Actors in Long, Lasting Marriages (20+ Years)
Long careers in the spotlight often come with public ups and downs, yet many actors have quietly built marriages that have lasted decades. These couples met on sets, at work, and in everyday places, then kept building together through projects, parenting, and changing schedules. Their timelines easily clear the twenty year mark and keep going.
You will recognize many of the names from hit films and TV shows, while some spouses work mostly behind the scenes. Either way, there is plenty of real life history here, from early meet cutes to shared credits and family milestones. Here are twenty five actors in long lasting marriages, each with at least two decades together.
Tom Hanks
He married Rita Wilson in 1988 after meeting in the early 1980s. They worked together on ‘Volunteers’ and appeared as themselves on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’. They have two sons together and continue to support each other’s work in film, television, and music.
Wilson produced and acted in projects that include ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’. Hanks has won Academy Awards and published books. They attend premieres together and partner on charity efforts and recorded music releases.
Denzel Washington
He married Pauletta Washington in 1983 after they met on the TV film ‘Wilma’. They have four children and renewed their vows in South Africa in the 1990s. They have supported each other’s stage and screen work for decades.
Pauletta is an actor and musician with theater and television credits. Denzel’s films include ‘Glory’, ‘Training Day’, and ‘Fences’. They support arts education programs and scholarships across schools and community groups.
Kevin Bacon
He married Kyra Sedgwick in 1988 after meeting on a TV project. They later worked together in ‘Pyrates’ and on episodes of ‘The Closer’. They have two children and often appear in each other’s smaller projects and live streams.
Bacon balances film and TV credits that include ‘Footloose’ and ‘The Following’. Sedgwick directed and starred in television while producing indie films. They also share music performances and charity appearances.
Samuel L. Jackson
He married LaTanya Richardson Jackson in 1980 after meeting in college theater circles. They have one daughter and collaborate on stage and philanthropic work. Their schedule often includes Broadway and film commitments.
LaTanya has appeared in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and on Broadway. Samuel L. Jackson’s films include ‘Pulp Fiction’ and the Marvel series. Together they fund scholarships and support arts organizations in multiple cities.
Michael J. Fox
He married Tracy Pollan in 1988 after meeting on ‘Family Ties’ and reconnecting on ‘Bright Lights, Big City’. They have four children and have navigated careers and health challenges together over many years.
Pollan has acted in television including ‘Law and Order’ and has co authored cookbooks with her family. Fox founded a research foundation that has advanced Parkinson’s research and continues to write books and make guest appearances on shows like ‘The Good Wife’.
Bryan Cranston
He married Robin Dearden in 1989 after they met on the set of ‘Airwolf’. They have one daughter who also works in entertainment. They share theater work and participate in charity readings.
Cranston’s credits range from ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ to ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Your Honor’. Dearden has appeared in television series across decades. They attend festivals together and support acting programs.
Mark Ruffalo
He married Sunrise Coigney in 2000 after they met in Los Angeles. They have three children and manage family life around film schedules and environmental advocacy.
Ruffalo’s films include ‘Spotlight’, ‘The Kids Are All Right’, and the Marvel series. Coigney has acted in film and television and launched design and retail projects. They support environmental and community causes through events and campaigns.
Pierce Brosnan
He married Keely Shaye Brosnan in 2001 after they met in the 1990s in Mexico. They have two sons and split time between homes in the United States and Europe.
Brosnan’s work spans ‘GoldenEye’, ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’, and ‘Mamma Mia’. Keely Shaye is a journalist and filmmaker who has produced environmental documentaries and worked as a correspondent on ‘The Home Show’. They support ocean conservation and island restoration efforts.
Sarah Jessica Parker
She married Matthew Broderick in 1997 in New York. They have three children and have appeared together on stage in Broadway productions while continuing independent projects.
Parker is known for ‘Sex and the City’ and fashion ventures. Broderick’s career includes ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ and Tony winning stage roles. They co produce theater work and support arts nonprofits.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
She married Michael Douglas in 2000 after they met at a film festival. They have two children and have coordinated work schedules across film and television.
Zeta Jones has appeared in ‘Chicago’ and in series like ‘Wednesday’. Douglas’s credits include ‘Wall Street’ and ‘Behind the Candelabra’. They continue to appear at festivals and serve as producers on select projects.
Freddie Prinze Jr.
He married Sarah Michelle Gellar in 2002 after meeting on ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’. They have two children and have voiced animated projects together.
Gellar is widely known for ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and recent food and lifestyle ventures. Prinze Jr. acted in ‘She’s All That’ and performed voice work in ‘Star Wars Rebels’. They collaborate on cookbooks and family focused media.
Ben Stiller
He married Christine Taylor in 2000 after they met while making a TV pilot. They have two children and have appeared together in films such as ‘Zoolander’, ‘Dodgeball’, and ‘Tropic Thunder’.
Stiller directs and acts in projects that include ‘Severance’ and ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’. Taylor starred in ‘The Brady Bunch Movie’ and in series work like ‘Search Party’. They continue to produce and act across film and television.
Steve Carell
He married Nancy Carell in 1995 after they met at Second City in Chicago. They have two children and collaborate on writing and performing projects.
Steve Carell’s credits include ‘The Office’, ‘The Big Short’, and ‘Foxcatcher’. Nancy Carell worked on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘The Daily Show’ and co created ‘Angie Tribeca’ with Steve. They support comedy education and improv training programs.
Rob Lowe
He married Sheryl Berkoff in 1991 after an early blind date and a later reconnection during ‘Bad Influence’. They have two sons and often share production credits.
Lowe’s work includes ‘The West Wing’, ‘Parks and Recreation’, and ‘9 1 1 Lone Star’. Berkoff is a makeup artist and entrepreneur who has worked in film and launched a lifestyle brand. They participate in health and recovery focused philanthropy.
Jamie Lee Curtis
She married Christopher Guest in 1984 after she arranged an introduction through friends. They have two children and maintain careers across acting, writing, and music.
Curtis has starred in ‘Halloween’, ‘True Lies’, and ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’. Guest is known for ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ and ‘Best in Show’. They support children’s hospitals and literacy programs.
Jeff Bridges
He married Susan Geston in 1977 after they met during the filming of ‘Rancho Deluxe’ in Montana. They have three daughters and several grandchildren.
Bridges has appeared in ‘The Big Lebowski’, ‘Crazy Heart’, and ‘True Grit’. Geston has worked in film production. They support hunger relief and arts education and attend industry events together.
Kevin Kline
He married Phoebe Cates in 1989 after they met at New York’s Public Theater. They have two children and have made New York their home base.
Kline’s credits include ‘A Fish Called Wanda’ and ‘Sophie’s Choice’. Cates starred in ‘Gremlins’ and then opened a Manhattan boutique while occasionally returning to screen roles. They back local arts programs and museum initiatives.
Tom Selleck
He married Jillie Mack in 1987 after they met when she performed in ‘Cats’ in London. They have one daughter and maintain a home life that balances production schedules and family routines.
Selleck is known for ‘Magnum P I’ and ‘Blue Bloods’. Mack has acted on television and stage. They keep a low profile and support community organizations in California and on the family ranch.
Matt Damon
He married Luciana Barroso in 2005 in New York. They have four daughters and keep a low public profile while traveling for film shoots.
Damon’s films include ‘Good Will Hunting’, the ‘Bourne’ series, and ‘The Martian’. Barroso worked in hospitality and appears with Damon at premieres and charity events that support clean water initiatives and education.
Robert Downey Jr.
He married Susan Downey in 2005 after they met on the film ‘Gothika’. They have two children together and collaborate on production through their company.
Robert Downey Jr. is known for ‘Iron Man’, ‘Sherlock Holmes’, and ‘Oppenheimer’. Susan Downey has produced series such as ‘Perry Mason’ and ‘Sweet Tooth’. They develop film and streaming projects and support animal rescue and science education.
Jason Bateman
He married Amanda Anka in 2001 after they had known each other since youth. They have two daughters and balance work in acting, music, and producing.
Bateman’s credits include ‘Arrested Development’ and ‘Ozark’ and he hosts the podcast ‘SmartLess’. Anka is a singer and actress with television appearances. They attend festivals together and work with children’s charities.
Christian Bale
He married Sibi Blažić in 2000 after they met while she worked in the industry. They have two children and keep their family life private.
Bale’s roles include ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy, ‘American Hustle’, and ‘Ford v Ferrari’. Blažić has worked on set as part of stunt teams and in production. They appear at premieres and support film preservation events.
Daniel Day-Lewis
He married Rebecca Miller in 1996 after an introduction while visiting the home of Arthur Miller. They have two sons and split time between the United States and Ireland.
Day Lewis is known for ‘There Will Be Blood’ and ‘Lincoln’. Rebecca Miller is a filmmaker and novelist who wrote and directed features including ‘Maggie’s Plan’. They collaborate on scripts and creative development.
Helen Mirren
She married Taylor Hackford in 1997 after they met during the audition process for ‘White Nights’. They have residences in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Mirren’s work spans ‘The Queen’, ‘Prime Suspect’, and ‘1923’. Hackford directed ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ and ‘Ray’. They serve on boards and support film festivals and arts education.
Angela Bassett
She married Courtney B. Vance in 1997 after they first met as students at the Yale School of Drama. They have twins and co authored a book about their family experiences.
Bassett’s roles include ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’, ‘Black Panther’, and the series ‘9 1 1’. Vance starred in ‘The People v O J Simpson’ and ‘Lovecraft Country’. They produce projects through their company and support scholarships and theater programs.
Share your favorite examples of long lasting celebrity marriages in the comments and tell us who you think we should add next.
