Key Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Virginia King Guynes |
| Birth | November 27, 1943, Richmond, California |
| Death | July 2, 1998 (age 54), Farmington, NM |
| Children | Demi Moore; Morgan Guynes |
| Marriages | Charles Harmon Sr.; Dan Guynes |
| Known For | Boutique owner; media appearances |
Early Life
Virginia King became Virginia Guynes on November 27, 1943, in Richmond, California. Though nothing is known about her childhood, her mother was from rural New Mexico and the South. Public documents reveal little about her childhood or education.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Birth Name | Virginia King |
| Date of Birth | November 27, 1943 |
| Place of Birth | Richmond, California |
| Family Origins | Oklahoma, Arkansas, Georgia; grandmother in New Mexico |
| Early Records | Limited information on schooling or formative years |
Career
Guynes started a tiny women’s business in New Mexico. She recreated her daughter’s iconic images in a provocative magazine session, attracting tabloid attention. She had a brief public career after these occurrences.
| Role | Description |
|---|---|
| Boutique Owner | Operated a fashion boutique in Farmington, NM |
| Magazine Shoot | Posed topless for April 1992 issue of High Society, spoofing Vanity Fair |
| Television | Appeared on A Current Affair |
| Career Impact | No long-term public career; known primarily through association with Demi Moore |
Family
After two months, Air Force airman Charles Harmon Sr. left Guynes pregnant, ending their first marriage. She then married newspaper salesman Dan Guynes, who committed suicide in 1980 after two divorces and one remarriage. Substance abuse hampered her relationship with daughter Demi Moore until a late reunion.
| Relationship | Details |
|---|---|
| Charles Harmon Sr. | Married briefly; left before Demi’s birth (Nov 11, 1962) |
| Dan Guynes | Married three times; divorced twice; committed suicide Oct 20, 1980 |
| Children | Demi Moore (b. 1962); Morgan Guynes (b. 1967) |
| Mother–Daughter | Periods of estrangement over addiction; reconciled in 1997 |
Net Worth
Guynes’ store and occasional media work never made her rich. She had little valuables or investments. Her wealth was likely in the low hundreds to tens of thousands, significantly behind her daughter’s.
| Category | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Business Income | Modest earnings from boutique |
| Media Earnings | Limited payment for magazine and TV appearances |
| Assets | Few or no notable real estate or investments |
| Net Worth | Likely under $50,000 |
Additional Context
Guynes fought alcoholism, mental illness, and DUI and arson accusations throughout her life. After her 1997 brain tumor diagnosis, Demi Moore cared for her until her death in 1998. She is seen as a disturbed woman or a resilient woman overwhelmed by circumstances.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Personal Struggles | Alcoholism; multiple suicide attempts |
| Legal Issues | Arrests for drunk driving and arson |
| Health | Diagnosed with brain tumor; died July 2, 1998 (age 54) |
| Legacy | Remembered mainly through her daughter’s public narrative |
FAQ
Who was Virginia Guynes?
Virginia Guynes, mother of Demi Moore, had a brief boutique business and a high-profile magazine appearance.
How was her friendship with Demi Moore?
Guynes’s drug and mental illness strained their relationship, but they reconciled when he got sick.
What business did she run?
Her Farmington, New Mexico business sold women’s clothes.
Why was she featured in the media?
She gained tabloid attention by spoofing Demi’s Vanity Fair cover in High Society magazine and through TV interviews.
When and how did she die?
Brain tumor complications killed her at 54 in Farmington, New Mexico, on July 2, 1998.
