It could just be a casual photo of a couple enjoying a holiday, two souls who seem to have found their place in the world.
But now that we know everything we know and all the behind-the-scenes secrets, it’s impossible to look at Tom Jones and Marjorie Wallace the same old way again.
‘Not quite Mr Faithful.’
At the height of his fame, in the 60s and 70s, Tom Jones was a heartthrob known for his wild lifestyle, allegedly sleeping with hundreds of women.
A sex symbol in his own right, Tom previously admitted to sleeping with 250 women a year at the peak of his career. Among his many high-profile affairs was a romance with Mary Wilson of the Supremes – at a time when interracial relationships were still taboo in much of America.
But here’s the rub: while Jones was fulfilling his rock star fantasies, he had a devoted wife Linda at home. They were married for 59 years before she tragically passed away from lung cancer in 2016.
‘He wasn’t Mr Loyal from the start,’ biographer Sean Smith told the Daily Mail in 2015.
It’s unclear how much Linda knew about her husband’s shady side, but it’s clear she suspected something amiss. Sir Tom says the couple had a ‘don’t ask’ policy when he was on tour.
Jones has never shied away from talking about his infamous affairs, but one that stands out from the rest is his affair with Marjorie Wallace.
The first American woman to win the Miss World crown
Marjorie Wallace was born on 23 January 1954 and became a woman whose name quickly made history. The actress, TV presenter, model and beauty queen conquered the world with her stunning beauty and undeniable charm.
When Marjorie was just 14 years old, her world was rocked by her parents’ divorce, which ignited a rebellious streak in her.
Already adventurous, she set off with a friend on a 1,200-mile trip to Miami, showing she wasn’t afraid to follow her instincts. But her teenage years weren’t all wildness: she also dove headfirst into regular school activities such as competitive swimming and cheerleading, which earned her a reputation as a determined and athletic girl.
At 17, she moved in with the guitarist from indie rock band Pure Funk, and it was then that she truly immersed herself in the world of music and rebellion.
In 1973, she cemented her fame by becoming the first American to win the Miss World title. The 20-year-old Marjorie beat out 53 competitors at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
The title was not just a crown for her, but the beginning of a journey that linked her to some of the most iconic figures of her time.
Meeting Tom Jones
In December 1973, 19-year-old, newly crowned Miss World Marjorie met Tom in the dressing room of the London Palladium before her performance.
According to her publicist, he was immediately smitten and they later travelled together to the Westbury Hotel in Mayfair. The following month Tom bought two bracelets, one for Marjorie and one for Linda, as their birthdays were a few days apart.
While it was not unusual for Tom to be linked to different women, it was different with the American beauty queen. Apparently, Tom admitted to friends, ‘This one can really affect me.’
In 1974, Tom and Marjorie flew to Barbados to compete in the televised Miss World pageant, but their public display of affection, a kiss on the beach, resulted in Marjorie losing her crown. However, they both denied they were in love at the time.
The problem for the strict British organisers of the Miss World pageant was that Marjorie was also dating American Indianapolis 500 and Formula 1 driver Peter Revson, to whom they were allegedly engaged.
While engaged to Revson, she continued her affair with Tom Jones, which angered the Miss World founder. Shortly afterwards, Revson was tragically killed in an accident while training for the 1974 South African Grand Prix. The contestant died on the way to hospital wearing a gold medal given to him by Wallace, engraved with the words ‘If it wasn’t for you…’.
An overdose of sleeping pills
Revson’s death was certainly a disaster for Marjorie, but it wasn’t the only heartbreaking event that haunted her.
When Tom realised that his childhood sweetheart Linda was about to find out about his affair, he ended his relationship with Marjorie. Devastated and unable to cope, Marjorie took an overdose of sleeping pills.
A hospital spokesman said it was impossible to determine how many pills Marjorie had taken, but she was placed on kidney dialysis to help flush the drugs out of her system. The tragedy marked the end of a six-month period that began in triumph and ended in heartache for the small-town girl who was recognised as the world’s most beautiful.
Marjorie’s agent explained that the whole situation happened because she was working too hard. With the personal problems in her life, it was all too much for her to handle. ‘Eventually everything came crashing down and she was devastated,’ agent Jeff Carey told the Daily Record.
Thankfully, Marjorie recovered from the overdose and has always insisted it wasn’t a suicide attempt. Her mum, Alice, said: ‘Perhaps she felt she couldn’t live any longer,’ but Wallace himself two years later said: ’I was depressed and overdosed on sleeping pills. I never attempted suicide.’
What’s particularly interesting is that Tom Jones sent a bouquet of flowers and well wishes to Marjorie while she was recovering in an Indianapolis hospital. At the time, Tom was in Las Vegas where he was performing at the famous Caesar Palace Hotel. He heard the news of Marjorie’s death on the radio in his car and was deeply shocked by the news. According to his spokesman Chris Hutchings, Tom took the news hard and when he came to his senses, he met up with her a few months later in Mexico City.
Marjorie Wallace today
Marjorie, who is now 71, has always been attracted to show business.
After a brief relationship with tennis star Jimmy Connors, Marjorie moved to New York and tried her hand at sports broadcasting on ABC and CBS. She also starred in commercials for brands such as Ultra Brite, Wella and American Express.
In 1977, she met film producer Michael Klein at a party and married him in 1978. They had one son, Adam. In 1981, he became one of the first co-hosts of Entertainment Tonight, but gave up his job as a reporter on the show after a few months.
Her marriage to Klein broke up in 1982, and soon afterwards a rumour circulated that she was dating Richard Cohen, Tina Sinatra’s ex-husband. In 1994 she married property developer Donald Soffer, but they divorced in 1996.
But how did Tom and Marjorie’s relationship actually end?
The Sunday Mirror reported that Tom, who is now 84, has kept in touch with her over the years. They recently talked about his new role as a judge on the show ‘The Voice.’
Marjorie shared, ‘He’s really excited about it and I told him that if it’s as good as the American version, he’s going to be a huge success.’ She added: ‘We have remained friends and we talk to each other often. I don’t want to rekindle our relationship because it was so long ago and I don’t intend to. But I enjoy talking to him on the phone from time to time. I always follow his career and I’m really excited that he’s going to coach aspiring singers. He has such a beautiful voice.’
Did you know about this story? I had no idea! It’s amazing how much can be hidden in one photo – you just have to dig a little deeper.
