The old narrative that Hollywood relationships don’t last doesn’t apply to all our favorite stars. Endless lists of celebrity couples are proving that marriage can work whether under the spotlight of fame or otherwise. A few have even taught us the progressive lesson that you don’t need a diamond ring to make it last.
Staying committed in a relationship requires constant work, and problems tend to be magnified under the light of fame. However, several celebrity couples have learned the secret behind balancing stardom and maintaining a ‘happily ever after.’ Here are a few of those couples who can teach us a thing or two about relationships in general.
Kevin Bacon & Kyra Sedgwick – 31 Years
Kyra Sedwick (54) and Kevin Bacon (61) are both involved in showbiz, and that’s how their love story started. They met while staging the ‘80s PBS play Lemon Sky, and it wasn’t long before sparks flew between them. 31 years later, and the two recently celebrated over 11,000 days spent married!
The fact that they also found out they are ninth cousins was unsettling, but they chose to focus on their love. They also managed to bounce back from losing part of their retirement investment to Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. The couple has two children, and their daughter Sosie Ruth is now also an actress.
Michael J. Fox & Tracy Pollan – 31 Years
Michael J. Fox (58) and Tracy Pollan (59) are another celebrity couple whose love story started on a filming set. They met in 1985, but they didn’t get together immediately because Pollan was seeing someone else. However, in 1988, they exchanged vows, and three decades later, their picture-perfect family now includes four children.
The couple has been through the wringer with Fox battling alcohol addiction in the past. They took it all in stride, and Fox beat his alcohol problem. In 1998, he publicly announced that he was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. The couple now jointly fund research efforts related to the ailment.
Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson – 31 Years
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are both 63 and in their 31st year of marriage. The late ‘80s film The Volunteers is where they met and started dating. By 1988, they were already married. The couple now shares two children, and Wilson has two step-children as well from Hanks’ previous marriage.
They knew the meaning of standing by each other’s side when Wilson suffered from breast cancer. In 2015, she had to get a double mastectomy. Hanks provided the unwavering support she needed at that difficult moment. The couple has maintained their devotion to one another, currently splitting their time between Ketchum, Idaho and Los Angeles, California.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus & Brad Hall – 32 Years
58-year-old Julia-Louis Dreyfus met Brad Hall (61) in university. Before their nuptials in 1987, the couple made an appearance together on Saturday Night Live. A total of 36 years together and with most of those years spent married, the two are far from ever walking away from each other.
They now share two sons, and their second born Charles served as a walk-on for the basketball team at Northwestern University where his folks met. Dreyfus has had a tough time struggling with illness since 2017. However, she’s now fully recovered. In late 2018, she got back to filming Veep, the show that earned her an Emmy win.
Mark Harmon & Pam Dawber – 32 Years
Mark Harmon (68) played college football before finding his way to Hollywood, landing some of his most popular roles in The West Wing and NCIS. 68-year-old Pamela Dawber is his better half, and she’s known for starring in the late ‘70s sitcom Mork & Mindy and the ‘80s sitcom My Sister Sam.
The couple exchanged vows in 1987 when they were 35, and Harmon has said that it’s one of the reasons they have succeeded at marriage. Dawber also had doubts that they could last because they were both involved in showbiz. They seem to have exceeded their expectations, and they now have two grown-up children together.
Jamie Lee Curtis & Christopher Guest – 34 Years
Jamie Lee Curtis is now 60, and she started acting in the ‘70s. She earned recognition as a scream queen with features in horror films like Halloween. Her husband, Christopher Haden-Guest (71), also began his career in the ‘70s but on stage. These days he lends his skills as a producer/director/writer to films like Mascots.
Guest and Curtis had their nuptials in 1984, and they now have two grown-up kids who they got through adoption. Curtis has shared that her biggest advice when it comes to marriage is “don’t leave.” She believes in weathering the storm together and surviving through the tough times.
Keith Richards & Patti Hansen – 35 Years
English musician Keith Richards rose to fame with the Rolling Stones, and now at 75, he isn’t about to put down his guitar. He married Patti Hansen (63), a former supermodel and actress, in 1983. When courting Hansen, Richards sent her mixtapes and some beautiful drawings. It worked because they are now 35 years deep into their marriage.
The couple now has two daughters who both emulated their famous folks, taking up work within the showbiz industry. In 2005, Hansen was fortunate enough to have her loving and devoted husband by her side when she developed cancer. She managed to beat the disease and now advocates for mammograms.
Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne – 37 Years
John Michael Osbourne (70) has made a name for himself as Ozzy Osbourne. The musician/TV personality is married to Sharon Osbourne (67), who is a music manager, author, and TV personality too. 37 years is a long time to spend together, and they have had to navigate through several challenges.
Ozzy’s cheating scandal just two years ago threatened to end their union in 2016. He also has a history of multiple indiscretions. Somehow, the couple rose above it all and continue to enjoy married life together to this day. They have three children who have all followed in their showbiz footsteps.
Meryl Streep & Don Gummer – 41 Years
Meryl Streep, now 70 years old, is known for her versatility when it comes to portraying a wide range of characters and her skillful mimicry of various accents. In 1978, she said “I Do” to Don Gummer, a sculptor who is now 72.
The two met when Streep had just lost her long-time boyfriend, John Cazale, and Gummer helped her through the grieving process. Within six months of meeting, they walked down the aisle and are now 41 years into their union. The couple has four grown-up kids who are equally successful in Hollywood, just like their famous mother.
Kurt Russell & Goldie Hawn – 36 Years
We have gone through 36 years admiring the relationship between Kurt Russell (68) and Goldie Hawn (73). We have also made peace with the fact that we will never hear about an engagement. They became an item in 1983, and both of them had been married before.
Hawn has said several times that she believes not getting married is what helped their union last. Their unwed family works for them and proves that relationships don’t always have to lead to the altar. Hawn has two kids from her second marriage to Bill Hudson and one with Russell. Russell also has a son from his marriage to actress Season Hubley.
Henry Winkler & Stacey Winkler – 41 Years
Henry Winkler (73) is known for his comedic roles, and most recently, he portrays Gene Cousineau in the series Barry. His wife of 41 years is Stacey Weitzman, whom he married in 1978. Their daughter Zoe Emily went on a different route and ended up as a pre-school teacher while their son Max Daniel trailed his father to become a director.
Weitzman, who now goes by Stacey Winkler, is now 72, and she also had a stint as an actress. But these days she dedicates her time to activism efforts. Barry shared with Fox News that they share mutual interests, including fly fishing, which is one of the ways they spend their time together.
Michael Caine & Shakira Caine – 46 Years
86-year-old Michael Caine fell in love with his wife, Shakira Baksh (72), when he initially saw her on a TV commercial for Maxwell House Coffee. After that, he just had to do whatever it takes to get a hold of her phone number. They eventually linked up, and 46 years later, they still enjoy the married life.
The couple has a daughter together named Natasha, and Caine has another daughter from his marriage to Patricia Haines. The Get Carter star has been recovering from a fall he suffered in 2018. He is now forced to use a cane to walk around, which is quite ironic, don’t you think?
Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh – 72 Years
The Royal Family is amongst the most photographed celebrities, and it’s simply because everyone is fascinated by their lives. The matriarch of the family is Queen Elizabeth II. She is now 93, making her the longest-reigning head of state. Her better half is Prince Philip, who is 98 years old.
The royal couple will be celebrating their 72 years of marriage on the 20th of November 2019. Despite being in their 90s, both are relatively in great shape. However, the Queen has had a couple of health scares in the past, and Prince Philip survived a vehicle crash early in 2019.
Jeff Bridges & Susan Geston – 42 Years
In December 2019, Jeff Bridges will turn 70 and will have his wife, Susan Geston (66), to share the happy moment. They have lived through 42 wonderful years together with many more to come. The couple met on the set of Rancho Deluxe at a restaurant location where Geston worked as a waitress.
Their family has since grown to include three daughters and a granddaughter through their daughter Grace. Bridges isn’t about to lay down his tools of the trade, and in 2018, he lent his voice to the documentary Living in the Future’s Past as a narrator and producer.
John Travolta & Kelly Preston – 28 Years
John Travolta’s box office hits in the ‘70s, including Saturday Night Fever and Grease, are what contributed to his A-list status. Travolta, now 65, met Kelly Preston (57) on the set of the 1987 film The Experts. They got married in 1991 and are now enjoying 28 years of married life together.
Kelly Smith, who’s best known by her stage name Kelly Preston, achieved fame in films like Jerry Maguire and Twins. Travolta and Preston have three kids, and they had the tragedy of losing their firstborn son in 2009. Travolta has been open about the role of therapy in helping their marriage through tough times.
Oprah Winfrey & Stedman Graham – 33 Years
Oprah Winfrey (65) has an estimated net worth of $2.7 billion, which she has built through her work as a media executive and actress. She has been involved in a 33-year spiritual union with 68-year-old Steadman Graham Jr., who is an educator and author.
The couple announced that they were ready to walk down the aisle in 1992. It’s now 2019, and we’re still waiting for their big day. According to Winfrey, what she shares with Graham isn’t exactly traditional. This is one of the reasons why she’s not in a hurry to take it to the altar or include a child into the equation.
Felicity Huffman & William H. Macy – 22 Years
At 56, Felicity Huffman has numerous accomplishments to her name, including a Golden Globe and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. She’s also in a 22-year marriage. Huffman exchanged vows with actor William Hall Macy Jr. (69) in 1997, but they had known each other from the ‘80s.
Huffman faced public scrutiny and the law when she was linked to a nationwide school admission fraud incident early in 2019. Macy stood by her side and even penned a letter to the presiding judge asking for a lenient sentence for his wife. The couple has two daughters, Sophia, who Huffman tried to fraudulently get into a university, and Georgia.
Samuel L Jackson & LaTanya – 39 Years
Samuel L. Jackson (70) and his wife of 39 years, LaTanya Richardson (70), are both respected names in the entertainment industry. Jackson is known for films like Goodfellas, and he also starred in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. series. Richardson, on the other hand, was part of productions like Fried Green Tomatoes and The Fighting Temptations.
The couple has a daughter together named Zoe Jackson, who is also involved in showbiz. They have shared that their mutual love for their daughter is what held them together. Their understanding of the showbiz industry, in general, has also helped their marriage.
Bono & Alison Hewson – 40 Years
Paul David Hewson, now 59, is best known by his stage name Bono. He gained widespread recognition by headlining the rock band U2 as their lead vocalist. He met Alison Stewart, now 58, when they both attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin. The couple made it official in 1982, and they now have four children together.
Bono continues churning out music and donating huge sums to charities while his wife assists in the philanthropic efforts as well as co-running their joint fashion label EDUN. Their daughter Eve is creating ripples in the entertainment industry as well by being an actress.
Christopher & Georgianne Walken – 50 Years
Christopher Walken (76) found fame as an actor/singer, and he married Georgianne Thorn (75) in 1969. Georgianne is a casting director, but she has had minor roles in The Sopranos and Brainstorm. Walken’s lengthy portfolio of credits includes Pulp Fiction and the 2019 crime film The Jesus Rolls.
The couple has spent 50 wonderful years together, but they don’t have any children. Walken explained to The Guardian that it was a conscious decision for them not to have any kids. He said that if he had them, it would have meant an end to his career because he would have wanted to dedicate his entire time to raising them.
Denzel & Pauletta Washington – 36 Years
Denzel Washington is now 69 years old and still bagging roles like his upcoming credits in The Little Things and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. He met his wife Pauletta (69) on the set of the TV film Wilma, and in 1983, they got married.
Four children and 36 years later, the couple is still going strong, sharing that their faith is what has helped them through. Their eldest son John David is making them proud following in their footsteps. Their other son Malcolm also graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a film studies degree.
Sting & Trudie Styler – 37 Years
Sting is already 68, and the 2018 album he released in collaboration with Jamaican musician Shaggy won a Best Reggae Album Grammy in 2019. He met film producer/actress Trudie Styler (65) while he was separated from his first wife, Frances Tomelty.
In 1992, they had their nuptials, and they officially celebrated a total of 37 years together this year. They have four kids together, and Sting also has two from his previous marriage. They have openly shared that intimacy spices up their marriage. Their respective jobs also see them spend long periods away from each other, which helps the heart grow fonder.
Bryan Cranston & Robin Dearden – 30 Years
Bryan Cranston (63) and his wife, Robin Dearden (65), linked up while filming the 1984 show Airwolf. Back then, they were both seeing other people. However, fate intervened, and they ended up together. In 1989, they exchanged vows, and it was Cranston’s second shot at marriage.
The couple has a daughter named Taylor, who is now also an actress. Cranston shared that they go for couples therapy sessions, which is one of the aspects that make their marriage work. When it comes to his profession, Cranston has been keeping busy filming the upcoming Showtime miniseries Your Honor.
Danny Devito & Rhea Perlman – 40 Years
The state of Danny DeVito (74) and his 71-year-old wife Rhea Perlman is complicated. They aren’t going to sign any divorce papers in this lifetime, according to Perlman. She told Andy Cohen that their marriage has had its challenges, including a few indiscretions in the past, but divorcing isn’t for them.
The couple married in 1982, and as of 2019, they have marked 40 years mostly together. They have three children, and their daughter Lucy Chet DeVito is also an actress. We are set to see DeVito in the 2019 film Jumanji: The Next Level and Perlman also has a credit in the 2019 comedy Poms.
Chevy Chase & Jayni Luke – 37 Years
Actor/comedian Chevy Chase (76) and Jayni Luke (62) got married in 1982. Chase battled with an addiction to painkillers four years into their marriage, and it wasn’t until 2016 that he finally got things under control. It took a toll on his career, and in 2018, he told The Washington Post that he’s eager for work, but no one is willing to give him a job.
Luke is also an actress known for featuring in the ‘80s films Vacation and Biography. She has also launched the Center for Environmental Education, and Chase also extends his charitable efforts to the environment and charity fundraising. They have three daughters together.
George Strait & Norma Strait – 47 Years
George Strait (67) built a successful career in country music, and he’s equally devoted to his wife, Norma (65). They started as high school sweethearts, and 47 years later, they are still together. After eloping in 1971, they had a daughter the following year and then a son in 1981.
The Straits had the misfortune of losing their daughter to a car crash in 1986 when she was just 13. Holding on to each other helped them cope, and they launched a foundation in memory of their late daughter. Norma continues supporting her husband, and she often takes to the road with him on tours.
Ringo Starr & Barbara Bach – 38 Years
Ringo Starr is now 79, and he is the world’s richest drummer with his fortunes standing at $350 million. Barbara Bach, 72, is an actress and former model who made a good man out of him when they exchanged vows in 1981.
The couple met on the set of the comedy film Caveman, and it was also Bach’s second try at the married life. They don’t have any kids together, but Bach has two from her former marriage, and Starr has three with his ex-wife Maureen Cox. The couple follows the vegetarian diet, which explains their incredibly great looks even in their 70s.
Sean Connery & Micheline Roquebrune – 44 Years
At 89, Sean Connery is enjoying life in retirement with his wife, Micheline Roquebrune (90). Connery and his wife, who is a painter by profession, exchanged vows in 1975. They do not have any kids together, but Connery has one from his marriage to actress Diane Cilento.
They’ve also had their fair share of challenges like when Cilento published an autobiography in 2006, alleging that she experienced domestic abuse while married to Connery. Roquebrune also found herself on the wrong side of the law when she faced fraud charges over the sale of their Costa del Sol estate. They seem to be working through it behind the scenes.
Sam Elliott & Katharine Ross – 35 Years
Sam Elliott (75) and his mustache is known for his long list of features on Western shows and films. He most recently starred in The Ranch. In 1975, he married actress Katharine Juliet Ross (79), making it Ross’ fifth wedding. They now have a daughter named Cleo Rose Elliott, who is a musician.
Elliott has shared in the past that their secret is actively working through problems and not walking away from them. The recipe has worked for the couple, and they have spent 35 years married. The couple lives by the seaside in Malibu, and they are fortunate enough to have their daughter living close by.
Kirk Douglas & Anne Buydens – 65 Years
Anne Buydens became a centenarian in April 2019, and she shared the milestone with her husband, Kirk Douglas, who is now 102. The very next month, they celebrated 65 years of marriage! Their secret to a lasting union is heartwarming since Douglas made it clear that if Buydens ever left, he would leave with her.
They have two sons together, and their son Peter followed in his mother’s stride to become a producer. Sadly, they lost their son Eric in 2004 after he overdosed on drugs. Fortunately, they had each other to recover from the grief, and they maintain a daily golden hour to talk things out over a drink.