Meet the Actor Who Stole Cyndi Lauper's Heart: David Thornton
From set romance to forever: Cyndi Lauper met David Thornton while filming Off and Running, married him in 1991, and by 1992 said meeting him had changed everything — more than three decades on, they’re still going strong.
Here is the quick version: Cyndi Lauper and actor David Thornton have been married since the early 90s, built a low-key life together, and raised one son. Lately, Thornton is back in headlines because he is being sued over an alleged sexual assault involving their son, Declyn, tied to an incident that the lawsuit says happened in 2020. The details are tough, so heads-up for that below.
Who David Thornton is, beyond being Cyndi Lauper's husband
Thornton is a working actor whose career started with the 1983 TV movie 'Sessions.' You have probably seen him pop up on TV in shows like 'Law & Order: SVU' and 'Homeland,' and in films including 'The Notebook' and 'My Sister's Keeper.' He also co-starred with Lauper in 'Off and Running' — the project that introduced them — which came out in 1991.
How they met, and the very on-brand proposal
Lauper and Thornton met while shooting 'Off and Running,' and tied the knot that same year. By Lauper's own telling in a 1992 interview, meeting him flipped a switch for her; it was not lightning at first sight, but the friendship landed fast and stuck.
Thornton proposed with options — plural. He brought an antique Roman ring stamped with Eros and an English 'regard' ring (a curved lineup of different gems). Lauper picked the latter, and made him go full old-school with the ask.
"She made me go on one knee before she would accept me."
They got married in November 1991. The officiant? Little Richard. Yes, that Little Richard.
Parenthood, the touring juggle, and Declyn's arrival
Lauper and Thornton have one child together: Declyn Wallace Thornton Lauper, born in November 1997. Lauper has said she tried to balance the road life with parenting — sometimes taking Declyn on tour, sometimes staying out while Thornton held down the fort — but acknowledged that constant travel meant missing a few day-to-day moments. The gist: career still mattered, but family reshaped how she navigated it.
The 2026 lawsuit naming Thornton: what it alleges
In March 2026, Us Weekly reported that Thornton is being sued by a woman who says she was sexually assaulted by Declyn in 2020. The plaintiff is not named in the filing. She is also attempting to hold Thornton liable. Important: these are allegations in a lawsuit, not findings by a court.
- Timing and setting: The alleged assault took place in 2020. The complaint says the incident happened in a penthouse that Thornton leased.
- Why Thornton is named: The lawsuit claims Thornton 'enabled' the alleged assault because he leased the residence and allegedly knew his son had a history of violent and sexually abusive behavior.
- What the woman says happened: She says she refused to perform oral sex, that Declyn then took her phone and threatened to break it if she did not comply, and that he pushed her onto his bed with his genitals exposed, held down her arms, and forced his genitals against her mouth.
- Status note: Us Weekly said it reached out to Thornton's team for comment when the suit was filed.
Where that leaves things
It is a stark turn for a couple that has otherwise kept a pretty solid, under-the-radar marriage since 1991. As of now, the filing lays out allegations; the courts will determine what, if anything, can be proven.