FitChick Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 We hear about the short lived celebrity marriages but we never hear about people who have had long, happy marriages. Some of these people have been together a shockingly long time. Good for them! 1
Pyro Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 Good for them indeed. Unfortunately society seems to only be interested in the lives of those couples with disastrous results.
january2011 Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 Sometimes, I think that there's a mentality that, "it ain't news, unless it's bad news." Which is shame really, because there's so much out there to celebrate, such as long-lasting marriages, celebrity or otherwise. The cynic in me also thinks that it's a shame that quickie marriages accompanied by accusations of cheating and then a quickie divorce, have become the norm and seem nothing more than a PR stunt. Those who manage to maintain a long-lasting marriage in the celeb world seem to just quietly go about their business and 'get on with it'. 3
quankanne Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 sounds like a lot of these folks keep their personal lives private, and respect it for what it is ... personal. One high profile couple, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, left Hollywood to live "normal" lives in Connecticut, where they were involved at the local level, which just amazes me, because they went against the flow. maybe that's what the secret to longevity to long-lived celebrity marriages? Not getting caught up in the rat race and respecting their marriage for what they are, instead of prostituting them for more coverage ... 1
TaraMaiden Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 Saw a great pic on FB the other day... "People ask us, 'What's the secret of your long marriage?' We reply, 'We come from an age where the solution to something broken was to fix it, not throw it out'. " I have to say, some of the couples look a little grotesque, plastic-surgery wise.... Being a Brit, I couldn't identify everybody.... but I would certainly nominate our own monarch as a prime example of this.... 1
William Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) Great list with a few surprises, mainly that the folks are still alive. Here's my additions: Angus Young (AC/DC) and Ellen Young (Van Lochem) - 32 years Jason Alexander (Seinfeld and many others) and Daena Title - 30 years Interesting commonality besides long marriage is that both men are substantially shorter than their wives. Jason is 5'5" and Angus is 5'2". Being of average height, at 5'10", William (Gates) towers over them, but has been married far fewer years, only 18. Edited May 22, 2012 by William
Radu Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 Saw a great pic on FB the other day... "People ask us, 'What's the secret of your long marriage?' We reply, 'We come from an age where the solution to something broken was to fix it, not throw it out'. " I have to say, some of the couples look a little grotesque, plastic-surgery wise.... Being a Brit, I couldn't identify everybody.... but I would certainly nominate our own monarch as a prime example of this.... Wholeheartedly agree ... call me a cynic, but i don't think kate's marriage will last. It's nice to see ppl get into marriage with both feet, all in ... nothing held back. You just know these ppl will be happy together no matter what.
OpenBook Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 Yes they may stick it out, but I have personal knowledge of one of these celebrity couples where the H is cheating... and has been for a long time. (No it's not Bill Cosby.) I hope that's not the case for the others, esp. Katharine Ross/Sam Elliott and Meryl Streep/Don Gummer. I really admire them.
TaraMaiden Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 Yes, well if you know it, so does the wife. I'd be willing to bet there's a high number of 'long-term' marriages where a third person has to a greater or lesser extent, played a part. Everybody in the prominent public eye, young and old, has their fair share of temptations - whether they be physical or recreational. The secret is not what people do, but how they deal with it. 1
TigerCub Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 When I first read the title, Denzel Washington and his wife were the first to come to mind, and they were the first in the list. aaaawww, that's one lucky lady Its always nice to hear about people that can love each other and stay together for that long. Good for all those couples and the "real" non celebrities that found that kind of love as well!
Mme. Chaucer Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 Don't forget the inspiring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, and Mel Brooks and Anne Bancroft. 1
Woggle Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 I bet a good portion of these have had cheating issues but props to the ones who haven't and still remain in love.
Mme. Chaucer Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 I bet a good portion of these have had cheating issues but props to the ones who haven't and still remain in love. Believe it or not, some marriages survive and become even stronger after cheating issues.
Negative Nancy Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 the men are probably all cheating behind their wives' backs.
Ninja'sHusband Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, though they aren't technically married. And Nancy you just realllllyyyy made a lot of BHs angry (like me). I was true to my wife for 18 years(4 dating 14 married) before she backstabbed me. And even in the process of divorce I'm not cheating. Edited May 22, 2012 by Ninja'sHusband
MissBee Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 sounds like a lot of these folks keep their personal lives private, and respect it for what it is ... personal. One high profile couple, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, left Hollywood to live "normal" lives in Connecticut, where they were involved at the local level, which just amazes me, because they went against the flow. maybe that's what the secret to longevity to long-lived celebrity marriages? Not getting caught up in the rat race and respecting their marriage for what they are, instead of prostituting them for more coverage ... This is true! I think the phenomenon we see now of people using social media, Facebook in particular, as a means to make themselves mini celebrities and publicize every detail of their lives is having an effect on relationships as well. Where people's personal lives and relationships can be on a newsfeed of their own making with 2,000 of their "closest friends" to observe. But this is an aside... Back to celebs. Yes, those whose marriages have been thriving seem to be those whose personal lives are not on the front pages in general and who seem to go out of their way to be grounded, lead normal lives away from the hype and spotlight and protect their family and relationship from outside eyes as much as possible. It also seems celebrities who are married to normal people have less hectic relationships as well, than celebrities married to other celebrities.
Alma Mobley Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 I think it is a waste of time to analyze celebrity marriages, as they are by default different from the rest of us.
Star Gazer Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson (24 years) Regis and Joy Philbin (42 years) Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos (16 years) Oprah and Stedman (not married, but 36 years) George and Laura Bush (35 years)
Crusoe Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 Do you have any that you think should be on the list? A surprising one is that old rogue Dave Niven, over 40 years of his life married, never divorced.
Author FitChick Posted May 23, 2012 Author Posted May 23, 2012 It's true that some of them have open marriages but if it works for them, it's none of my business. I also think the spouses often turn a blind eye because they like the lifestyle they have. Paul and Linda McCartney were married a long time up until she died. Ringo Starr and his wife Barbara are still going strong and look amazing to boot.
xxoo Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Ringo Starr and his wife Barbara are still going strong and look amazing to boot. I loved what Ringo had to say about wanting to spend every minute with his wife. Sounds like true love to me
Woggle Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Being an underrated drummer who always got overshadowed by his bandmates probably taught him some humility. 1
piggyoink Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Many people say Mark Zuckerberg married when he did because then (according to california law) his assets will be protected.
Radu Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 Many people say Mark Zuckerberg married when he did because then (according to california law) his assets will be protected. Nothing wrong with being protected. Most of the ppl referenced in this thread got married in the age of wave 1-2 of feminism when society was striving for equality between the genders ... not in the age of entitlement. Back to topic now.
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