, asked for her number and gave her a goodnight kiss.
The two talked on the phone in the weeks before Lee made his surprise move to woo Anderson while she was doing a photo shoot in Cancun.
“We just wanted to have babies and be together forever,” Anderson told People in 2023.
But the honeymoon would turn out to be over after the honeymoon. During a five-day houseboat trip to Lake Mead in Nevada, the newlyweds made the infamous sex tape that would put their marriage to the test after it was stolen by their former electrician Rand Gauthier.
“It ruined lives, starting with our relationship — and it’s unforgivable that people, still to this day, think they can profit from such a terrible experience, let alone a crime,” wrote Anderson in her 2023 memoir “Love, Pamela.”
Anderson went on to give birth to their son Brandon in May 1996, but with tensions from the sex tape and Lee’s drinking taking a toll on their marriage, Anderson filed for divorce six months later. However, they reunited shortly thereafter.
Another son, Dylan, was born in December 1997. But two months later, Lee was arrested and charged with spousal abuse after Anderson accused him of attacking her as she held Dylan. Lee pleaded no contest to spousal abuse and was sentenced to six months in jail.
“I couldn’t understand why Pamela had followed through with pressing charges,” Lee wrote in “The Dirt.” “She was probably scared and thought I was some crazy, violent monster; she probably thought she was doing the right thing for the kids.”
After his release from jail, the now-divorced couple shared a kiss at the World Music Awards and walked the MTV VMAs red carpet together in 1999. They were even discussing remarriage.
“I picture Tommy and me … old, toothless, on a bench somewhere with our tattoos,” Anderson said at the time.
But things fizzled again, with Lee going on to date Mayte Garcia, Prince’s ex-wife, and Anderson having a relationship with Kid Rock, who she would marry.
Still, they continued to hold a special place in each other’s hearts. In 2005, when Lee even participated in Anderson’s Comedy Central roast, he said, “You’ve always been there for me, and your spirit and kindness is an inspiration to me. Like I said 500,000 times, and on that damn sex tape, ‘I f—king love you, baby.’ ”
And in 2008, Lee said they were giving it another shot. “We’ve only given it a try 800 times — 801, here we go,” he told Rolling Stone.
For Anderson — who is up for Best Actress for “The Last Showgirl” at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday — “there’s a connection there that will always be.”
What do you think? Post a comment.
“There was Tommy and then there was nobody else,” she told People in 2015. “He was the love of my life.”
In “Love, Pamela,” she wrote, “My relationship with Tommy may have been the only time I was ever truly in love.”
EXPLORE MORE
NOW ON
PAGE SIX
MORE STORIES
Ryan Reynolds’ Justin Baldoni joke at ‘SNL 50′ anniversary special ‘was his idea,’ famed cue card guy claims: ‘He pitched that’
Inside Wendy Williams’ $52K-per-month assisted living ‘prison’ with a gourmet chef, 24/7 concierge service and more
Wendy Williams moved to memory unit at assisted living facility after getting drunk at lunch: report
Here’s what Delta is offering passengers who were on plane that flipped over in Toronto – with ‘no strings attached’
Trump weighing ‘DOGE dividend’ to send taxpayers checks with saved funds — see how much inflation-stricken Americans could get
Zeldin EPA discovers $2 billion stashed away by Biden admin for Stacey Abrams-linked climate group
LaVar Ball has foot amputated after ‘serious medical issue’
Tom Hanks roasted over ‘disgusting’ portrayal of Trump supporter at ‘SNL’ 50th anniversary special
Trump attends Daytona 500, drives lap around track in motorcade while delivering message
Trump’s WH press secretary began juggling job duties, and motherhood, just days after giving birth
Ryan Reynolds pitched ‘SNL 50’ joke about Justin Baldoni legal drama, staffer claims: ‘That was his idea’
Christina Hall passionately kisses new boyfriend Christopher Larocca at Eiffel Tower in Paris: ‘Life is good’
Jordon Hudson, 23, shares photos from romantic Valentine’s Day trip with boyfriend Bill Belichick, 72
PAGE SIX
NYPOST
TRENDING NOW
BREAKING NEWS
TRENDING NOW
ON NYPOST.COM
MOST COMMENTED
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
TOP CONCERTS
LISTEN NOW
What Amy Schumer said to Blake Lively about Justin Baldoni legal drama at ‘SNL50’: lip reader
Here’s what Delta is offering passengers who were on plane that flipped over in Toronto – with ‘no strings attached’
Here’s what Delta is offering passengers who were on plane that…
Trump weighing ‘DOGE dividend’ to send taxpayers checks with…
Zeldin EPA discovers $2 billion stashed away by Biden admin for…
LaVar Ball has foot amputated after ‘serious medical issue’
Longtime NFL punter arrested over protest of MAGA plaque
Teen who died after injecting himself with butterfly remains…
‘It’ doctor of Upper East Side charges $1.5K a month — and…
Mavericks CEO makes stunning admission about blockbuster Luka…
How Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee got married on the beach 30 years ago — four days after their first date
Forget being written in the stars — this love was written in the sand.
Such were the beachside vows that Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee exchanged in Cancun, Mexico 30 years ago on Feb. 19, 1995 — just days after their first date.
The nuptials of the ‘90s icons — the bombshell and the bad boy — were straight out of a sweeps episode of “Baywatch.”
The Mötley Crüe drummer had secretly followed Anderson down to Cancun and quickly made his intentions clear on their first date.
“The first thing he said to me was ‘I’m going to marry you,’” Anderson told Larry King in 2002. “And I said, ‘What? No one’s ever said that to me in a first sentence.’”
And sure enough, Lee popped the question just a few days later.
“That night at a disco called the La Boom, I took off my pinky ring, put it on her finger and asked her to marry me,” he said in Mötley Crüe’s 2001 autobiography “The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band.”
“She said yes, hugged me, and stuck her tongue down my throat.”
With the bride wearing a bikini and the groom rocking board shorts, the two got married the very next day after the proposal.
“We asked the hotel to find someone to perform a marriage ceremony,” wrote Lee in the book. “We gave blood, sniffed out a marriage license, and were on the beach getting married before the day was over.”
They sealed the deal by tattooing each other’s names on their ring fingers.
Although their tumultuous marriage would only last until 1998 — while the love affair would be on and off again for years after that — Anderson and Lee were one of the most iconic couples of the ’90s.
“It really was love at first sight,” Anderson told People in 2015. “I only knew him four days before I married him.”
However, they actually met on New Year’s Eve at Hollywood’s Sanctuary, weeks before they got hitched.
“Suddenly, a waitress came over and said, ‘Tommy, here’s a shot of Goldschäger. It’s for you, from Pamela Anderson,’” Lee recalled in his 2004 memoir “Tommyland.”
“I pushed my way into [her] booth, slid over her girlfriends’ laps and forced myself a space right next to her. Then I grabbed her face and just licked the side of it, from chin to temple.”
Face-licking aside, Lee was a gentleman that night. “She was so beautiful, I couldn’t even bring myself to think of defiling here with thoughts of lust,” he wrote. “I just stared at her all night, and she just stared back.”
Indeed, at the end of the night, Lee simply walked Anderson back to her friend’s car, asked for her number and gave her a goodnight kiss.
The two talked on the phone in the weeks before Lee made his surprise move to woo Anderson while she was doing a photo shoot in Cancun.
“We just wanted to have babies and be together forever,” Anderson told People in 2023.
But the honeymoon would turn out to be over after the honeymoon. During a five-day houseboat trip to Lake Mead in Nevada, the newlyweds made the infamous sex tape that would put their marriage to the test after it was stolen by their former electrician Rand Gauthier.
“It ruined lives, starting with our relationship — and it’s unforgivable that people, still to this day, think they can profit from such a terrible experience, let alone a crime,” wrote Anderson in her 2023 memoir “Love, Pamela.”
Anderson went on to give birth to their son Brandon in May 1996, but with tensions from the sex tape and Lee’s drinking taking a toll on their marriage, Anderson filed for divorce six months later. However, they reunited shortly thereafter.
Another son, Dylan, was born in December 1997. But two months later, Lee was arrested and charged with spousal abuse after Anderson accused him of attacking her as she held Dylan. Lee pleaded no contest to spousal abuse and was sentenced to six months in jail.
“I couldn’t understand why Pamela had followed through with pressing charges,” Lee wrote in “The Dirt.” “She was probably scared and thought I was some crazy, violent monster; she probably thought she was doing the right thing for the kids.”
After his release from jail, the now-divorced couple shared a kiss at the World Music Awards and walked the MTV VMAs red carpet together in 1999. They were even discussing remarriage.
“I picture Tommy and me … old, toothless, on a bench somewhere with our tattoos,” Anderson said at the time.
But things fizzled again, with Lee going on to date Mayte Garcia, Prince’s ex-wife, and Anderson having a relationship with Kid Rock, who she would marry.
Still, they continued to hold a special place in each other’s hearts. In 2005, when Lee even participated in Anderson’s Comedy Central roast, he said, “You’ve always been there for me, and your spirit and kindness is an inspiration to me. Like I said 500,000 times, and on that damn sex tape, ‘I f—king love you, baby.’ ”
And in 2008, Lee said they were giving it another shot. “We’ve only given it a try 800 times — 801, here we go,” he told Rolling Stone.
For Anderson — who is up for Best Actress for “The Last Showgirl” at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday — “there’s a connection there that will always be.”
“There was Tommy and then there was nobody else,” she told People in 2015. “He was the love of my life.”
In “Love, Pamela,” she wrote, “My relationship with Tommy may have been the only time I was ever truly in love.”
In Other News
Stock market today: Asian shares mostly dip despite S&P 500 adding to its record on W…
Trump says he’s considering buying used planes to serve as Air Force One amid Boeing …
Lay’s just brought back a fan-favorite flavor to Sam’s Club
25 high-fiber breakfasts to support heart health
96-year-old’s daily effort to bring joy to local dogs and cats is absolutely beautifu…
Spring 2025 fashion trends you simply cannot miss
Trump’s freeze on foreign aid could give China an opening on the world stage
Grand jury recommends Alabama police department be ‘immediately abolished’
No. 1 Auburn overcomes a rough offensive performance to beat Arkansas 67-60
Yes, Lionel Messi can do it on a freezing cold night in Kansas
Alaska’s Mount Spurr being closely watched for signs of an explosive eruption
Couple killed in central Oregon avalanche
Pamela Anderson Embraces Fresh-Faced Beauty in White Gown and Dazzling Diamonds at the 2025 BAFTAs
Anderson is presenting an award at the ceremony
Pamela Anderson is a fresh-faced beauty at the 2025 BAFTA Awards.
The actress, one of the night’s presenters, walked the red carpet on Feb. 16 in a gorgeous off-the-shoulder white Jacquemus gown. Her body-hugging dress had a small train and ruched bodice and skirt, and the actress wore matching white shoes.
To add sparkle to her ensemble, the 57-year-old wore Pandora Lab-Grown Diamonds, including 68 carats of lab-grown diamonds set in 14K white gold in her necklace. She also wore Pandora earrings and rings. She left her blonde hair down and styled loose with her bangs wispy and in her face.
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
Anderson’s appearance at the awards ceremony comes amid a busy few days in her schedule.
MIKE MARSLAND/WIREIMAGE
The I Love You: Recipes from the Heart author stepped out for the Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2025 show during Paris Fashion Week on Monday, Jan. 27, wearing a chic draped jacket with matching trouser pants.
She accompanied the look with a skinny black belt, a small black handbag and a black headband with a veil that Anderson wore in front of her face.
DAVE BENETT/WIREIMAGE
Days before that, Anderson attended the 2025 Golden Globes wearing a black Oscar de la Renta gown with a ruched bodice.
The look, which the movie star wore with black opera gloves, was accessorized with stunning custom Pandora lab-grown diamonds.
The accessories included a necklace totaling 66 carats, custom Triple Drop earrings with .75 carats per earring and five tennis bracelets with 225 diamonds.
Anderson attended the event as a nominee for best performance by a female actor in a motion picture – drama for her role in The Last Showgirl. The award ultimately went to Fernanda Torres for her work in I’m Still Here.
TAYLOR HILL/FILMMAGIC
One of the next red carpets Anderson is expected to be hitting is at the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Feb. 23, where she is nominated for outstanding performance by a female actor in a leading role for The Last Showgirl.
Since September 2023, Anderson has been letting her natural glow shine at events and red carpets, after attending the Isabel Marant fashion show during Paris Fashion Week that month barefaced.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
While speaking about her decision to sport a more natural look, Anderson told PEOPLE at the 2024 Gotham Film Awards,” I mean — I wear — I love to wear makeup too sometimes. It has a time and a place. I just feel in my personal life, it just didn’t really make sense.”