Hollywood has a reputation for short marriages and quick breakups. Plenty of couples in the entertainment business have proved the opposite, building partnerships that lasted four decades or longer.
The eight couples below all passed the 40 year mark, based on their publicly reported wedding dates. Some are still married today, and one marriage ended only with a death. Where the exact number of years depends on the date, I’ve kept the counts approximate.
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward married in 1958 and stayed together until Newman died in 2008. That’s roughly 50 years. Both won Academy Awards, and they often worked together on screen, including in the film Mr. and Mrs. Bridge.
Newman reportedly turned down the Hollywood party scene in favor of family life in Connecticut. Together they also supported charitable work, including the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for seriously ill children. Their marriage is still one of the most cited examples of lasting love in show business.
Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft
Comedy legend Mel Brooks married actress Anne Bancroft in 1964. They remained a couple until her death in 2005, a marriage of about 41 years. Bancroft was known for The Graduate and The Miracle Worker, and Brooks for films like The Producers and Blazing Saddles.
They had one son, author Max Brooks. The two also teamed up professionally, notably on the 1983 remake of To Be or Not to Be. Brooks has often spoken publicly about how much he missed her.
Michael Caine and Shakira Caine
Sir Michael Caine married Shakira Baksh in January 1973. By 2026, that’s more than 53 years together. Shakira was a model and actress before settling into life with the British star.
Caine has often described meeting her as a defining moment in his life. He famously said he fell for her after seeing her in a coffee commercial. They have one daughter, Natasha, and Caine’s long career has unfolded alongside a famously steady home life.
Ron Howard and Cheryl Howard
Director and former child star Ron Howard married Cheryl Alley in 1975. They’ve been married more than 50 years. They met in high school, long before Howard became an Oscar winning filmmaker.
They have four children, including actress Bryce Dallas Howard. Ron Howard has long been known for keeping his family life out of tabloid headlines. Cheryl has largely stayed out of the spotlight too, which may have helped.
Jeff Bridges and Susan Geston
Jeff Bridges married Susan Geston in 1977. They met a few years earlier while he was filming in Montana, where she was working at a ranch. They’ve now been married nearly 50 years, which is rare for any Hollywood leading man.
They have three daughters and live in California. Bridges won an Academy Award for Crazy Heart in 2010. He has often given credit to his family for keeping him grounded during a long career.
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson married in 1980. They met as students in Atlanta, years before either became a household name. By 2026, their marriage has lasted about 46 years.
Both are respected actors, and LaTanya has also worked as a stage director on Broadway. They have a daughter, Zoe. Their partnership has spanned Jackson’s rise from stage work to one of the highest grossing film careers in history.
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington
Denzel Washington married Pauletta Pearson in June 1983, meaning they’ve been married over 43 years. They met while working on the television film Wilma in the late 1970s. Pauletta is a classically trained pianist and has also acted.
They have four children, including filmmaker and actor John David Washington. Denzel has spoken in interviews about faith and family as foundations of his life. They rarely draw tabloid attention, and that discretion is part of the story.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest
Jamie Lee Curtis and filmmaker Christopher Guest married in December 1984. That’s about 42 years of marriage. Guest is known for mockumentaries such as This Is Spinal Tap and Best in Show, and Curtis won an Academy Award in 2023 for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
They have two children and have kept their family life fairly private. Guest also holds a British title, Baron Haden-Guest, through his father, so Curtis is sometimes referred to as Lady Haden-Guest. Their long marriage has outlasted several waves of changing fame for them both.
Lasting marriages in Hollywood are rarer than in the general population, but these eight show that it can be done. Each couple kept things relatively private, shared a long history, and built a life outside of film sets. Their stories suggest that staying power usually comes from ordinary habits, not from glamour.
Some of these marriages are still going, and others ended only with a death. Either way, they’re a reminder that the longest love stories are often the quietest ones.
