James Cameron on His 4 Divorces & How Marriage Is a ‘Learned Art’

After decades of blockbuster success, James Cameron is opening up about a far more personal journey: his marriages. The filmmaker, now 71, says his perspective on relationships has changed dramatically after four divorces and a long-lasting fifth marriage. Reflecting on past mistakes and hard-earned lessons, Cameron now views marriage as something that takes intention, patience, and learning.

James Cameron discusses his view on marriage

Speaking on the In Depth with Graham Bensinger podcast while promoting Avatar: Fire and Ash, Cameron addressed his marital history head-on. The award-winning filmmaker called marriage a “learned art.” He acknowledged that while he has been married five times, four of those marriages lasted less than a year. “That’s a fact,” Cameron said, adding that it’s important to look at how short those early marriages actually were. He explained that those experiences have shaped how he understands commitment and partnership today.

Cameron has been married to Suzy Amis Cameron since 2000, and they share three children. Looking back, he said many people put too much focus on weddings rather than on the work that follows. He believes the real effort should go into building a lasting relationship. “You’re constantly learning about the other person,” Cameron said. “I think you have to make a pact with yourself to actively want to make them happy,” he added. Cameron stressed that this means understanding what truly makes a partner happy, not what you assume should.

The famous director also didn’t shy away from admitting where he went wrong in earlier relationships. He described his younger mindset, saying his commitment often depended on whether the relationship still felt rewarding. “As long as this is still worth it… I’ll be in it,” he said, admitting that the approach didn’t work. Cameron called this shift in thinking a “learned” process that took time and self-awareness.

Cameron also didn’t blame anyone else; he looked inward. He admitted he was the one common thread in his failed marriages. Talking about his relationship with Linda Hamilton, he shared that they stayed together for years even though, deep down, they knew day-to-day life just didn’t work for them. He said they “loved” each other but “just didn’t get along.”