The Four Wives Of Buzz Aldrin: Inside The Marriages Of The Moonwalker, Including The Recent Tragic Passing Of His Fourth Spouse

The life of legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, has been a dramatic narrative of extraordinary professional achievement, public scrutiny, and a complex personal journey that has included four marriages. As of late December 2025, the 95-year-old space pioneer is a widower, following a recent and tragic personal loss that has brought his private life back into the public eye. His final marriage to Dr. Anca Faur, a union that began on his 93rd birthday, was one of his shortest, ending with her untimely death just two years later.

This article provides a deep dive into the four women who have been the wives of Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr., detailing the length of each relationship, their backgrounds, and the unique challenges each woman faced being married to one of the most famous men in history. The most current and poignant information revolves around his fourth marriage, which ended with the recent passing of his beloved wife.

A Complete Profile of Buzz Aldrin's Four Marriages

Buzz Aldrin's marital history spans over six decades, with four separate women sharing his life during different phases of his career, from his early days as an Air Force pilot to his global fame as an Apollo 11 astronaut, and into his later years as an elder statesman of space exploration. Each marriage has a distinct timeline and story.

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• First Wife: Joan Ann Archer
• Marriage Duration: 1954–1974 (20 years)
• Context: His wife during his Air Force career, his time as an MIT student, and the monumental Apollo 11 mission.
• Second Wife: Beverly Van Zile
• Marriage Duration: 1975–1978 (3 years)
• Context: A brief marriage that occurred during the immediate, tumultuous post-moon-landing period of his life.
• Third Wife: Lois Driggs Cannon
• Marriage Duration: 1988–2012 (24 years)
• Context: His longest marriage, spanning two decades of his later professional life, including his work on space advocacy and memoirs.
• Fourth Wife: Dr. Anca Faur
• Marriage Duration: January 20, 2023 – October 28, 2025 (Under 3 years)
• Context: A late-life marriage to a fellow professional, tragically cut short by her recent passing.

Dr. Anca Faur: The Final Love and a Tragic Loss

The most recent chapter in Buzz Aldrin's personal life centers on his marriage to Dr. Anca Faur, a relationship that began in his ninth decade and was celebrated globally. Their union was a testament to finding love late in life, but it was sadly brief.

The Life and Career of Dr. Anca Faur

Dr. Anca Faur was a highly accomplished professional whose background was rooted in science and engineering, making her a fitting intellectual partner for the astronaut. She was born on May 14, 1959, in Romania.

• Education and Expertise: Dr. Faur held both a Medical Doctorate (MD) and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Her academic background included a focus on chemical engineering, having studied organic chemistry technology at Politehnica University Timisoara in Romania. She spent seven years working as a chemical engineer and university researcher before moving into the corporate world.
• Professional Role: At the time of her marriage to Aldrin, she served as the Executive Vice President of Buzz Aldrin Ventures, his corporate entity dedicated to space advocacy and commercial endeavors. This professional connection is how the couple first met.

A Late-Life Romance and Sudden Widowhood

Dr. Faur and Aldrin's romance began after they first met at a work event in December 2017, and they began dating in May 2018. After nearly five years of dating, they tied the knot on January 20, 2023, a significant date as it was Aldrin's 93rd birthday. The ceremony was described as a small, private affair held in Los Angeles, attended by family and close friends.

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The marriage, which Aldrin publicly described as being with the "love of my life," gave the space legend a new lease on life. However, the joyous union was tragically cut short. Dr. Anca Faur passed away peacefully on October 28, 2025, at the age of 66. Her death left Aldrin a widower, marking a deeply emotional and recent change in his personal status and bringing an end to his fourth marriage.

The Three Previous Chapters: Joan, Beverly, and Lois

To fully understand Buzz Aldrin's journey, one must look back at the three women who preceded Dr. Faur, each of whom played a pivotal role during different, often turbulent, periods of his life.

Joan Ann Archer (1954–1974)

Joan Ann Archer was Buzz Aldrin's first wife and the mother of his three children: James, Janice, and Andrew. Their marriage was the longest of his first three, lasting two decades. Joan was the ultimate "astronaut wife," a title that carried immense pressure and public expectation during the height of the Space Race. She was the one who stood by him as he made history by stepping onto the lunar surface in 1969. The intense spotlight and the psychological toll of the Apollo 11 mission on Aldrin, which led to a period of depression and alcoholism, put an irreparable strain on their marriage, leading to their divorce in 1974.

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Beverly Van Zile (1975–1978)

Following his divorce from Joan, Aldrin entered a brief marriage with Beverly Van Zile. Their union lasted only three years, from 1975 to 1978. This period was a time of significant personal struggle for the former astronaut, as he grappled with life after the moon and the intense public scrutiny that followed. The short duration of this marriage highlights the difficulty Aldrin faced in navigating a normal personal life in the wake of his historic achievements.

Lois Driggs Cannon (1988–2012)

Lois Driggs Cannon became Buzz Aldrin's third wife, and their marriage was his second-longest, spanning 24 years. Lois provided a period of stability in his life, and she was a constant presence as Aldrin transitioned into his role as a public speaker, author, and advocate for future space missions. Despite the long duration, the couple eventually divorced in 2012. The divorce proceedings were contentious, but the marriage itself represents a significant chapter of his later middle age and his re-establishment in the public sphere.

Topical Authority and Legacy of the Aldrin Wives

The women who married Buzz Aldrin were more than just partners; they were part of the tapestry of space history. His first wife, Joan, represented the domestic sacrifice of the early space program, while his final wife, Dr. Anca Faur, represented a modern, professional partnership rooted in shared intellectual pursuits and a passion for his company, Buzz Aldrin Ventures. Entities like the Apollo 11 mission, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the subsequent challenges of fame and mental health are inextricably linked to the stories of these four women.

Buzz Aldrin, now a widower for the second time, continues to be a figure of monumental historical importance. His personal life, marked by the complexities of four marriages and the profound recent loss of Dr. Anca Faur, is a compelling, human story set against the backdrop of the cosmos. The public's enduring fascination with his relationships, particularly the final, poignant chapter with his chemical engineer wife, underscores the enduring curiosity about the man who once walked on the moon.

The legacy of the four Mrs. Aldrins—Joan Ann Archer, Beverly Van Zile, Lois Driggs Cannon, and Dr. Anca Faur—is a testament to the diverse and often challenging reality of being married to a living legend. The most recent news confirms that, even in his nineties, Aldrin's life continues to be one of both great joy and deep sorrow.