In a startling revelation from her newly released memoir, actress Christina Applegate details the moment she knew her first marriage to actor Johnathon Schaech was destined to fail—even as she walked down the aisle toward him. The "Dead to Me" star describes their 2001 wedding as "a master class in anal perfectionism" in her book "You with the Sad Eyes," which hit shelves this week, according to multiple reports.
A Fateful Walk Down the Aisle
Applegate, now 54, recalls that during the ceremony in Palm Springs, California, on October 20, 2001, one of her favorite songs was playing. Yet when she looked at Schaech's face, she was overcome with dread. "The worst thing was the moment I walked around the corner and into the ceremony," she writes. "One of my favorite songs was playing, and when I looked hard at the face of my husband-to-be, I thought, 'Oh fuck. Fuck, oh fuck.'"
Despite this visceral realization, Applegate pressed forward with the nuptials. She admits she "never considered stopping the wedding" because she was already "halfway down the aisle." Internally, she battled thoughts of sabotage, repeating to herself, "Don't be that guy. You're sabotaging." She reflects, "Because there I was in my custom gown, the center of this beautiful fucking wedding filled with all the perfect that you could possibly imagine. And I knew right then that this man was not it for me."
The Relationship Timeline and Aftermath
Applegate and Schaech, 56, began dating in 1997 and married four years later. They amicably separated in 2005 and finalized their divorce in 2007. Following their split, Applegate went on to marry musician Martyn LeNoble in 2013, after welcoming their daughter, Sadie Grace LeNoble, in 2011. Schaech was briefly married to Jana Kramer from 2010 to 2011 and is now married to Julie Solomon, whom he wed in 2013.
Dating Advice and Early Warning Signs
In her memoir, Applegate shares candid dating advice for women, writing, "If you go on a first date with a guy and you don't like his shoes, run." She claims a man's shoes are a "telltale sign of whether or not a relationship will last," and recounts how Schaech's footwear on their first date gave her pause.
"For our first date, he had shown up in boots, but not even cowboy boots. I think they were supposed to look like a cowboy boot, but they missed the mark by a wide margin," Applegate recalls. "No one should wear such things, but especially not if you live in Los Angeles, California." She admits to fixating on his "bad shoes" during the date, forcing herself to focus on his positive traits, like being attractive and having a career, to get through the evening.
Applegate contrasts their personalities, describing herself as "scrappy" with a penchant for "fucked-up jokes" and being "offensive and rough around the edges," while noting Schaech was "none of those things."
Schaech's Perspective and Ongoing Support
Schaech has also spoken about their marriage, telling Jana Kramer on the "Whine Down" podcast in April 2022 that it was "connected to my career, everything about my work." He added, "I loved her so much. I still love her so much. I don't think [wife Julie Solomon] will ever be offended that I would ever say that."
Despite the marriage ending, Schaech has remained supportive of Applegate, especially following her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in 2021. After her appearance at the 2023 Emmy Awards, he praised her resilience in a social media post, writing, "She danced opening night on Broadway on a broken foot! Beat cancer! She's the toughest human being I've ever met! Fuck MS! So proud of her! Go, Christina!"
Applegate's memoir offers a raw and introspective look at her personal life, highlighting the complexities of love, regret, and self-awareness in the public eye.
