Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin Embroiled in Legal Battle With Wife and Stepdaughter

Aug. 16, 2011 — -- Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin has long mixed business and family, but now that the two are at odds, he has found himself embroiled in a nasty legal and familial battle.

Aldrin, 81, filed for divorce from his third wife and business partner of 23 years, Lois Driggs Aldrin, June 15, citing "irreconcilable differences."

Lois Aldrin and her daughter Lisa Cannon have played significant roles in developing Buzz Aldrin's brand, most notably through the trio's company, Starbuzz, which manages and promotes his image, appearances and endorsements.

Five days after Buzz Aldrin filed for divorce, Starbuzz sued him for breach of contract, alleging that Aldrin was trying to cut his estranged wife and step-daughter out of the family-run business, unrelated to the divorce filing.

Aldrin filed a counter-lawsuit last week against Starbuzz, claiming that he was tricked into signing away the rights to his name and image.

"The notion that, somehow, an American hero should be deprived from leading his life because of actions taken by his wife and her daughter is unconscionable," said Ronald Brot, Buzz Aldrin's divorce attorney.

But Lois Aldrin's attorney, Vicki Greene, said Buzz Aldrin is twisting the story.

"Buzz is making it out like Lisa ran off with something," Greene said. "He's trying to blame Lisa and, of course, Lois doesn't agree."

The development of Buzz Aldrin as a brand has included speaking engagements, books and clothing with his "Rocket Hero" logo, among countless other products. He appeared as a contestant on "Dancing With the Stars" and rapped with Snoop Dog in a song called called "Rocket Experience," meant to promote the space program. He has done endorsements for brands ranging from Tommy Hilfiger to Louis Vuitton luggage.

The Starbuzz LLC was founded in 2007 and Cannon has been running it, according to a complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court in June obtained by the Courthouse News Service in Pasadena.

After the glory of being the second man to walk on the moon in 1969 died down, Aldrin struggled with two failed marriages, depression, alcoholism and spent some time as a car salesman, which he chronicled in his autobiography, "Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home From the Moon."

"Mr. Aldrin's life turned around when he met and married Lois Driggs Cannon," according to the Starbuzz complaint. "From the time they were married on Valentine's Day in 1988, Mrs. Aldrin began creating business opportunities for Mr. Aldrin."

Lawyer Greene said, "Lisa and Lois have been his biggest promoters the whole time. The brand developed after he got married."