Hollywood legend, 88, reveals she has ‘several friends with benefits’

Cliff Notes – Hollywood legend, 88, reveals she has ‘several friends with benefits’

• Dyan Cannon, at 88, disclosed her active dating life, stating she has “several special [people]” and “friends with benefits.”
• The actress recently gained attention from a resurfaced 1985 interview with Johnny Carson, where she humorously discussed her past relationships.
• Cannon praised Carson as a “special man” and expressed her enjoyment in rattling men who are typically unflappable, hinting at more romantic prospects ahead.

Hollywood legend, 88, reveals she has ‘several friends with benefits’

Hollywood legend Dyan Cannon has opened up about her surprisingly vibrant dating life at 88 years old.

Cannon – the first woman in history to be nominated for an Academy Award for her work behind and in front of the camera – attended the 10th Annual Hollywood Beauty Awards on Sunday.

When asked if she’s dating right now, the Heaven Can Wait star responded: ‘Of course.’

She first told People, ‘It’s somebody very special,’ before expanding: ‘Several special [people]… I have friends with benefits, yes.’

Cannon was married to Cary Grant from 1965 to 1968 and is the mother of his only child, Jennifer Grant. She was then married to Stanley Fimberg from 1985 to 1991.

Cannon has been making headlines recently for resurfaced 1985 footage of an interview she did with Johnny Carson, who she dated briefly years prior, in which she discusses her marriage to Fimberg.

Last month, CBS Sunday News produced a special titled The Hidden Side of Johnny Carson, highlighting Dyan and Carson’s relationship and the legendary host’s life and career.

Cannon said of her dating life ‘I have friends with benefits’ (Picture: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

In the now-viral interview clip, Cannon says of Fimberg, ‘I called my parents and told them this is it, I’m going to be with this man for as long as I live.’

Carson responds, ‘Can I ask you something without getting too intimate? How do you know after – I mean we’d gone out a couple of times, right?’

Cannon then bursts into wild, infectious laughter, causing the audience to join her while Carson stares, stunned at the camera.

Eventually, he manages to cut in with: ‘And I didn’t see you running to the phone to call Mom and Dad after we went out a couple times, what was there about this fella -‘

Cannon’s 1985 interview on Johnny Carson recently resurfaced and went viral (Picture: Getty Images)

Gripping Carson’s hand, Cannon says through barely contained laughter, ‘That was different than you?!’ before settling into another fit of hysterics as Carson leans back in his seat in comic resignation.

The clip recently circulated widely online, with one popular Reddit thread containing hundreds of comments relishing Cannon’s memorable laugh and ability to put the formidable host in his place.

Reddit user Dependent_Room_2922 wrote: ‘I love how uninhibited her laugh is. Pure honesty.’

Classic-Carpet7609 posted: ‘I can’t explain it but this clip is deeply cathartic.’

Eddie Pelosi commented under the clip on Facebook: ‘Love Dyan, wonderful, straight talking woman, I absolutely love her laugh… brilliant.’

Michael Grei agreed: ‘Dyan Cannon was one of the best guests Carson ever had on the Tonight Show. Her laugh is infectious!’

Cannon told People on Sunday that she’s been getting a lot of attention since the Johnny Carson documentary – featuring the 1985 interview – came out.

Referencing the famous interview clip, the five-time Academy Award nominee said ‘I rattled him, and I love that. We love it when we rattle men who aren’t usually rattled, don’t we?’

Cannon shared, before saying that she and the host kept their relationship largely private. ‘He loved it. He loved it. We used to go to restaurants, and they’d shut down the entire restaurant for him.’

She concluded by praising Carson as a ‘special man’ before cheekily adding that she’d ‘known a lot of special men. And there’s more to come.’

A former beauty queen who held the title of Miss West Seattle, Cannon had her breakthrough film role in 1969 in the comedy Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Cannon was nominated in that category again for Heaven Can Wait (1978), earning her a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama for her lead role in Such Good Friends (1971).

She also was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film as the producer of Number One (1976), making her the first woman in history to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting as well as behind-the-scenes work.