Most celebrity couples stay together for the sake of the public eye. But is it always the case? Do some stars truly love each other and are devoted to each other forever? Let’s look at the history of Hollywood’s most famous celebrity couples and see how they’ve handled their romance over the years.
R. Kelly and Drea Kelly
R. Kelly was born in June 1942 and Drea Kelly in August 1945, so they were both teenaged children when they first started dating in the early 1960s. They got married in January 1967 in New York City and had their first child together that June. The couple’s romance was famously dramatized on screen in the 1981 film Crossroads. It was arguably the most famous break-up in pop culture history and the catalyst for one of the biggest scandals in American history. Drea filed for divorce in 1982 and the following year their marriage was officially annulled.
But that was then and this is now. R. Kelly and Drea Kelly are currently going strong after all these years and have three children together. The singer has had several other relationships, both before and after his marriage to Drea.
Rod Stewart and Penny Churchill
In 1975, pop star Rod Stewart released his fourth studio album, Every Now And Then. It contained a song called “You Ain’t No Spring Chicken,” a tongue-in-cheek look at aging. In the lyrics, Stewart expresses his regret at losing his young lover and the longing he feels for her. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Stewart’s romantic lament was a massive hit and the single became his biggest hit to date.
It seems that Stewart met his future wife, Penny Churchill, while filming the video for “You Ain’t No Spring Chicken.” They married in 1981 and have two children together. The couple divorced in 1992 but remarried in 2005. This time around, Stewart has chosen to be more private about his romantic life and has not commented on speculation about his marital status.
Elton John and David Furnish
One of the most famous celebrity breakups in history was probably the infamous split between Elton John and his husband David Furnish. In a 2006 interview with Parade magazine, Elton John revealed that he had been trying to end his marriage for years. He first began dating Furnish in 1986 and the two had a wedding ceremony in July 1994. However, their union was not entirely happy and the singer eventually decided to call it quits. Elton John and Furnish were legally separated in 1999 but the following year they remarried in a hasty Vegas wedding. The singer was 49 and Furnish was 48 at the time.
The couple’s romantically tumultuous history was documented in the 2013 film Goodbye, Mr. Chips, which is based on the 2005 memoir I Am Elton John by the singer. The film stars Jeremy Irons as Elton John and Owen Wilson as Furnish. It’s an unflinching look at the real-life struggles of one of the most famous celebrities of all time. In the film, Elton John refers to the ill-fated union as “the biggest mistake of my life” and says that he wished “it could have been different.” He adds: “We could have had something beautiful, but it didn’t work out that way.”
Juliette Lewis and Martin Sheen
One of the most famous and successful celebrity couples is Juliette Lewis and Martin Sheen. The American Film Institute ranked the duo number three on its list of the greatest romantic collaborations in film history in 2015. They first met on the set of the 1968 film Easy People and became fast friends. But the real magic came later when they collaborated on the 1975 musical movie One by one, which is considered one of the greatest romantic comedies of all time. It’s fair to say that their pairing was destined to last.
Sheen proposed to Lewis in front of the grand jury that was investigating his friend and former Senate colleague John Tunney. The couple wed in October 1976 and have four children together. Their romance has been chronicled in the 2015 documentary My Big Fat Greek Wedding. In it, Lewis fondly remembers her wedding day and shares her excitement about being married with Martin. She says: “It’s like a wonderful movie. I can’t stop thinking about it. You can see how happy we were. I think it’s a movie you should see.”
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
In 1957, Tom Hanks made his Broadway debut in the musical adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun. It was a role that would ultimately make him a household name. In 2014, Hanks and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The following year, Hanks was named the greatest male actor of all time by the American Film Institute. So it should come as no great surprise that Hanks and Wilson are still going strong after all these years.
The couple started dating in high school and were married in 1959 at the age of 19. They have three children together and continue to be one of Hollywood’s most glamorous and beloved celebrity couples. Rita Wilson says their romance was completely based on “mutual respect and admiration.” She adds: “We just liked each other’s company. It was never about our romance or what would happen between us. It was always about our families and the families of our friends. We’re very, very proud of the families we’ve created together.”
John Goodman and Julia Roberts
John Goodman and Julia Roberts were arguably one of the most stunning celebrity couplings of the early 21st century. The couple became romantically involved on the set of the 2004 film The Paperboy and were married in November 2005, just months after Roberts gave birth to their daughter, Olive.
Their personal story was the inspiration for the 2013 film The Good Girl, which follows the trials and tribulations of a young woman forced to decide between her love for film and her love for food. The film stars Roberts as the titular “good girl” and Olivia Colman as her best friend. It’s an honest portrayal of parenthood and the sacrifices that come with it. Roberts has said that making the film was an “honor” and that she hoped it would “inspire other women.”
Olivia Colman and Julia Roberts are still going strong and have an adorable daughter named Ruby. The two recently celebrated Ruby’s first birthday and shared a sweet video of the milestone on Twitter.
Jackie Chan and Maya Linden
If you thought that Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson’s marriage was iconic, you should take a look at the life and career of Jackie Chan. In 2014, the legendary action star turned 90 and has been married to the same woman, Maya Linden, for nearly 70 years. Their enduring romance has been chronicled in the Jackie Chan documentary My Life, My Love, which is touted as “a loving and intimate portrait of one of the most fascinating partnerships in modern history.”
The first half of the documentary focuses on Chan’s life, career, and the cultural impact he’s had on the world. It also provides an intimate look at the couple’s romance, which has stood the test of time and kept them together long after their families and friends gave up hope. In it, Linden fondly recalls the early days of their courtship and how Chan constantly had to hide his marriage from his fans. It was an obsession with the actor that eventually became a source of great amusement for Linden. She laughs: “You know, to be honest, I’ve often thought that our story was so funny. When we met, he was immediately attracted to me, but he hid it so well. He was always worried that someone would find out and it would ruin his reputation.”
The couple’s first date was in 1946 and they immediately became inseparable. The iconic Kung Fu star says that he has “always protected her” and has never considered their relationship to be “more than friendship” because of their marriage. But while they may keep their personal life private, Chan has never been shy about talking about his adoring wife and children. He calls their union “an ideal match,” crediting their compatible personalities and strong support for one another. In the documentary, he refers to Linden as his best friend and says that he’s “blessed to have found her.” One of their three children, Karen, is also married to the son of a famous Hollywood producer. Their family ties seem to run deep, as Maya and Karen have often acted and produced together. In addition to their children, Maya and Chan have six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.