A self-proclaimed `` very difficult man , '' Shaw was married eight times : Jane Cairns ( 1932-33 , annulled ) ; Margaret Allen ( 1934-37 , divorced ) ; actress Lana Turner ( 1940 , divorced ) ; Betty Kern , the daughter of songwriter Jerome Kern ( 1942-43 , divorced ) ; actress Ava Gardner ( 1945-46 , divorced ) ; Forever Amber author Kathleen Winsor ( 1946-48 , annulled ) ; actress Doris Dowling ( 1952-56 , divorced ) ; and actress Evelyn Keyes ( 1957-85 , divorced ) .
Shaw was married eight times : Jane Cairns ( 1932 ) ; Margaret Allen ( 1934-37 ) ; Lana Turner ( 1940 ) ; Betty Kern ( 1941-43 ) , daughter of songwriter Jerome Kern ; Ava Gardner ( 1945-46 ) ; Forever Amber author Kathleen Winsor ( 1946-48 ) ; Doris Dowling ( 1952-56 ) and Evelyn Keyes ( 1957-85 ) .