It’s no secret that long-lasting relationships in Hollywood are hard to come by. The toll of consistently traveling away from home, having paparazzi chasing you down 24/7 and nosey social media followers tracking your every move can easily drive a wedge between couples. Thankfully, these Black celebrity couples have developed the secret sauce to making love last.
Jay-Z and Beyonce have made no secret of their journey to re-establish trust in their 11-year marriage with transparent tracks in Lemonade and 4:44. Michelle and Barack Obama were thrust into the most high-pressure position in the free world, and leaned on their faith in each other to make it through. LL Cool J and his wife Simone Smith persevered through a devastating cancer diagnosis.
Scroll through the gallery to see the longstanding Black celebrity couples we love.
01
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, 1995
The iconic Hollywood couple met on the set of Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air and married in 1997. Their son, Jaden, was born in 1998 and their daughter Willow in 2000.
02
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, 2019
During a Rap Radar podcast episode, Will Smith said he considers Jada his life partner. “There’s no deal breakers,” the actor said. “There’s nothing she could do ― ever ― nothing would break our relationship. She has my support until death and it feels so good to get to that space.”
03
Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham, 1987
Oprah and Stedman began dating in 1986. The pair initially planned to wed in November 1992, but decided to forego a traditional wedding in place of a “spiritual union” instead. Winfrey once said during a 2015 “SuperSoul Sunday” chat with Shonda Rhimes that, “What I realized is, I don’t want to be married … because I could not have the life that I created for myself.”
04
Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham, 2018
During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Graham revealed the secret to their lasting relationship. “The thing about our relationship is I want the best for her,” explains the 68-year-old author. “So, I’m dedicated to her happiness, so that’s great for her and I want her to be the best she can possibly be and she’s done a pretty good job of doing it.”
05
Ice Cube and Kimberly Jackson, 1997
Ice Cube (real name O’Shea Jackson) married Kimberly Jackson in April 1992. Together, they share four children.
06
Ice Cube and Kimberly Jackson, 2017
Ice Cube speaks highly of his wife, telling TODAY, “She’s my backbone. I wouldn’t be here without her.”
07
Jay-Z and Beyoncé, 2002
The power couple first came together for their collaborative track “’03 Bonnie & Clyde.” After keeping their relationship low profile for years, they wed in a private New York City wedding ceremony on April 4, 2008.
08
Jay-Z and Beyoncé, 2019
Though they’re one of the most beloved Black couples of our time, these two aren’t afraid to share about times their relationship was tested (including on respective albums Lemonade and 4:44) Today, the couple shares three children: seven-year-old daughter Blue Ivy and two-year-old twins Rumi and Sir. On The Run II tour footage captured by fans and shared on social media shows the Carters seemingly renewing their vows, most likely in honor of their 10th anniversary.
09
LL Cool J and Simone Smith, 1988
LL Cool J (real name James Todd Smith) and Simone met in the early ’80s as teenagers set up by a friend. The couple married in 1995 and have four children together, in addition to a grandson, King-James.
10
LL Cool J and Simone Smith, 2018
LL and Simone have been through quite a few ups and downs throughout their 23 years of marriage, including Simone’s bone cancer diagnosis in 2004. Together, they partnered on the “Beat Cancer Like A Boss” campaign this year.
11
Steve Harvey and Marjorie Harvey, 2009
Steve first saw Marjorie when she walked into a comedy club he was performing in back in 1990. He proclaimed on stage, “I don’t know who you are but I’m going to marry you.” They dated briefly, reconnected again in 2005 and married 2007.
12
Steve Harvey and Marjorie Harvey, 2018
Steve told ESSENCE exclusively that his wife is the secret to his success. “Everything I have,” he says pointing to his Marjorie, “is because of this girl right here.”
13
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington, 1996
On June 25, 1983, Denzel and Pauletta Washington, whom he met on the set of his first movie Wilma. Together, they have four children.
14
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington, 2019
The couple celebrated 36 years of marriage this year. In speaking with People, Denzel praised his wife for creating their family structure. “The difference between a house and a home, it’s a big difference. You can buy a house, but that doesn’t make it a home—and not to say a man can’t make a home a home, but my wife has made our house a home, and raised these beautiful kids, and protected them and sacrificed for them. She did the heavy lifting.”
15
Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker, 2002
The couple, who wed in May 2005 after meeting on the set of Soul Food: The Series, have two children together: a daughter, Sophie, and a son, Nicolas. Over the years, these two have remained the ultimate #couplegoals, often sharing sweet moments of adoration for one another and giving us glimpses of their family life.
16
Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker, 2019
Celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary, Kodjoe praised his wife on Instagram, writing “I love you @nicoleariparker for baring your soul, for opening your heart, and for shining your bright light through the thickest and thinnest of times. ☀️”
17
Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, 1993
Spike and Tonya Lee met in 1992 at the Congressional Black Caucus Weekend in Washington D.C. Tonya told ESSENCE about their first meeting at the formal dinner. “We walked past each other. Spike circled back around and proceeded to give me the third degree. ‘Are you an actress? A model? A singer? Who are you here with? What do you do? Do you have a boyfriend?’”
18
Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee, 2019
Tonya remains one of Spike’s greatest influences in life and in business. In fact, she was the one who inspired him to revive his classic film She’s Gotta Have It as a series. “It was my wife’s idea,” he told Vice. “She said: ‘Spike, you should try to do this, or we should try to do this together as a series.’ So I said, ‘That’s a great idea. Let’s do it.’”
19
Grant Hill and Tamia, 2001
The couple married on July 24, 1999, and have two daughters: Myla Grace Hill, 16, and Lael Rose Hill, 10.
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Grant Hill and Tamia, 2016
The couple’s union has stood the test of time. But ultimately, they say marriage isn’t as hard as people make it seem. “Every day you are just saying to each other, ‘we are going to work it out, we are going get through it together,’” Tamia told ESSENCE exclusively, “[because] it’s not about looking into each other’s eyes, it’s about looking in the same direction. So, there’s no secret.”
21
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, 1992
Barack and Michelle met in 1989, while the former President was a summer associate at a Chicago law firm. Michelle was his advisor at the time. Mrs. Obama joked on the 2019 Essence Festival stage that her future husband was late to their first date. The beautiful couple eventually got married in October 1992 in Chicago.
22
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, 2018
While reeling us in at Essence Festival with a hilarious story about her first date with former President Barack Obama, Mrs. Obama gave women some sage advice about maintaining a healthy marriage and marrying your equal. “Marriage is a choice you make every day,” she explained. “You don’t do it because it’s easy. You do it because you believe in it. You believe in the other person.”
23
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, 2008
The actors wed in 2003 and adopted their daughter, Genesis, in October of 2011.
24
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, 2019
Davis has said that she met Tennon three weeks after she prayed a special prayer for love to come into her life. “I was the loneliest woman in the world, and someone said, ‘You should just pray for a husband,” Davis told Page Six. “I said I wanted a big black man from the South who looked like a football player, who already had children, who maybe had been married before Three and a half weeks later, I met my husband.”
25
Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, 1998
The couple first met at the Yale School of Drama, but they didn’t get together right away as Vance had a girlfriend at the time. Fourteen years later, their paths crossed again. “I was single and he was single,” Bassett said. “And I had such an appreciation for him over those years — of his consistency, how he treated other people, of what a supporter he is, what a connector of people and ideas he is, how passionate he is.”
26
Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, 2018
Talking to People, Bassett revealed that she appreciates her husband for his support for her both as an actress and a wife. “For me, I know he’s a phenomenal person and actor and that’s what he’s gifted to do,” said Bassett. “And for me, it’s always about allow[ing] you to, you know, follow your muse, and he allows me. It’s not like I expect this, I expect that from you; Dinner on the table every day, or this, that and the other. I have to go sometimes. I can’t be there sometimes, and he steps in there. He’s right there.”
27
Kirk Franklin and Tammy Franklin, 1999
The couple started off as friends and eventually started dating. They married on January 20, 1996. They share two children, and they each have a child from a previous relationship.
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Kirk Franklin and Tammy Franklin, 2019
Kirk Franklin told The Breakfast Club that he and Tammy have made it through by learning to compromise. “Me and wife, who’s the illest, we’ve been married 23 years. We don’t always agree. But my love and respect for her cause me to at least want to consider her views, thoughts and ideas.”
29
David and Tamela Mann, 2008
David and Tamela first met in high school. “A friend of mine brought her (Tamela) to the group where myself, Kirk Franklin and Darrell Blair sang,” David said in an interview. “Tamela thought she was bad and she came to the school to teach us how to sing. Long story short, one day I looked into her eyes and she kissed me on my lips. That is the short version of it.”
30
David and Tamela Mann, 2019
“When I found her I found a GOOD THING and now I truly have favor with God,” David wrote on the pair’s joint Instagram page, celebrating 31 years of marriage. “Forever with you just doesn’t seem long enough but I promise I’m going to make the best of our time together I Love you Tamela Mann.”
31
Debbie Allen and Norm Nixon, 1997
The actress and former NBA player got married in April 1984.
32
Debbie Allen and Norm Nixon, 2019
The couple, who have been married for 35 years, recently became first time grandparents. “One of the best days of my life was February 7 when my daughter [Vivian] gave birth to my first grandchild!” the actress told Closer. “It was so exciting! It was hectified. Shiloh Elizabeth Williams is here and she is just the joy of our family right now.”
33
Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete, 2000
The Peetes tied the knot on June 10, 1995 and have four beautiful children together: Twins Ryan Elizabeth Peete and Rodney Peete Jr., 20, Robinson James Peete 16, and Roman Peete, 13.
34
Holly Robinson Peete and Rodney Peete, 2017
The couple is proud of maintaining 24 years of marriage. “Almost everyone we know who married around the same time in our L.A. peer group are divorced, on another marriage, or just didn’t make it,” Holly once told The New York Times. “We’re the original gangsta couple; the one who’s still together. That took work. It still takes work.”
35
LeBron James and Savannah James, 2006
LeBron James and his wife Savannah met in high school and have been together ever since. The teenage sweethearts became engaged at a star-studded New Year’s Eve bash in 2011, and tied the knot in 2013.
36
Lebron James and Savannah James, 2018
The couple, who are now parents to two sons and a daughter, are still madly in love. “We have been down since high school,” LeBron once said at Harlem’s Fashion Row gala. “I listen to a lot of rap music, and a good friend of mine said, ‘You wasn’t with me shooting in the gym. But in all actuality, Savannah was with me shooting in the gym when I [had] absolutely nothing.”
37
Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bathe, 2009
The actors met in 1998 at New York University. They dated on and off in college, entering into a serious relationship in 2004 and eventually marrying in 2007.
38
Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bathe, 2019
“I love actors so much, I decided to marry one,” Brown said during his acceptance speech at the SAG Awards in 2018. “You’re the best scene partner a brother’s ever had.”
39
Samuel Jackson and LaTanya Richardson-Jackson, 1998
Jackson and Richardson married in 1980 and welcomed daughter Zoe in 1982. Their love began before either of them made it big in Hollywood.
40
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson-Jackson, 2017
With four decades of marriage under their belt, the couple recently revealed their secret to lasting success. “Our job is just a job, you go to work, we go to work,” Jackson said. “If I’m at home working, I love coming home and sleeping in my bed. I was working a lot of other different places, but she comes to visit. You know, we both come from the theater. She’s on Broadway right now doing To Kill a Mockingbird, I’m out in the world doing movies. We understand the bond we have, the commonality of experiences, the commonality of joy of the theater and of our lives and of our daughter’s life, so it’s easy for us to stay connected.”
