Jamie Lee Curtis Spilled Intimate Details About Her 36-Year-Long Marriage

That’s pretty refreshing, really. After all, there are lots of Hollywood stars happy to reveal all their secrets if they get a few column inches out of the deal. Curtis, though – she isn’t that kind of woman. So, what prompted the actress to actually open up? 

Well, ever so slowly, Curtis has been offering her fans a brief glimpse into her world. There was an Instagram post celebrating her 36th wedding anniversary – a touching tribute to her husband. Then, over the months that followed, she provided more tantalizing snippets in interviews when the subject of her relationship came up. 

The previously impenetrable wall was coming down. Better late than never, right? Mind you, while the Halloween star may have been reluctant to speak about her marriage, she was still proud to appear with Guest in public. 

Yes, Curtis and Guest have been seen together at many events through the years. Most recently, the couple hit the red carpet at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. And for a long time, press photos were all fans had to go on. Were Curtis and Guest happy? How strong was their marriage? 

When you’re a Hollywood star, speculation comes with the territory! But after Curtis broke her silence, we now know just how much she and Guest have endured. And perhaps the pair were fated to be together. That’s what Curtis implied, anyway. 

During an interview with TODAY in March 2021, Curtis touched upon the moment she first fell for Guest. But it wasn’t a case of spotting her future spouse on the other side of a crowded room. Her love story had a far more unconventional start. 

Curtis recalled, “I met my husband by seeing his picture in a magazine. And [I said] out loud to a friend of mine, ‘I’m going to marry that dude,’ and married him four months later. So, the truth of the matter is: life hinged for me on a couple seconds that I didn’t see coming.” 

As it turned out, though, it wasn’t quite that simple. While Curtis was sure that she was destined to be with Guest, he wasn’t as certain. And, apparently, that was all down to hesitation on his part. You don’t see that in too many conventional love stories! 

Speaking to Hello! in February 2021, Curtis said, “I think it’s crucial to put yourself in the path of love. Look, I reached out to [Guest’s] agent. I left my number. He didn’t call me, by the way. And then we ran into each other at a restaurant, and then he called me.” That had to be a relief! 

“But I put myself in the path of it because I have believed in that my whole life,” Curtis added. “Put yourself in the path, do your work and let God take over the rest.” Well, it clearly worked for her – eventually, anyway! From there, she had her man. 

Curtis and Guest became husband and wife on December 18, 1984. And it’s a wonder they found the time to wed, as both were busy actors. Just months before, Curtis had shown that she wasn’t just a scream queen, flexing her comedic muscles in the box-office hit Trading Places. 

Guest, on the other hand, was riding high from his role as eccentric rock star Nigel Tufnel in This Is Spinal Tap. With the wedding on top of that, it was a great year for the actor! So, what happened after the ceremony? Well, like many couples, Curtis and Guest decided to grow their family. 

Yes, in 1986 Curtis and Guest welcomed adoptive daughter Annie into their lives. Then, a few years later, the pair opened their doors to a second child. Now, their family was complete! But as the famous mom has revealed, there’s since been a big change to the Curtis-Guest clan. 

Speaking to AARP in July 2021, Curtis said, “[We] have watched in wonder and pride as our son became our daughter Ruby. And she and her fiancé will get married next year at a wedding that I will officiate.” We can only imagine how special that moment will be when it comes.

Have either Annie or Ruby followed their parents to Tinseltown? Not really. Sure, Annie did work as a crew member on the 2006 movie For Your Consideration, but that’s her only screen credit to date. Her dad also starred in the mockumentary film, so that may explain why she gave the job a go. 

Instead, Annie is far more interested in dancing. Curtis and Guest’s daughter is a teacher in the field. AARP reported that she’s hitched, too. And you’re more likely to find Ruby at a screen than on a screen.

Yep, Ruby has a job as an editor in the video games sector. Sounds like a pretty cool role, right? Plus, with her wedding coming up, life should be very exciting at the moment for Guest and Curtis’ youngest. 

So, with one daughter already married and another planning her big day, that’s got us thinking – can Curtis call herself a grandmother yet? She answered that question when speaking to AARP. The mom of two said, “Not yet, but I do hope to.” We’ll keep our fingers crossed for her! And that’s not the only personal stuff Curtis touched on during the interview. 

The Hollywood legend also revealed how she’s managed to stick around in a notoriously tough industry. And, apparently, it’s all to do with letting of the past. “I’m somebody who sheds every day. Let’s get rid of that, I don’t need that. It’s all about old ideas that don’t work anymore,” she said. 

Curtis’ marriage certainly doesn’t come under that umbrella, though! You only need to go back to the anniversary Instagram post to get an idea of that. Her marriage is something that she truly treasures – even though she’s been fairly tight-lipped on the subject for the last three decades.

In that commemorative post from December 2020, Curtis wrote, “One of the longest relationships I’ve had seeking comfort and contact and connection is with Chris. Connected through our children, family, and friends, it became the links in our human emotional chain that have seen each of us through triumph and tragedy.” It was a touching, poetic way to mark the occasion. 

But it wouldn’t be the last time Curtis discussed affairs of the heart. When she spoke to AARP, for instance, she revealed that she’s “a deep, serious romantic.” And by way of proving that, she penned a song for her husband. 

The Halloween star wrote the tune to mark 35 years together with Guest. As an anniversary gift, it definitely beats a bunch of gas station flowers! And if you were in any doubt as to how deeply the actress feels about her husband, then the song’s lyrics should convince you.

The hook of the song apparently goes, “I feel safe when I drive up and see that you are home.” Curtis also told AARP, “That’s the long marriage. It’s the safety of knowing his car is in the garage, that I’m not alone, and that he’s here.” What a lovely message! It’s strong, simple, and sums up her love for Guest. 

Mind you, Curtis had another secret that she’d previously shared. During that chat with Hello!, the horror icon was actually joined by her husband. And thankfully for all us folks trying to keep marriages alive, the happy couple revealed how they’d managed to stick together – through thick and thin. 

Curtis’ advice is just as great if you’re a newlywed, too. She said, “[The secret is:] don’t leave. That’s really it – two words. Because you will want to.” Makes sense! Basically, you need to weather any storm you’re going through with your partner. 

Curtis continued, “If you’re telling me anybody who’s [been] married for a long time hasn’t thought, ‘I hate them, I want out,’ of course they have! I believe if you stay on the bus long enough, the scenery will change.” Then Guest chimed in with a well-timed quip, adding, “It depends what bus!” 

And Curtis didn’t stop there. Reflecting on her own situation, she concluded, “I’m now 62, I’ve raised two children, I’ve started [a] little company [called My Hand In Yours]. I’m married, and we have a beautiful life together. I’m as creative as I ever have been in my life right now at 62 years old.” 

Judging by those comments, Curtis seems pretty content, wouldn’t you say? But there’s something else that keeps a smile on her face at home. And we don’t think you’ll be able to guess what it is.

No, it’s not bubble baths, wine, or anything a little naughtier. Curtis told AARP that she likes to end her day by loading up flash mob videos on YouTube. Specifically, the mom of two is a fan of proposal clips set to Bruno Mars’ song “Marry You.” And one thing in particular really hits her in the heart. 

“It just delights me,” said Curtis. “I’ve watched lots of them. Hundreds! That first moment of pledging yourselves to each other, that hope and thrill, is really the start of the marriage. There’s just something magical there between the reality of it and the beautiful unknown of it. That’s marriage. And that’s life.” 

Spoken like someone who’s gone through it all, right? Anyway, though Curtis seems to be happy with her lot in life, she’s showing no signs of slowing down. As she told Hello!, her artistic juices are still bubbling away – even four decades into her career. 

But Curtis’ drive doesn’t just stem from her creativity. One more thing is inspiring her to continue, and to be blunt, it’s rather morbid. Speaking to AARP, she said, “I wake up every day at 4 a.m. and have so much on my mind.”

“I’m just so crazy excited and creative right now,” Curtis claimed. “And I don’t want to squander any of it. No one gets out of life alive. Get out the tape measure. Look at what age your parents died, look at what age you are. It’s not long. Laugh about it a little. And then shut up and do something! That’s where I’m at in my life right now.” 

Yeah, there’s nothing to wake you up like the thought of your own mortality... And Curtis hasn’t been afraid to tackle the darker side of life in other interviews. That includes her and Guest’s chat with Hello!, as they both reflected on the uncertain times we find ourselves in. 

Curtis and Guest offered words of encouragement and advice to those of us struggling to cope. The Freaky Friday star said, “I think Covid is going to bring us all together. We will get through it. No one says it’s not going to be difficult.” 

“‘Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says something different is selling something’ is my favorite line from The Princess Bride, and I believe that!” Curtis continued. “Life is painful. It is the nature of it. And I do believe we will get through it.” If you’re still uncertain, though, take a leaf out of Guest’s book.

Guest’s solution to the blues is actually pretty straightforward, so you could give it a go yourself if you like! He told Hello! that getting out into the great outdoors is a real tonic. And if all else fails, you may want to hold off on watching the news, as it may just bring you down even further. 

“[That’s] not to put your head in the sand but... to give yourself the chance and the time to breathe. I think that’s very important,” Guest explained. “I think you need a balance in your life so that you’re not driven completely crazy!” With all that wisdom on tap, Curtis and her husband seem perfect for each other. No wonder their marriage is still going strong.