Personal life
In 1981, Pfeiffer married Thirtysomething actor Peter Horton but they divorced in 1988 at the height of her career. She has been romantically linked with actors Val Kilmer, John Malkovich, Michael Keaton, and Fisher Stevens. In 1993, Pfeiffer married writer/producer David E. Kelley (creator of The Practice and Ally McBeal).
Earlier that year, before meeting Kelley, Pfeiffer adopted a daughter Claudia Rose, who was then later adopted by Kelley following their marriage. The adopted baby was the daughter of an African American nurse living in New York who already had four children. On August 5, 1994, Pfeiffer gave birth to a son, John Henry. Pfeiffer’s influences that persuaded her to act were Oscar-winning actresses Anne Bancroft and Ingrid Bergman.