Bebe Buell
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Bebe Buell is a former model and Playboy Playmate who dated several
rock stars in the 1970s. She began modeling at the age of 17 and moved
from her hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia, to New York City. Shortly
after moving to New York, she met rock star
Todd Rundgren. At the time she was living
in a women's home run by nuns. Bebe and Todd began dating (she says she
lost her virginity to him), moved in together, and ended up living
together for six years. Although she and Todd were in a steady
relationship, they both dated other people while they were living
together. Her rock star lovers during the 1970s have included
Mick Jagger,
Iggy Pop,
David Bowie,
Jimmy Page of
Led Zeppelin and
Steven Tyler of
Aerosmith. When Bebe posed nude for Playboy in
1974 she was one of the first fashion models to become a Playboy
Playmate, but her nude layout resulted in her being fired by the
prestigious Ford modeling agency. She continued to model but became
better known in the entertainment industry as a popular girlfriend of
many rock stars. When Bebe's daughter
Liv Tyler was born in 1977, Rundgren was named
as the father. Todd and Bebe broke up around this time, and Bebe moved
on to other rock stars such as Stiv Bators
of The Dead Boys and
Rod Stewart.
In 1978 Bebe began a passionate but volatile affair with
Elvis Costello, who was married at the
time. The relationship ended within a year when Elvis decided to go
back to his wife. By the 1980s Bebe was living in Maine and attempted
to become a rock star by fronting the bands The B-Sides and The
Gargoyles. Although the bands released records, none were hits. When
Liv was 11 she found out her father was really Steven Tyler, not
Rundgren. Bebe has said in interviews that she didn't want to tell Liv
who her real father was because of Tyler's severe drug addiction at the
time, and she thought he would be an unsuitable father. Rundgren had
known that he was not Liv's biological father but kept the secret in
order to give Liv some semblance of a stable home life. When the truth
came out, it put a strain on the relationship between Todd and Bebe.
However, Liv and Steven were able to form a family bond and are
reportedly very close. Liv also changed her last name from Rundgren to
Tyler.
In the 1990s Bebe moved back to New York, became Liv's manager and
helped launch her daughter's successful modeling and acting career.
Although she is no longer Liv's manager, she still remains close to
her. In 1992 Bebe married for the first time, to musician
Coyote Shivers, a much younger man.
However, the marriage ended in 1998, and their divorce became final in
1999. Bebe, who is now married to musician Jim Wallerstein, splits her
time between her homes in New York and Portland, Maine. She performs
occasionally in nightclubs as a solo act. Her autobiography, "Rebel
Heart: An American Rock and Roll Journey", was published in 2001.
rock stars in the 1970s. She began modeling at the age of 17 and moved
from her hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia, to New York City. Shortly
after moving to New York, she met rock star
Todd Rundgren. At the time she was living
in a women's home run by nuns. Bebe and Todd began dating (she says she
lost her virginity to him), moved in together, and ended up living
together for six years. Although she and Todd were in a steady
relationship, they both dated other people while they were living
together. Her rock star lovers during the 1970s have included
Mick Jagger,
Iggy Pop,
David Bowie,
Jimmy Page of
Led Zeppelin and
Steven Tyler of
Aerosmith. When Bebe posed nude for Playboy in
1974 she was one of the first fashion models to become a Playboy
Playmate, but her nude layout resulted in her being fired by the
prestigious Ford modeling agency. She continued to model but became
better known in the entertainment industry as a popular girlfriend of
many rock stars. When Bebe's daughter
Liv Tyler was born in 1977, Rundgren was named
as the father. Todd and Bebe broke up around this time, and Bebe moved
on to other rock stars such as Stiv Bators
of The Dead Boys and
Rod Stewart.
In 1978 Bebe began a passionate but volatile affair with
Elvis Costello, who was married at the
time. The relationship ended within a year when Elvis decided to go
back to his wife. By the 1980s Bebe was living in Maine and attempted
to become a rock star by fronting the bands The B-Sides and The
Gargoyles. Although the bands released records, none were hits. When
Liv was 11 she found out her father was really Steven Tyler, not
Rundgren. Bebe has said in interviews that she didn't want to tell Liv
who her real father was because of Tyler's severe drug addiction at the
time, and she thought he would be an unsuitable father. Rundgren had
known that he was not Liv's biological father but kept the secret in
order to give Liv some semblance of a stable home life. When the truth
came out, it put a strain on the relationship between Todd and Bebe.
However, Liv and Steven were able to form a family bond and are
reportedly very close. Liv also changed her last name from Rundgren to
Tyler.
In the 1990s Bebe moved back to New York, became Liv's manager and
helped launch her daughter's successful modeling and acting career.
Although she is no longer Liv's manager, she still remains close to
her. In 1992 Bebe married for the first time, to musician
Coyote Shivers, a much younger man.
However, the marriage ended in 1998, and their divorce became final in
1999. Bebe, who is now married to musician Jim Wallerstein, splits her
time between her homes in New York and Portland, Maine. She performs
occasionally in nightclubs as a solo act. Her autobiography, "Rebel
Heart: An American Rock and Roll Journey", was published in 2001.