This Hollywood power couple has been together for over 30 years! It's incredible that these lovebirds started out with an unassuming chance encounter in the '80s. However, they've faced a few bumps along the way…
Against All Odds
Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon have achieved a feat that is usually hard to come by: they've been married since 1988 and are still going strong. Unsurprisingly, their love story has become the envy of many. But what's their secret?
Haunted by endless cheating scandals and dramatic divorces in the industry, it is truly a wonder that they have maintained such an unbreakable romance. So, what is their secret to having a long-lasting relationship? We're taking a sneak peek behind the magic of these lovers...
Where It All Began
Before she was a giant of the silver screen, Kyra Sedgwick was just an average girl from New York. But even from an early age, her love for the theater spurred her on to great heights: by 16, she had set foot on a soap opera set and eventually graduated from USC with a theater degree.
Meanwhile, Kevin Bacon had come all the way from Philadelphia - a five-week arts program fuelling his passion for performance. By 17, he was seeking minor roles in major productions, and now look at him: one of the world's best-known and beloved actors!
A Broadway Celeb & His Fan
Kyra Sedgwick was only 12 years old when her fateful encounter with Kevin Bacon occurred in 1978. After seeing the off-Broadway play Getting Out with her older brother, they happened to spot the actor while out grabbing lunch, and Kyra's brother encouraged his shy sister to approach him.
After mustering up the courage, she did so timidly by expressing how much she enjoyed his performance. "I liked you in your show!" she gushed. Little did either Kyra or Kevin realize that almost a decade later, their relationship would reach a whole new level of closeness that no one could have anticipated back then.
Making the Move
Bacon might not have been the smoothest when it came to making a move on his Lemon Sky co-star, Kyra Sedgwick. Years later, they were both stunned to hear that they would play love interests in the film. Bacon was smitten and tried all kinds of tactics to win her over. "He was always stuck with the check. Poor guy," Kyra recalled of their cast dinners.
Things eventually worked out, as his plan to meet her at the hotel gym after a massage eventually led to an invitation for dinner that she accepted. Safe to say, that was only the beginning for these smitten Hollywood soulmates. As for what came next?
"Terrifying" Attraction
When they met, it was love at first sight for Sedgwick; she instantly felt the connection. She admitted to Vulture that getting married came with its own fears, as she had been working since she was 16 and grown accustomed to being "fiercely independent."
"So when I did fall in love with Kevin, it really just felt like there was some urgency to get married, and I don't know what it was. Suddenly this thing came over me, and I was terrified," she shared. She also recognized her fear of vulnerability and lack of faith in people as contributors to her hesitations about taking the big step.
Ultimate Christmas Gift
He told PopEater, "I proposed to my wife on Christmas Eve, and I put the ring in the toe of the stocking." It was clear that he had put great effort into creating something special for the special moment. His romantic gesture was incredibly meaningful, so it was no surprise that she said yes!
Sometime later, Bacon recalled the meaningful moment on The Kelly Clarkson Show. He told the talk show host, "She was so touched, cried, said I do." Of course, she said yes! They were completely head over heels for one another. However, there was something in their way…
Cringe Confessions
Sedgwick and Bacon's relationship hit a speed bump when she finally had the courage to admit that she didn't like the ring he had given her when he proposed. Bacon described the moment as "heart-breaking," but he didn't want to make her feel guilty for not liking it!
Bacon comforted his fiance and told her, "It's all right, it's all right, hon - we'll go back. I don't care - we'll take it back." So together, they returned to the jewelers, and Sedgwick found another ring that better suited her - the one she wears today!
Dream Wedding
On September 4, 1988, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon took a vow to be together in sickness and health forever. On their special day, Kyra looked stunning in a long-sleeved and high-necked wedding dress with her hair up, while Kevin sported a plaid suit and polka dot tie over a white shirt.
Kyra was only 23, while Kevin was 30 at the time of their marriage, but it never stopped them from enjoying the wonderful journey of life together! With love and commitment to back them up, this couple became one that doesn't need to prove that age doesn't matter when it comes to dedication and devotion.
Becoming Parents
So after they walked down the aisle and said their "I do's," Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick went on their honeymoon. Little did they know that when they returned, they wouldn't just be bringing back memories - they'd also bring news of an unplanned pregnancy!
As Kevin himself proclaimed to Jimmy Kimmel years later, "We got pregnant on the honeymoon… When we had our son, Trave, we were here in L.A… We didn't know anything. We knew nothing about raising a kid." Thankfully, the result was wonderful: their son Travis was born on June 23, 1989.
Family of 4
Kyra and Kevin's family was complete when their daughter Sosie was born on March 15, 1992. After forgoing the idea of living in Los Angeles to pursue film and television industry jobs, they chose to plant their roots in New York City instead.
Despite the sacrifice of regular cross-country traveling or missing wasn't potential work opportunities, they felt that it was the right move. It wasn't easy, but this bold decision demonstrates how much love there was between the new parents and the tight bond they shared with their families.
Loverboy
Bacon and Sedgwick may have met and fallen in love on the movie set of Lemon Sky, but that wasn't the end of their joint showbiz ventures! After all, true love never dies. The couple began working together for decades on various projects, including the iconic rom-com Pyrates.
Together they graced the big screen in Murder In The First, Cavedweller, The Woodsman, and Loverboy - which saw an entire family affair with Kyra, their son, and daughter. But while they worked together on numerous movies, it was always more than just business - it was also very personal.
Crash & Burn
Kyra and Kevin were eager to take more risks, so when their stepfather suggested an investment with Bernie Madoff, they thought it would provide the stability they wanted. Little did they know that the investments wouldn't turn out to be real, and they were actually victims of the largest Ponzi scheme in history.
"My sister called me because she was invested in it too - our stepfather had suggested it - and she said, 'Are you sitting down?' It was all over the news... It was a hard day," the actress recalled of losing their savings. Bernie Madoff was later sentenced to 150 years in prison for his malicious crimes.
"That Sucks"
Amidst Bernie Madoff's scandal, Sedgwick and Bacon understood that in such a chaotic time, they both needed to lean on each other for support. "It felt awful and scary for a long time," she recalled. "But we knew we were going to get through it. And so many people had it so much worse…"
Bacon admitted on the Smartless podcast that they "had most of our money in Madoff." Luckily, they still managed to gain some money back. "When something like that happens, you look at each other, and you go, 'Well, that sucks, and let's roll up our sleeves and get to work.'"
Permanent Gesture
Sedgwick and the rest of the family wouldn't let the news break them down. Instead, they showed their love for each other in a more permanent way. On the red carpet at the 2012 SAG Awards, Kyra debuted a tattoo design created by Kevin Bacon that incorporated everyone's initials into a single design.
Kyra later shared with James Corden on The Late Late Show the whole family got matching ink! She spearheaded the whole thing, though. "We were on our way to dinner one night, and I said, 'Let's all get really drunk and get tattoos!'" she laughed. Ultimately this sentimental idea ended up being something that unified the family for years to come.
The Director's Seat
In 2017, Kyra Sedgwick decided to take on a new project as a director with her husband, Kevin Bacon, starring as the lead. He told Glamour, "For years, I encouraged Kyra to direct, because I really thought she'd be great at it and would enjoy it."
He continued, "I've never seen her in work situations to be as happy as she is when she's directing. She just absolutely loves it, and she's great at it." Moreover, their son, Travis, composed the music for Story of a Girl, making this an all-family affair!
Three Decades Later
There's no doubt the entertainment industry loves a power couple, and few have been together as long as Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick. However, they've proved it's possible, with couples like Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn or Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson before them.
To commemorate three decades of love, the actor took to Instagram to post an endearing video of the two of them singing the Bee Gees' To Love Somebody. He wrote, "30 years with this amazing woman. She is the music in my life." She later added, "30 years (yesterday) Lucky Lady."
"Wasn't [Her] Type"
It's amazing to think that after all the time they spent together, the sweet lovebirds of thirty years almost never met! Sedgwick admitted that he "definitely wasn't [her] type" And at first, she couldn't understand why she was so drawn to him.
Years later, she confessed, "In fact, I vividly remember looking at his butt when he walked away after we first met and thinking, 'Well, I guess some girls like that.' And now it's one of my favorite parts of his anatomy! That's probably too much information!" LOL.
Key to Success
Everyone wants to know the secret to Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's lasting marriage - but it looks like they plan on keeping it a mystery! In a 2017 interview with The Guardian, Bacon said he was done discussing the question of how they've stayed married for so long.
He noted, "….I am capable, but I don't want to, and I'll tell you why. Every time I go there, this thing that's so important to me gets boiled down to a one-liner and that sort of cheapens it. So I'm like, you know what? I'm done." So far, the couple has kept tight-lipped about their key to success. For now...
Keeping Sparks Alive
After years of marriage and raising kids, it's no secret Sedgwick, and her husband have been able to keep the spark alive! In an interview with Redbook, she expressed "The essence of it hasn't really changed." As for how they keep things spicy?
She lightheartedly gushed, "When he walks into a room, I'm still… I mean, my heart gets a little fluttery, and I think, Oh! He's so cute. He's so hot. That's literally the first thing I think." Their connection feels as vibrant as the day they first met.
Top Priority
Marriage is not just a fairytale story of happily ever after - it requires a lot of effort and the commitment to putting your relationship first. Bacon and his wife credit their successful marriage to making time for themselves as a couple -investing in date nights and actively making time for each other.
Sedgwick explained to Redbook, "I feel the primary relationship has to be the mother and the father, and then it can be the kids. Of course, the kids come first in planning your life, but it's incredibly important to keep your relationship as a couple strong and make time for it."
Bittersweet Sacrifices
Bacon was incredibly appreciative of all that Kyra had given up for their family. He confessed to Us Weekly that, "She's made a lot more sacrifices than I've made. Kyra felt really strongly that, when she started to have children, she needed to be there for them."
"In many cases, because of the kids, she would make decisions careerwise that weren't the best for her career," Bacon said. "We kept staying in New York because we wanted to raise them in New York, but there was more work in Los Angeles." So when she got the role on The Closer, Bacon stayed with the children.
Finding Your Roots
Things were plain and simple between the lovebirds - until 3 college students became determined to dive into the relationship between Bacon and Sedgwick. She went on the PBS show Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr., where she found out she and her husband were 9th cousins once removed.
Kyra humorously shared with the panel that she always suspected this was the case. "I figured I was going to be related to Kevin Bacon - I mean, most white people are related, ultimately. I wasn't surprised, honestly." Although she wasn't surprised, many fans were horrified by their connectedness!
Getting Cranky
But their relationship hasn't always been positive - "We're not one of those volatile, mercurial couples," the actress confessed of her husband - or should we say, 9th cousin once removed? "We get cranky, but our fights usually don't last very long, and they're rare."
"Both of us knew this was forever, and we were going to work it out no matter what happens, so when we fight, it's not so scary. You can't be honest with someone if you think that they are going to leave," the Loverboy actress told Redbook. They were sure they could work through anything together.
Marriage is "Hard"
She made sure that she and her partner knew from the start that theirs was a forever bond, so when they did have disagreements, neither of them feared that one of them would abandon the other. "Everyone has marital struggles - I don't buy the 'Oh, it's so hard, actors being married. Man, marriage is hard for everyone," Kyra noted.
"So when we're on the red carpet and we get the 'How do you guys do it? No one can stay together,' I get really irritated. I don't think our relationship is more or less difficult; I just think you both make the commitment, and you make it work," she told Redbook.
Put to the Test
The Covid-19 pandemic turned the world on its head and challenged many personal relationships. However, Sedgwick and Bacon found one silver lining: quality time together. When Bacon visited Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, he said the lockdown was like an endless date night for him and his wife.
"My wife and I realized that we've been married for a really long time, and quarantine really was an amazing, kind of, test for our marriage..." the actor added. From trying new activities together to putting together Ikea furniture, the couple did it all.
Moving to TikTok
The lovebirds may have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, but Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are proving that age doesn't mean a thing - they are still hip enough to join in on trend-sweeping TikToks - like the "Footloose Drop," which involves pickup, twirling, and catches.
Kevin posted a video of them attempting the dance on his Instagram and a note saying, "I don't remember this being part of the original #Footloose choreography but figured we'd give it a spin." They nailed it so hard that Kyra eventually needed an icepack; apparently, you can be cool and still end up feeling your age! LOL!
The One Thing That Bothered Kyra
For Kevin Bacon and Sedgwick, their years of marriage have undoubtedly included their share of ups and downs. So it's only natural that there would be times when the two get on each other's nerves! Case in point: Bacon's infamous mistake while Sedgwick directed him in the indie film Space Oddity.
Bacon confessed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, his difficulties with nailing his lines, saying, "We got to this one line, and this one line... I just, in her ear, was not saying it right." The line was 'ok.'" He could not get it right, no matter how hard he tried.
Shared Hobbies
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick are a power couple in every sense of the word. Yes, they are talented actors, but their musical abilities can't be discounted either. Kevin and his brother Michael formed The Bacon Brothers in 1997 and have been rockin' out ever since. What's more?
The couple has taken their musical talents to Instagram to share covers of songs that they love! Followers can see Sedgwick exercise her singing and guitar-playing skills just like her husband. The couple shared a rendition of Miley Cyrus' Flowers, which we hope was followed by Kevin treating his wife to a nice bouquet of flowers.
Speaking Out
It's no secret that Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick have been married for a whopping 30+ years - something of an anomaly in the realm of Hollywood. After steering clear for so long, Mr. Bacon recently revealed to offer some insight into how he and his wife make it work.
Though there is no hard-and-fast rule to ensure success in relationships, Bacon jokingly suggested, "If I was to give some advice, I would say the one thing you don't want to do is take a celebrity's advice on how to stay married." Talk about solid advice!
The Story Continues
Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon have long been an inspiration for couples everywhere, defying the odds in Hollywood with a 30+ year marriage. From attending red carpets to being parents, they've done it all while showing that the idea of true love remains alive and well.
They may not be the most public couple, but their commitment is unbreakable and overflowing with affection. Although we don't know how their relationship works so perfectly, what we do know is that together they make a formidable team. Undoubtedly their story is lining up to become one of the "greatest love stories" ever told!