Introducing Lisa Bonet
Let’s set the stage and introduce you to our leading lady, Lisa Michelle Bonet (pronounced “Bo-nay” the French way). She arrived on Earth on November 16th, 1967, as the daughter of an artistic couple, who possibly shaped her dream of becoming an actress. After acting studies at the Celluloid Actor’s Studio in Hollywood, she successfully auditioned for the role of Denise Huxtable in The Cosby Show in 1984.
The Denise character was a massive hit, and fans loved her! It’s safe to say that Lisa had officially launched her acting career.
Lisa’s Successful Acting Career
She appeared in more than 100 episodes of the popular show. Eventually, her fame as Denise led to her own show. The offshoot of her Cosby character in “A Different World” was set in the historically black University, Hillman College. This role was her springboard into Hollywood as the complex, traumatized character Epiphany Proudfoot in Angelheart. This movie was incredibly controversial and was a shock after many fans still saw her as the wholesome Denise.
But you know what they say - sometimes you need to break the mold if you want to make a name for yourself in Hollywood. And that’s exactly what Lisa was doing.
Enter Jason Momoa
Meanwhile, an 8-year-old Jason—all the way across the Pacific—was watching The Cosby Show and doing what most boys were doing those days—falling in love with Lisa. According to an interview with James Corden, years later, he even shared with his mom that he “wanted that one” (referring to Lisa). He was so mesmerized by her beauty and independence in the role that he promised himself, and everyone who could hear, to pursue her as a genuine “stalker.”
It may seem a bit strange that he wanted to be her stalker, but he was truly infatuated with this beautiful woman.
Love and Elopement
Back to Lisa. The scene: her 20th birthday, November 16, 1987—the day she ran away with a music man. The soon-to-be-famous, adored, brilliant music star, Lenny Kravitz, was still relatively unknown then, but they were secretly wed in Vegas. The year after, Denise of “A Different World” was wrapped out of the blue because of rumors that Lisa was pregnant. Indeed, on December 1st, 1988, she and Lenny’s daughter Zoë Isabella Kravitz arrived (as beautiful as her famous parents).
After Zoë’s birth, Lisa was content to be the supporting wife and mother. They were happy as Lenny poured his energy into his career.
The Life and Times of Lisa and Lenny
The handsome, famous couple were together for six years, and everything was rosy. She helped him write songs for his debut album, “Let Love Rule,” while dedicating herself to Zoë. Lenny’s career was on an upward trajectory then, and songs like “Are You Gonna Go My Way” and “American Woman” crowned the charts, turning him into a full-scale “rock god.” Sadly, this union ended in a divorce in 1993.
The couple cited not being ready or mature enough for marriage as reasons for the split, but they remain dedicated to Zoë and deeply respect each other. To this day, they describe themselves as buddies and family.
Who Is Lilakoi Moon?
After calling it quits with Lenny Kravitz, Lisa briefly dated yoga instructor Bryan Kest. The media spread the word that Lisa had a baby with him, but she rejected the rumors outright, insisting it was untrue. In 1995, she changed her name to Lilakoi Moon for (what she told the media) were “private reasons.” It seemed random, but gradually, it became clear that Lisa was stepping into a new life phase as a woman. After divorcing Lenny, she leaned into a healthier lifestyle and more privacy using the Lisa Bonet name professionally.
Hold your breath, and keep your hat on—here comes the part where we head to Hawaii, and someone who makes most of his fans see invisible fireworks and hear music in their heads. But first, the rise of Lisa, the woman!
American Woman
As she focused on her inner work, self-development, and raising her daughter, she was quietly returning to Hollywood. Her acting range was once again confirmed in the political thriller “Enemy of the State,” followed by “High Fidelity,” and the action movie “Biker Boyz” in 2003. Her return to the small screen as Maya Daniels in “Life on Mars” was well accepted critically, but the show was canceled after one season. Her Marisol in “Ray Donovan” again demonstrated her depth as an actress, and she starred in the role from 2013 to 2020.
Marisol was an independent, strong woman—perhaps a hint to the emerging Lisa. Now, remember the little boy watching the Cosby Show? Let’s chat about him and what transpired in 2005.
Jason Momoa
Joseph Jason Namakaeha Momoa, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1979, was obsessed with Lisa before he was even a teenager—he was eight. How sweet is that! He studied marine biology but became an actor when he scored a role in Baywatch: Hawaii. He was planning his massive wedding to Simmone Jade Mackinnon, also from Baywatch, when he finally met his dream girl, Lisa, face to face—and may we add, just in time!
Although she was 18 years his senior, the ardent lover was not going to let her slip through his fingers! Years later, Jason shared their first meeting with James Corden.
How Jason Met Lisa (At Last)
On The Late Show, Jason tells James that friends invited him to a jazz club to meet Lisa. He was so excited that he dreadlocked his hair for maximum effect. His telling of the story is sweet and rousing, making us go, “Aw!” Almost “Cruise-style” (remember Tom Cruise on Oprah’s couch gushing about Katie), he tells of his pretend scream to his friend as Lisa said, “I’m Lisa.” Can you picture Aquaman mouthing [“Oh my ***!] to his friend?
He convinced her to ditch the club, and the rest is history. Isn’t it always thrilling when a love story begins? And isn’t it all the more magical if the couple is drop-dead gorgeous? It’s like stars colliding…
She’s the One
He asked her for a lift to his hotel. They ended up at Café 101 for a refreshment, had Irish drinks, ate grits, and talked as if they’d been friends forever. Jason recalls that he instinctively knew “she’s the one” before even leaving the restaurant. Yet Lisa was not immediately bowled over (well, perhaps she was, but she was cautious too). Lisa once shared with Ebony magazine that her early years with Lenny were “accelerated, spiritually and intellectually.” She didn’t regret it but felt she was still naïve when she married Lenny and didn’t want to rush in where angels feared to tread a second time.
But we continue our story of how wonderful it is that an 8-year-old’s dream came true, and something that seemed impossible was manifesting!
Falling in Love
In an interview with Porter magazine in 2018, Bonet admitted that she and Jason “were together since the day they met.” In the same interview, she says that she fell in love with his exquisite physique and flamboyant personality at first, but “In that moment, love came, and it came big, and he did not run as I think many men do. He basically picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, caveman style.”
Nonetheless, although Jason had swept Lisa off her feet, as we rightfully expect (or demand) from any respectable DC Universe dude, she wanted to delay the wedding. It’s fascinating that they became so galvanized despite Lisa’s misgivings.
A Little Girl Baby!
Two years after yielding to Cupid, Lisa and Jason happily welcomed their healthy baby daughter on July 23rd, 2007. The little lady was named Lola Iolani, which means “royal hawk.” They chose this name in honor of hawks flying overhead during her birth, creating a magical memory. Becoming parents is definitely a one-of-a-kind moment for anyone, but even more so for Jason. He saw becoming a father as a huge turning point in his life.
He was besotted with his “womenfolk” and unwaveringly committed to discarding his badass image for the challenges and joys that come with the blessing of a family.
Rumors of a Secret Wedding
As it goes with love and babies, the media’s first expectation of the couple was to get married. Naturally, rumors began surfacing that there had been a secret wedding. All of this despite Lisa making it abundantly clear that she had no intention of marrying too soon again. We know that some journalists will never drop a good story in spite of the facts. So, gossip blogs, websites, magazines, and the gamut of social media continued to fan the wedding story flames. However, Lisa fell pregnant again less than a year after the birth of Lola Iolani.
It created even more wedding frenzy, and journalists could not get enough of them. Hollywood stars often admit to struggling with a lack of privacy, and our golden couple were no different.
Under Dark and Stormy Skies
In December 2008, the couple were prepping their second baby room within 18 months of welcoming little Lola. This birth granted the gift of a son, and it was possibly Jason’s job to choose his name. Testosterone, Hawaiian roots, or fatherly pride could have been the causes, but the little boy ended up with Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa as a birth name. As the boy grows, he’s known as Nakoa-Wolf.
Nakoa means warrior, and Mana means strength and spirit. Kaua is rain, and Po means dark. So, Manakauapo refers to the strangely dark and stormy night when the infant was born in LA.
Where the Name Came From
The proud father's choice of name also honors his Hawaiian roots, where family bonds, connection with nature, and bravery are highly respected. Jason’s middle name, Namakaeha, means “all-knowing eyes.” The thoughtful selection of these names indicates Momoa’s dedication to his lineage and his instilling of a proud identity in his children. The addition of Wolf complements the warrior name Nakoa, adding a ring of courage and resilience to the little fellow’s name.
If you’re going to be born to two people with such strong characters, a strong name is definitely needed, and that is something little Nakoa-Wolf ended up with.
The Wife With the Midas Touch?
Jason’s career took off like a rocket with Lisa by his side, very much like Lenny Kravitz. Jason was flung into the limelight with his role as a terrifying Dothraki warlord, Khal Drogo, in Game of Thrones. He had the world ablaze in this role. The strong male overlord, softened by the love of a beautiful, magical woman, hints at his real life. The popularity and hype around this series made him a household name, and when he was cast as Arthur Curry/Aquaman, his stardom was assured.
It was only two years later that he appeared all over the DC Universe with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. So, it’s not reaching to say that Lisa probably has a good influence and stands by her man. Perhaps she is truly a magical Muse—anything is possible, right?
Support Works Both Ways
In any respectful, loving relationship, support and cheerleading should come in equal parts from both partners. When Bonet returned to acting in “Life on Mars,” she shared with People magazine that Jason was the one who helped her get back into acting. She also shared that losing her privacy and anonymity was not an easy step, saying, “I am a shy person…” She also said he made her feel safe, and “Jason is the love of my life. He’s everything I hoped would come.”
Meanwhile, hubby Jason was also gushing, “She’s so amazing… she’s an angel…” Everyone was in awe and loved the couple on the red carpet. In a mad world, it does warm the heart to see a couple making it!
Love Scenes and The Happily Married
Jason tried to save Lisa from watching his love scenes with Emilia Clarke in GOT. He never had any desire to watch her scenes with other actors. Still, Lisa admitted she could not resist taking a peek because the public response was so overwhelming and talked about non-stop. Rumor has it that she loved the scenes and “stayed up all night watching them,” becoming “obsessed”… In 2014, the couple shared the screen in “Road to Paloma,” written and directed by Jason. Later that year, they teamed up again with “The Red Road.”
At this time, they had been together for nine years, parenting Lola and Nakoa-Wolf with Jason as stepdad to a grown-up Zoë. Lisa finally accepted that they could work together as a married couple successfully.
Lenny Still in the Picture?
Although they had divorced twenty years earlier, and Lisa was happy with Jason, her close bond with Lenny remained. When Lenny, Lisa, and Zoë appeared together at the Met Gala in 2015, Kravitz posted a family snapshot of him and Zoë kissing Lisa on her cheeks. The heartwarming caption, “blood,” accompanied the post. The couple still believes their love and union was to bring the lovely Zoë into the world.
This heartwarming sentiment is enough to let us break into applause! Aren’t they adorable? But keep reading; there’s more to this story!
Lisa Helped Jason Become a Man
Jason told Men’s Health magazine in 2017 that fatherhood had made him become a better person. In his own words, ”I really can’t tell you what the hell I was doing before I had kids. I think I was pretty reckless and definitely a bit out of control. Now, I’m more focused. I probably love myself more and take care of myself more because I want to stick around.”
Lisa and her incredibly handsome family, Jason, Lola, and Nakoa-Wolf, often appeared on the red carpet together. The couple obviously enjoyed parenthood, and the family seemed content.
I’m Getting Married in the Morning!
Understandably, the couple wanted absolute secrecy when they finally did celebrate their nuptials. Every detail of this much-anticipated event remained closely guarded secrets. The date, guest list, and venue were unknown until they promised to love and cherish in October 2017 during an intimate family celebration at home. Safely under the radar, they became husband and wife, and the media was left out in the cold—at least until an insider decided to blab.
Unfortunately, this person opened their mouth and shared a bit too much information with the wrong person. So the cat was out of the bag.
"I Will Find You"
Fans globally sighed in excitement, enjoyment, and utter satisfaction when US Weekly wrote in November, “Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet had an official wedding a few weeks ago at their house in Topanga, California.” Huge congratulations were the order of the day, but the couple were not at all impressed. Their desire for total privacy had been ruined, but as everyone knows, nothing stays secret for long in Hollywood.
Jason was irritated on Entertainment Tonight, saying, “I thought it would have stayed on the [down low], but some [jerk] leaked it, and I will find you.” Now, why do I hear that threat in Liam Neeson’s voice in my head?
Why She Loved Him
In a 2018 Porter interview, Lisa talked about why she fell in love with Jason. She sounded proud as she said, “What’s cool about Jason is that he’s an alpha male who stands for love and family.” And to circle back to my own wounds, having an absent father, then to be fully met by a man of that stature, is really incredible.” She added, “Jason embodies a rare form of masculinity in this day and age—he’s a leader; he’s generous.”
She fully supported her guy, adding, “Just in terms of charisma, physique, the right use of power, responsibility, and work ethic, you can go down the line.” That sounds like marital bliss to us! And what’s more, the other partner in this duo felt exactly the same!
Look at My Beautiful Wife!
The year is 2019, Hollywood’s most loved (and physically drop-dead glorious) couple attend the premiere of the Game of Thrones final season. Later, on Instagram Stories, Jason shared that as they stood on the red carpet, right before entering, he said to her, “You look gorgeous – I love you.” It seems he wasn’t alone. A fan shouted, “Jason, your wife looks beautiful!” Momoa hilariously yelled back: “I know! I [freakin’] know!”
Could that be the same person who vowed to stalk Denise Huxtable? We don't know, but they certainly weren't wrong!
Anything Is Possible
The couple were on fire! It seemed impossible that they could put a foot wrong! In 2019, Jason openly discussed how Lisa helped him start his career and strive for the best possible life. After the first season of Game of Thrones and before the series became such a hot trend, he talked about struggling to find roles, with no money, and sometimes hardly being able to feed his family.
In an interview with Esquire magazine, he bravely declared, “If someone says something isn’t possible, I’m like, ‘Listen here, I married Lisa Bonet. Anything is possible!'”
Domestic Bliss
They were seen together in a side-splitting Super Bowl commercial for “Rocket Mortgage.” Perhaps you remember the scene where Momoa “peels off” his muscles and wig, revealing a terribly skinny guy! Later that same year, he restored Lisa’s beloved 1965 Ford Mustang—her first car from when she was 17. You could almost hear a romantic Zimmer track in the background. The lovers were rock-solid, life was excellent, and everything was peachy… until it wasn’t.
Cue creepy music… Out of nowhere, they shocked the world and their adoring fans with the unreal announcement…
Going Separate Ways
Shock waves rippled through fandom as the couple announced they were “parting ways in marriage” on January 12th, 2022. After being a couple for 18 years – married for four years – and having two children—super fans were aghast and absolutely sideswiped. How could this actually be possible? Grazia reported it as ‘devastating news,’ and the media went into frenzy mode to uncover the real reasons behind the split.
Journalists were digging for how one of Hollywood’s most loved, streetwise, good-looking couples who seemed so connected and mutually in love had somehow fallen out of love!
Declaration
They wrote a joint statement on Instagram explaining, “We share this not because we think it’s newsworthy ~ But so that ~ as we go about our lives we may do so with dignity and honesty. The love between us carries on, evolving in ways it wishes to be known and lived.” Further, it read, “We free each other ~ to be who we are learning to become … Our devotion unwavering to this sacred life and our children.
Teaching our children what’s possible ~ Living the Prayer May Love Prevail.” One thing is for sure about this couple - their love for each other and their children is the most important thing.
Denial
Eventually, once a semblance of calm had been restored, the media seemed to decide that this situation simply would not do. They insinuated that it must be a mistake the couple would soon realize, and gossip mags and the internet ardently began suggesting that the couple may be getting back together. But Momoa told the truth out loud and clear at the 2022 Oscars (on the red carpet, might we add).
He boldly told Access Hollywood, “We’re not back together, we’re family… We have two beautiful children together.” And somehow, superfans sighed and grudgingly accepted that nothing could be done.
Divorce Curiosity
Despite Jason and Lisa’s divorce in 2024, the world still wanted to know what had caused the separation. Typical rumors like infertility did the rounds. However, it was an average story of a couple who had grown apart years before the separation announcement or divorce date. Many couples fall into the trap of being together out of habit or cohabitating for convenience and the sake of the children. The age difference could have had an influence, but that’s just the author’s musings.
Being in the limelight places much pressure on all celebrities, and there must be a point, for private individuals like Lisa, when it becomes too exhausting. Isn’t it ironic how Jason’s meteoric rise to fame, with the help of his long-adored Lisa, may have ultimately cost him his marriage?
"Are You Gonna Go My Way"
According to E! News, a “source close to Lisa” said they had been going in opposite directions before the split. An unknown source said, “Jason is very focused on his career and wants to work. He has found success, and it’s driving him and is very fulfilling.” Then, the same source said, “Lisa wants to be [at home with her children] in Los Angeles and is not interested in going on location for long periods of time with him.”
It's interesting how the truth always evades the adoring fans. Many would argue, “That’s the price you pay for stardom," but in truth, every couple deserves privacy and respect in these matters. After all, it is never an easy decision, whether you’re famous or not.
Wellness a Priority
Her spokesperson explained that Lisa’s priorities had become different from Jason’s. Lisa was more into wellness and self-care, “That’s what motivates her,” while Jason was not necessarily going to follow her on that journey. They “did not fit together with her lifestyle.” Finally, the spokesperson plainly stated, in a matter-of-fact way, “They drifted apart and wanted different things.” Maybe it was the essence of Lilakoi Moon coming through again.
Perhaps, as with all celebrity couples, there were clues if we chose to notice them. However, always open to fairytale stories and seeking happy endings, fandom remained blinded by the brilliance of the love of their favorite stars.
A New Chapter
During a chat with her co-star from A Different World, Marissa Tomei, Lisa talked about “a new chapter” in her life. Marissa asked what had been “calling you in life lately?” Lisa’s reply elaborated on learning to be “authentically me,” renewing and following the invitation from the universe to step into being unsure or “stepping into the river of uncertainty.” Other comments could indicate a general feeling of pressure in the throes of worldwide political unrest and concerns. “The revolution is definitely here, and we’re all feeling the squeeze,” she said.
Life is tough these days, in general, but celebrities, with spotlights on every aspect of their lives, have more to deal with than the average Joe.
What About the Kids?
Nakoa-Wolf and Lola still live with Lisa. However, as Jason declared on the red carpet, they are family. Lisa said they are still friends, and she finds co-parenting the best way for everyone. Jason is still very much involved in the children's lives. Lisa elaborates that she, Lenny, Jason, and Zoë are still good buddies. Another source quotes Zoë, saying she “is very close” to her mom and promised support as Lisa walks her path after life at superstar Jason’s side.
According to another source, Zoë “really likes Jason,” and they have a good relationship. Everyone feels dejected that these two starstruck lovers are closing the book on their life together. It seems Zoë is now mature enough to love them still but understands it is time for them both to move on.
Aqua Handyman
Lisa is not bothered but happy that Jason is dating other people. All she wants is for them to focus on raising their kids. A source shared with People magazine that the ex-couple “have stayed close” and “spend time together when Jason is in Los Angeles.” The insider also mentioned, “Jason is handy and often did things around the house when they lived together. He still helps Lisa out now.”
Apparently, he was seen delivering a Christmas tree to Lisa’s Malibu home, and it’s satisfying to see Lisa enjoying support from her exes.