From Jeff Bridges to Denzel Washington: 17 Hollywood Marriages That Have Lasted Decades — Photos

One future husband needed a private escape route before walking down the aisle, while another nearly lost his bride only days before their secret wedding.

Hollywood has produced love stories lasting nearly six decades, but longevity did not always begin with perfect certainty. Behind these 17 marriages are rejected invitations, separate coasts, broken engagements, fierce arguments, and one breakup that ended with an astonishing reunion in Central Park. Plus, there's a special honorable mention from a legend who is now gone.

1. He Gave Her Room to Find Her Own Voice

Ina Garten and Jeffrey Garten have been married for nearly 58 years, having exchanged vows on December 22, 1968. While Ina eventually built a culinary empire, she credits Jeffrey with encouraging her to discover what she wanted beyond the expectations of her upbringing.

During a 2024 conversation with Oprah Winfrey, Ina recalled Jeffrey telling her, "Do what you love. If you love it, you'll be really good at it."

He also believed she needed meaningful work to be happy, a remarkably progressive position for a husband in the late 1960s. Decades later, after Ina reached No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list, Jeffrey jokingly repeated that she really ought to do something with her life.

Before food transformed her career, Ina wrote nuclear energy policy at the White House and taught herself to cook at home. Jeffrey continued supporting her when she spotted an advertisement for a specialty food shop in Westhampton Beach and considered leaving government work for an entirely different life.

2. His Heart Said Forever, but His Head Demanded an Exit

Jeff Bridges met Susan Geston while filming "Rancho Deluxe" in Montana during the mid-1970s. He described the encounter as love at first sight, although Susan initially rejected his invitation to go out. She eventually accepted, and the pair married onJune 5, 1977. Yet Jeff entered their union with an escape plan already planted firmly in his mind.

"So the only way I could get married was to give myself a caveat: 'Oh, you can always get a divorce.' That caveat lingered over the first three years of our marriage," he admitted to The Guardian.

Susan finally confronted him about his attitude, and Jeff realized he needed to grow up. Forty-nine years later, divorce is merely the bad idea he thankfully abandoned.

The treasured photograph capturing their first meeting still lives in his wallet. Copies have been entrusted to other people, perhaps wisely, since the couple has lost homes to a fire, an earthquake, a wildfire, and a mudslide that required a helicopter rescue.

3. Their Love Song Has Played for Almost 48 Years

Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan married on September 2, 1978, building a partnership that survived the pressures of music, business, and international fame. Their 48th anniversary arrives in September 2026.

Gloria celebrated their 47th anniversary in 2025 with an affectionate tribute written in English and Spanish. "One of the many reasons I love you so much! Happy 47th Anniversary, mi morito lindo! I love you forever!" she wrote.

4. They Reached New York With Subway Tokens and Ambition

Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson married on August 18, 1980, and celebrated 46 years together in 2026. Their early life in New York looked considerably less glamorous than the careers waiting ahead.

LaTanya recalled during a 2025 interview with George C. Wolfe that she and Samuel arrived in the city in 1976, during the Halloween parade. At the time, some acting work paid in subway tokens rather than money.

She initially referred to Samuel as her husband while remembering that period, then laughingly corrected herself. They were not married yet, but the slip felt rather fitting for two people whose lives had already begun moving in the same direction.

5. Four Months Turned Into More Than Four Decades

Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest married on December 18, 1984, only months after their first date. The speed of their romance would make even the most committed romantic raise an impressed eyebrow.

Jamie told Drew Barrymore in a 2025 interview that she encountered Christopher at Hugo's restaurant on June 28, went out with him on July 2, and became engaged on September 13.

Their careers promptly placed them on opposite coasts. Christopher left for "Saturday Night Live" in New York while Jamie began filming "Perfect" in Los Angeles, so they flew back and forth on weekends.

Hugo's later catered their wedding, serving Pasta a la Mama. That whirlwind beginning has now stretched beyond 41 years, proving that a quick courtship is not necessarily a careless one.

6. Prayer, Forgiveness, and Work Keep Them Close

Pauletta Washington and Denzel Washington met while making the 1977 television movie "Wilma." They spoke again months later at a mutual friend's party and married on June 25, 1983, six years after their first meeting.

At the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival premiere of "The Piano Lesson," the couple supported their son Malcolm Washington's feature directing debut. Pauletta told People there was no magical secret behind their union.

"We work at it. It's work," she said. Pauletta also pointed to prayer, forgiveness, and "the basic love that we have for each other." Now married for 43 years, Pauletta and Denzel share four adult children: John David, Katia, and twins Malcolm and Olivia.

7. He Kept Returning to the Same London Stage

Tom Selleck was filming "Lassiter" in London in 1983 when Jillie Mack caught his attention as Rumpleteazer in the West End production of "Cats." Tom reportedly attended the musical numerous times, which was quite a commitment even before romance entered the picture.

Jillie's agent later told People, "They had dinner one night and it went on from there." After Jillie completed her run, she moved to the United States to be with Tom. They married on August 7, 1987, and celebrated their 39th anniversary in 2026.

8. Nearly 38 Years Passed Like One Heartbeat

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick married on September 4, 1988, after meeting while working together. Their 38th wedding anniversary arrives in September 2026. Kevin marked 35 years in 2023 by sharing an old photograph of the couple. "35 years feels like a heartbeat. #Anniversary," he wrote.

It was a tiny caption for an enormous shared history, and perhaps that was the sweetest part. Kevin did not need a speech to explain a relationship that still felt startlingly quick from inside it.

9. Even Their Renovation Fights End in Agreement

Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford married in Scotland on December 31, 1997, after a relationship that began with what Taylor called "instant passion." More than 28 years into their marriage, he remained just as enthusiastic about Helen.

At the American Cinematheque Awards in Los Angeles, Taylor told People that they enjoy designing and renovating homes without architects or interior designers. Their competing opinions occasionally lead to fights, but they eventually reach an agreement.

Work frequently keeps them apart, and each gives the other room to pursue demanding projects without jealousy. Taylor said mutual respect, love, and independence have helped them preserve a relationship in which he can still find surprises.

10. She Serenaded Her Husband After 29 Years

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick married on May 19, 1997. In May 2026, Sarah Jessica celebrated their 29th anniversary with photographs from their earlier years.

Her romantic message addressed Matthew directly: "Here's to you my darling. With your favorite band joining me in serenading you. Us. Forever young." She signed it, "Your wife Sarah Jessica," a wonderfully intimate ending from someone who clearly still enjoys holding that title.

11. A Breakup Led to a Chase Through Central Park

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos celebrated 30 years of marriage on May 1, 2026. Their anniversary might never have existed, however, because they broke up only one week before eloping.

Mark revealed the wild timeline during a 2019 appearance with Andy Cohen. After Kelly returned from visiting family in South Jersey, the exes were forced to appear together on "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee," where they pushed furniture for a Mother's Day segment.

Kelly refused to speak to him. Mark said her silence drove him crazy, so he followed her into Central Park, and they returned to his apartment before marrying the following day.

Three decades later, Kelly counted their life together down to the minute in an anniversary collage. "360 months. 1,565 weeks. 10,957 days. 15,778,080 minutes and I'll be loving you always," she wrote.

12. Their Anniversary Message Needed Only Four Words

Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks married on April 30, 1988, establishing one of Hollywood's most familiar long-term partnerships. They reached 38 years of marriage in 2026.

For their 35th anniversary in 2023, Rita shared a cheerful photograph of Tom presenting her with a celebratory cake. She closed the caption with four words that neatly covered everything: "Love is everything."

The photograph offered a pleasantly ordinary glimpse of a famous marriage, complete with a cake, broad smiles, and none of the dramatic declarations usually expected from Hollywood romance.

13. They Counted Their Marriage in 'Actor's Years'

Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen married on October 7, 1995, and have now shared more than 30 years as husband and wife. Mary marked their 23rd anniversary in 2018 with an early-morning walk and a smiling selfie. "That's 23 years or 714 in actor's years," she joked.

She also added a hashtag insisting Ted truly was as great as people imagined. It was playful, affectionate, and far more convincing than a polished paragraph about marital perfection.

14. Their Pictures Now Resemble a Time Capsule

Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber married in 1998 and celebrated 28 years together in 2026. Their earliest couple photographs now look so wonderfully dated that Cindy happily teased them herself.

On their 26th anniversary in 2024, Cindy posted a throwback picture that she compared to something recovered from a time capsule. "I'm so proud of us and all we have navigated together," she wrote. Cindy called Rande her best friend and toasted a future filled with more laughter, dancing, and love.

15. Their Famous Family Became His Anniversary Gift

In 2019, he marked 20 years with a collection of photographs spanning their relationship, including their wedding. "WOW 20 years, look what we created," David wrote.

He tagged Victoria and their four children, Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper Beckham. The message made his point beautifully: their greatest achievement was the family surrounding them.

16. She Still Believed They Were Only Beginning

Julia Roberts and cinematographer Danny Moder married in 2002 and celebrated 24 years together in 2026. For their 19th anniversary in 2021, Julia shared a beach selfie showing the couple close together. Her caption read, "19 years. Just getting started!"

That confidence felt especially bold for a Hollywood marriage already approaching two decades. Five years later, Julia and Danny have continued making her cheerful prediction look entirely reasonable.

17. Their Broken Engagement Found Its Way to Paris

Salma Hayek and François-Henri Pinault married in a civil ceremony at Paris' 6th arrondissement City Hall on Valentine's Day in 2009. The intimate wedding followed a romance that had already endured a significant rupture.

They originally met in Italy in 2006, became engaged, and welcomed their daughter, Valentina Paloma, in September 2007. They later ended their engagement before reconciling several months afterward, according to CBS News.

Their Paris wedding gave that rocky chapter a decisively romantic conclusion. Seventeen years later, the date remains almost impossibly fitting for a couple who found their way back to one another.

Honorable Mention: A Private Love Endured for Nearly 59 Years

Dolly Parton married Carl Dean on May 30, 1966, and remained his wife until his death at age 82 in March 2025. Their marriage lasted nearly 59 years, while their relationship stretched beyond six decades.

Carl, a former asphalt contractor, preferred privacy as the singer became one of the world's most recognizable entertainers. He supported her career without seeking a place beside her in the glare, and Dolly respected his desire to remain home.

"Carl and I spent many wonderful years together," Dolly said in the statement announcing his death. "Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years."

Their contrasting lives never erased their mutual affection and respect, as Biography observed. And now, they are together again, as Dolly Parton passed on August 25, 2026. Her death closed an extraordinary love story, but the nearly six decades she shared with Carl remain proof that Hollywood love really can last.