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For anyone who has ever pondered about the man who was part of Hollywood’s most iconic faces, you have come to the correct place. Architect and real estate developer Andre J. Lyson hails from Germany and was married to Kim Cattrall for seven years in the 1980s. This article details all of Andre’s childhood in Poland, his work as a city builder in Germany, the fast-paced romance between the two, the reasons the marriage was a short-lived affair, and what he’s up to in 2026.
Andre J. Lyson: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Andre J. Lyson |
| Birth year | Around 1947 |
| Birthplace | Krakow, Poland |
| Nationality | Polish-German |
| Profession | Architect and real estate investor |
| Based in | Frankfurt, Germany |
| Company | The Lyson Group’s Prime Properties |
| Notable projects | The development “Riedberg Center” in Frankfurt; Hellinghöfe development “Riedberg Center” in Mainz-Kastel |
| Married to Kim Cattrall | 1982 to 1989 |
| Children | None known |
| Net worth (2026) | Estimated around $1 million |
| Social media | Not active |
Who is Andre J. Lyson?
Andre J. Lyson is a Polish-born architect, working in Germany for the majority of his adult life and focusing his career on design, urban renewal and real estate investment in the shadows. In the celebrity world, he’s most notable as Kim Cattrall’s second husband, but he’s more than that in his career.
Around 1947 he was born in the oldest city in Poland, Krakow. His family immigrated to Offenbach, Germany when he was 14, outside of Frankfurt. It was that move that led him into the world of architecture, and influenced the rest of his life.
At age 79, Andre still plays a role in real estate today. He avoids social media, doesn’t give interviews and doesn’t seek attention. He is just a man who makes things and finds life’s meaning in his work.
Growing up in Poland and finding roots in Germany
Krakow is a city with a long history, its medieval architecture, cobblestone streets and centuries of culture are ingrained in its bones. A city has a great impact on the people who live there, and if Andre had lived there even for a short time, it likely gave him a sense of this.
As a youth, he went to live in Offenbach with his family. He attended the Rudolf Koch School there, and made lasting friendships that continued for decades. Even though his life was permanently changed by his move to Frankfurt, he never completely let go of his hometown Offenbach in his heart, and he still sees old schoolmates from those days.
This kind of loyalty to place and people is a thread that can be followed throughout Andre’s life. He doesn’t let go of things easily. He’s ready to go the distance for a friendship, a city, or a vision of a building.
Andre J. Lyson’s career as an architect
It is highly likely that Andre studied at the Technical University of Darmstadt, an esteemed German university in architecture and engineering. Upon graduating, he began to work on projects combining design creativity and practical thinking.
He worked in a different style from other architects. He didn’t want to tear down and rebuild. He would rather see what is already there, old industrial buildings, underutilized commercial areas, communities that have potential, and figure out how to make them better.
He was known for some important principles in his architectural style:
- People-centred design: he designed for the end user, not for the visual impact
- Urban renewal focus: he preferred to renew areas that needed improvement, rather than develop new ones
- Functional and aesthetic: his structures were required to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing
- Long-term thinking: he wasn’t after the quick profit, he was after the long-term
This led to a good reputation in the Frankfurt design and development scene.
Real estate work and the Lyson Group
As Andre’s career expanded, he set up Prime Properties under the Lyson Group brand. This provided him with a venue for larger urban development ventures, rather than single buildings.
He has two large-scale projects that he is most known for.
The Riedberg Center in Frankfurt: Andre took on this project when the site was considered a bad investment. Other developers weren’t confident in it. However, Andre felt that the site could be a place for a community hub of a mixed-use development, and he continued to move forward with his vision. The project was created as a space for a community to live, work and meet in a clean and functional manner.
Hellinghöfe development in Mainz-Kastel: This is a newer project, which began around 2023. The area was filled with dilapidated commercial structures that were no longer used and unappealing. The project was designed to bring new life to the area, which will now be a blend of contemporary apartments and shops, once again demonstrating Andre’s knack for finding new uses for places others have abandoned.
In both of these projects, there is a recurring theme: Andre is able to see value in what others see as a problem.
How Kim Cattrall and Andre met
Kim Cattrall’s marriage to Andre J. Lyson is the chapter of his life that is most talked about. It was in the early 1980s at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City where their story began.
Kim Cattrall was already on her way up in Hollywood. More than 10 years older than her, Andre was a calm and focused man with a whole different world in Germany awaiting him. They fell completely in love, and it happened very quickly.
Kim recalled about their early days: “They were about two weeks in Carlyle and we fell hopelessly in love. That was it. Two people from two very different worlds brought together by reality.”
Following this whirlwind, Kim moved to Frankfurt to be near Andre. She even became bilingual in German. She gave up her comfortable Hollywood life and decided to make a life in his world. This wasn’t a relationship that was merely a passing fancy, it was one that they were truly feeling.
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Discovering life together in Frankfurt
The couple married in 1982 and lived together in Frankfurt, Germany. Kim took to the German language and culture during their marriage, while Andre devoted himself to his flourishing architectural career.
This wasn’t a situation where Kim simply waited at home while Andre worked. She was part of his social world, attended events with him, and genuinely tried to integrate into German life. But she was also still an actress with a career that required her to be in America regularly.
The tension between those two worlds, Andre’s roots in Germany and Kim’s career pulling her west, was always present. For a while, it worked. But gradually, the gaps got wider.
Why their marriage ended
The relationship was strained by Kim’s many different jobs between Germany and America. The couple later tried a “cool-off” period to figure things out.
In the interim, Andre found love again. Kim later explained how upsetting that was for her. After seven years of marriage, they divorced in 1989.
There’s no villain in this story. The marriage ended for two reasons: two full lives could not make the distance work, and absence opened a door that changed things forever. It was a peaceful conclusion to a really loving relationship.
Kim Cattrall’s life after Andre
Kim continued to be one of the most famous television actresses with her role as Samantha Jones in Sex and the City. She also went on to remarry after Andre, in 1998 to music engineer Mark Levinson, until 2004.
Several years later, she rekindled her interest in love when she met Russell Thomas in 2016, while she made a BBC trip for a radio show. Their London wedding was a quiet one, and much different from the days when she lived in Hollywood.
Andre, on the other hand, never remarried. He did not have any other relationship after the divorce, and his private life was never exposed.
Andre J. Lyson in 2026
In 2026, Andre is 79 years old and still working as an architect. His involvement in the Hellinghöfe development in 2023 is a testament to his continued professional commitment.
He resides in Frankfurt and stays connected to the places he always loved. He still encounters old friends from his schooldays in Offenbach. He continues to draw, read, make small architectural models and tend to a garden at his house. These are not hobbies he has just taken up, but ones that he’s always had.
He doesn’t have social media. He isn’t featured in magazines. But he works, builds and is still himself.
Even in real estate and architecture, which is still a very active field in Germany, there are people like Andre who have a lot of influence without shouting about it.
His net worth is estimated at around $1 million, a figure that is quite low when compared to other celebrities, but it is a testament to his life of craft and investing rather than fame.
What sets Andre J. Lyson apart?
Those who link up to a Hollywood star via marriage tend to either follow the reflected spotlight, or sink into complete obscurity. Andre did neither. He simply continued on doing what he had been doing before Kim arrived.
That says a lot about his personality. He established his reputation in Frankfurt before anyone in America heard his name. He continued to grow it after the divorce.
He’s a man who discovered the beauty of a particular purpose, a place where people can live and work better, and lived a lifetime pursuing it without an audience.
Final thoughts
Andre J. Lyson’s story is a good reminder that quiet people can be the most interesting. His name is searched, but the more you learn about him, the more you realize that his life is worth knowing for its own merits.
He was born in Poland, worked in Germany, fell in love with a Hollywood star, had to part ways with her, and continued on. He converted vacant industrial land into residential areas. He stayed connected to those who were important from the start. He kept on making.
That’s a full life. He built it entirely without an audience, with no intention that anyone should see.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Andre J. Lyson? Born in Poland, architect and real estate investor Andre J. Lyson has lived in Frankfurt, Germany for most of his life. He is well known as the second husband of actress Kim Cattrall, but his career working in urban development and architecture goes far beyond his role as a spouse.
How did Andre J. Lyson and Kim Cattrall meet?
It was in the early 1980s at New York City’s Carlyle Hotel that they met. The two weeks they spent there was when they fell hopelessly in love, as Kim Cattrall later put it. Their relationship was genuine and immediate, and Kim quickly moved to Frankfurt to be with him.
What was the reason for Andre J. Lyson and Kim Cattrall’s separation?
Numerous attempts were made to save the marriage, but after seven years, it ended in 1989. The primary thing pushing them apart was the distance between Kim’s acting career in America and Andre’s life in Germany. During a trial separation, Andre fell for someone else, and found no way back.
Did Andre J. Lyson remarry after Kim Cattrall?
No. There is no public record of Andre remarrying after his divorce from Kim Cattrall in 1989, nor of him being in any other publicly documented relationship. Since then, he has remained private in his personal life.
What does Andre J. Lyson do in 2026?
Andre is about 79 years old and continues to be active in the field of architecture and real estate. He resides in Frankfurt, Germany and has taken part in urban development projects such as the Hellinghöfe development in Mainz-Kastel. He has no social media presence or public appearances.
Which of Andre J. Lyson’s architecture projects are most noteworthy?
The two projects he is cited most for are the Riedberg Center in Frankfurt, where he helped redevelop a previously undervalued site into a functional community area, and the Hellinghöfe property in Mainz-Kastel, where he is responsible for the transformation of outdated commercial buildings into contemporary living areas and retail shops.
