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13 Celebrity Couples Who Make Us Believe in True Love

Elisabeth Edwards
Photo Credits: 1. Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images, 2. Frank Micelotta / ImageDirect, 3. Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images
Photo Credits: 1. Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images, 2. Frank Micelotta / ImageDirect, 3. Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images

These days it’s nearly impossible to keep up with celebrity relationship gossip. New headlines about who’s getting divorced, who’s been spotted together, or who’s been cheated on pop up in the tabloids every day, but we can count on these twelve celeb couples who have proven that true love and happily-ever-afters are far from fiction.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson

Side by side images of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson in 1988 and 2021
Left: Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks at their wedding reception in 1988. (Photo Credit: Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images), Right: Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson attend the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Opening Gala in 2021. (Photo Credit: David Livingston / Getty Images for Fashion Media)

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson first met on the set of ABC sitcom Bosom Buddies in 1981, and while their relationship started as just a friendship – since Hanks was married to his first wife Samantha Lewes – Wilson and Hanks went public with their relationship in 1986. They married in 1988 and have four kids together, Colin, Elizabeth, Chet, and Truman Hanks.

Ever since they first appeared together on the red carpet four decades ago, Hanks and Wilson have remained one of Hollywood’s favorite power couples.

Kirk Douglas and Anne Buydens

Side by side images of Kirk Douglas and Anne Buydens in 1954 and 2013
Left: Kirk Douglas and Anne Buydens at their wedding in Las Vegas, 1954. (Photo Credit: Bettmann / Getty Images), Right: Douglas and Buydens attend an event in 2013. (Photo Credit: Donato Sardella / Getty Images for EIF)

Kirk Douglas and Anne Buydens were married for 66 years, but initially, the pair didn’t get along. Douglas was already an established celebrity when he met French public relations expert Anne Buydens in 1953 on the set of his movie Act of Love while filming in Paris.

Douglas invited Buydens to his trailer hoping to ask her out on a date. “I thought, I’ll take this young beauty to dinner at the most romantic (and expensive) restaurant in Paris, La Tour d’Argent,” Douglas recalled in a Los Angeles Times interview. “She’s sure to approve of my taste and my ability to get a last-minute reservation.” Douglas was taken aback when Buydens replied, “No, I think I’ll stay in and have some scrambled eggs.”

The movie star was shocked that someone would decline the chance to have dinner with a celebrity, but as the pair got to know each other – and as Douglas “stopped talking about myself and began to listen to her,” their relationship began to blossom. They married in 1954 and had two children together. They remained married for the rest of their lives, both living past the age of 100!

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick

Side by side images of Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgewick in 1988 and 2022
Left: Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick in 1988. (Photo Credit: Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images), Right: Bacon and Sedgwick attend the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. (Photo Credit: John Lamparski / Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)

The effortlessly cool A-list couple Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick have been together for over thirty years. The pair met while filming PBS’ Lemon Sky and got married in 1988.

Sedgwick shed some light on their relationship when asked about the secret to a successful marriage. “I joke that the secret to a successful marriage is to not take marriage advice from celebrities. I guess if I had to think too much about [our marriage], that would probably not be a good thing. We just got lucky. I honestly believe that’s the truth.”

Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson

Side by side images of Samuel L Jackson and LaTanya Richardson in 1998 and 2022
Left: Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson attend an event in 1998. (Photo Credit: Frank Trapper / Corbis / Getty Images), Right: Jackson and Richardson at the 2022 Academy Awards. (Photo Credit: David Livingston / Getty Images)

The secret to Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson‘s 41-year marriage? They made a pact to stick together no matter what, and they’ve followed it through! The college sweethearts have been together through thick and thin, even through Jackson’s battle with drug addiction.

“She gave me the chance to be the man I was supposed to be,” Jackson shared about his wife, who got him into rehab to overcome his addiction. This ultimately helped his career take off with a role in Spike Lee’s 1991 film Jungle Fever.

Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres

Side by side images of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi in 2004 and 2022
Left: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi in 2004. (Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images), Right: DeGeneres and De Rossi in 2022. (Photo Credit: Kelly Sullivan / Getty Images for RH)

Ellen DeGeneres made history in 1994 when she proudly declared “yep, I’m gay.” Ten years later she would help her now wife Portia de Rossi do the same. The couple met in 2004 and became inseparable, but being the partner of one of the most famous openly gay women in Hollywood was sometimes overwhelming as de Rossi was figuring out her sexuality.

By 2005, de Rossi and DeGeneres moved in together, and Ellen glowed as she shared her feelings with PEOPLE. “It’s the first time that I’ve known in every cell of my being that I’m with somebody for the rest of my life.” The couple married in an intimate backyard wedding in 2008 and recently celebrated 14 years of marriage.

Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan

Michael J Fox and Tracy Pollan in 1987 and 2019
Left: Michael J Fox and Tracy Pollan at the 1987 Emmy Awards. (Photo Credit: Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images), Right: Fox and Pollan in 2019. (Photo Credit: Jim Spellman / WireImage / Getty Images)

The year 1988 seems to have been a lucky one for celeb couples, as Michael J Fox and Tracy Pollan are joining this growing list of spouses who chose to wed 34 years ago (along with Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, and Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick).

Fox first met his future wife and then-costar Tracy Pollan on the set of Family Ties. Interestingly enough, when Fox first met Tracy, she was in a committed relationship with none other than Kevin Bacon! Michael reached out to Tracy as soon as he heard she and Bacon had split, and they were engaged after just seven months of dating.

Tracy has supported her husband through it all, including the “in sickness and in health” parts. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at just 29 years old. Pollan and Fox are both advocates for Parkinson’s research and awareness, opening the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000.

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell in 1987 and 2019
Left: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell while filming Overboard in 1987. (Photo Credit: Aaron Rapoport / Corbis / Getty Images), Right: Hawn and Russell in 2019. (Photo Credit: Kurt Krieger / Corbis / Getty Images)

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s love story is as unique as it is romantic! The couple, who have chosen not to get married, first met in 1968 on the set of The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band but it wasn’t until they reunited while filming Swing Shift in 1983 that they began dating – the same year both Hawn and Russell divorced their previous spouses.

After nearly 40 years together, their spark is stronger than ever. “I think the secret is to know when to depend on somebody and when not to,” Hawn told Women’s Day. “I believe that one person can’t bear the whole burden because then their shoulders start getting heavy. The other part is to stay as sexy as you can and make sure you focus on all of those aspects of a healthy relationship – and sexuality is definitely one of them.”

Elton John and David Furnish

Elton John and David Furnish in 1996 and 2020
Left: Elton John and David Furnish in 1996. (Photo Credit: Dave Benett / Getty Images), Right: John and Furnish at the 2020 Academy Awards. (Photo Credit: Michael Kovac / Getty Images for EJAF)

Elton John found someone who would never go breakin’ his heart in 1993. According to John, he and his husband David Furnish fell in love at first sight. “We fell in love very quickly. He was independent. I didn’t need to take care of him. I thought, ‘God, this is new territory for me — someone wants to be with me just because he likes me,'” explained the “Rocketman” singer. After over a decade together the couple finally made their relationship public in 2005, shortly after same-sex civil partnerships were made legal in the UK.

John and Furnish married in 2014, and have two sons together: Zachary and Elijah. In an open letter to his sons to mark his 75th birthday, John shared the inspiring advice that led him to find his husband:

“When I was young, I was told to fit in, to do what others expected even when it didn’t feel right. Now I realize I can only be me. Being true to myself is what gave me my voice and helped me face my greatest fears. I’ve forged deep friendships, found the love of my life, and became your Daddy. Whoever you grow up to be, just be you — fully and completely you.”

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas

Side by side images of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas in 1999 and 2021
Left: Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas in 1999. (Photo Credit: KMazur / WireImage / Getty Images), Right: Zeta-Jones and Douglas at the 2021 Emmy Awards. (Photo Credit: Rich Fury / Getty Images)

It seems like long-lasting love doesn’t fall from the Douglas family tree! Kirk Douglas’ son Michael Douglas has been married to celebrated Welsh actress and performer Catherine Zeta-Jones for 21 years. Despite their 25-year age gap, the couple has proved that their love is true over the years, even though they may have gotten off on the wrong foot.

Douglas and Zeta-Jones were first introduced by another Hollywood couple, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, at a dinner event in 1998. Douglas invited Zeta-Jones to his hotel for a nightcap, and as she jetted off the next day Douglas sent her flowers to apologize for his very forward pickup line: “I’m going to be the father of your children.” He wasn’t wrong, though!

The couple married in 2000 and share two children together. Their romance hasn’t been without hardship, but Zeta-Jones stood by her husband when he was diagnosed with Stage IV tongue cancer, and Douglas did the same during his wife’s battles with bipolar disorder. Douglas explained what keeps their marriage strong:

“True love takes work. Love is an extraordinary feeling that comes from the bottom of your soul, but has to be nurtured, you know. The thing I’ve learned about getting older is you can’t take love for granted.”

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith in 1995 and 2022
Left: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith in 1995. (Photo Credit: Jim Smeal / Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images), Right: Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith at the 2022 Academy Awards. (Photo Credit: Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images)

Will Smith first met his future wife Jada Pinkett Smith in 1994 on the set of Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Smith was instantly smitten, but there was one slight problem: he was already married! When Smith split from his wife Sheree Zampino, he called Jada out of the blue and asked if she was seeing anyone. When she said no, he cooly answered “Cool. You’re seeing me now.”

Will and Jada married on New Year’s Eve, 1997 while they were expecting their first child Jaden. Despite countless rumors of divorce throughout the years, the couple is stronger than ever – and some think it has to do with their open marriage. After shooting down the speculations of their relationship status, Will Smith came clean to GQ Magazine in 2021 and shared that he and Jada have an open, non-monogamous relationship.

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick

Side by side images of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick in 1993 and 2019
Left: Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick in 1993. (Photo Credit: Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images), Right: Parker and Broderick in 2019. (Photo Credit: Bruce Glikas / FilmMagic / Getty Images)

While her Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw might have struggled to find her Mr. Right (or should we say Mr. Big?), Sarah Jessica Parker bonded with her husband Matthew Broderick over their shared love of Broadway musicals. Shortly after Parker split from longtime beau Robert Downey Jr. in 1991, Broderick was introduced to SJP through the actresses’ brothers who own a theater company.

The couple starred together on the 1996 Broadway run of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Parker glowed as she spoke to The Los Angeles Times about her new romance with the Ferris Beuller’s Day Off star: “He’s so bright, so handsome, I think he’s the most handsome man I’ve seen in my life. And he inspires me. I’m mad for him, totally.”

Parker and Broderick married in 1997, and despite keeping their relationship as private as possible they are clearly as in love as they were two decades ago.

Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham

Side by side images of Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham in 1987 and 2018
Left: Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham in 1987. (Photo Credit: Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection / Getty Images), Right: Winfrey and Graham in 2018. (Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Robin Hood)

Some things everyone knows were meant to be together: peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, and of course Oprah and Stedman! The couple has been together for 36 years, but the connection didn’t happen when they first met in 1986. “I figured he must be a player. So did all my producers. They warned me not to get involved with that Stedman guy” Orpah penned in a 2020 article for her magazine O.

First impressions aside, Winfrey and Graham began dating later that year – and the rest is history! After several years of “will they or won’t they” gossip in the tabloids, Oprah set the record straight explaining that she and Stedman skipped marriage “for a spiritual partnership.”

Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw

Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg in 1984, left, and at a gala in 2022, right
Left: Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw promoting their new film ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’, 1984. (Photo Credit: Bryn Colton/Getty Images), Right: Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg at the Hammer Museum’s 18th Annual Gala in the Garden on October 08, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Hammer Museum)

Iconic film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, are still going strong after more than 30 years of marriage. The two met in 1984 when she starred opposite Harrison Ford in his film Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom. He later told IndieWire, “The prettiest thing that came out of that film was my future wife. I met Kate, my leading lady. My leading lady is still my leading lady.”

More from us: Classic Celebrity Marriages That Were Destroyed By Movies

Although he was married to someone else when they first met, Spielberg and Capshaw are obviously a great match given their staying power. The couple has seven children – one each from previous marriages, three they had together, and two they adopted.

Elisabeth Edwards

Elisabeth Edwards is a public historian and history content writer. After completing her Master’s in Public History at Western University in Ontario, Canada Elisabeth has shared her passion for history as a researcher, interpreter, and volunteer at local heritage organizations.

She also helps make history fun and accessible with her podcast The Digital Dust Podcast, which covers topics on everything from art history to grad school.

In her spare time, you can find her camping, hiking, and exploring new places. Elisabeth is especially thrilled to share a love of history with readers who enjoy learning something new every day!

The Digital Dust Podcast

linkedin.com/in/elisabethcedwards