Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, marking four decades of love and partnership. The Oscar-winning actress took to Instagram on December 18 to share her heartfelt reflections and memories, surrounded by throwback photos from their wedding day back in 1984.
"40 years ago today, on a rainy Tuesday afternoon at 4:30, Christopher and I married," Curtis, who is 66, wrote alongside black-and-white snapshots from their nuptials. "We loved each other but barely knew each other. Today, we know each other really well and still love each other." The couple, who now share two grown daughters, Annie, 38, and Ruby, 28, have navigated the many ups and downs of life together, forging a deep bond through love, adversity, and shared experiences.
Reflecting on their life together, Curtis continued, "We've been through a lot and have raised and loved two beautiful daughters and started many new careers and weathered the myriad storms of life on life's terms of loving and loss." The shared sentiment of their wedding day was evident as she noted, "We held hands back then as we walked down the aisle and we're still holding hands today. I guess the beginning of 'my hand in yours.' The long and winding road."
Curtis and Guest, 76, first crossed paths under circumstances she now describes as fateful. According to a story she shared on Oprah.com, she was captivated by Guest's photograph—consisting of three men—featured in Rolling Stone magazine. "I looked at the man on the right, wearing a plaid shirt and a waggish smirk. I’d never seen him before, but I pointed at him. 'I'm going to marry this man,' I said to my friend Debra Hill.
Although she didn't meet him immediately, Curtis's premonition proved true. She later encountered Guest at a restaurant weeks after her intuition, where he recognized her but had not reached out. "At the moment, Chris got up to leave. He shrugged his shoulders, and basically waved goodbye. Not a word was exchanged, but the next day, he called me. He had kept my number. That was June 28, 1984, and I married him four months later," she reminisced.
The couple’s initial compatibility stemmed from their individuality and contrasting backgrounds—which Curtis emphasized during her talk show appearances. On Good Housekeeping, she stated, "My husband and I are opposites. He's an intellectual, and I was from the movie star/alcoholic/drug addict side, where education was not the most important thing." Their differences extend even to their daily schedules and interests; for example, Curtis highlighted how they "don’t go to bed at the same time" or listen to the same radio stations.
Despite these differences, their unique bond creates joy. "He still makes me laugh more than any human being," she quipped on Today, mockingly questioning what he likes about her, if anything at all. Curtis humorously navigated the audience through the early days of her relationship, recalling moments leading up to their engagement as pure serendipity.
During her Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance, she shared memories about the Cartier receipt from when he purchased her engagement ring and described her delight when Guest proposed to her more privately after some whimsical banter about diamonds.
Fast forward to today, as Curtis and Guest celebrate their 40th year together, they embody the essence of resilience and romance inside Hollywood—a rarity. Curtis exemplifies the traditional notion of marriage, emphasizing growing together, overcoming challenges, and the importance of love and laughter.
Through countless career changes and personal growth, the couple remains anchored by the same core values they shared on their wedding day. Grateful for their unique life stories, Curtis's anniversary tribute serves as both inspiration and reminder of the beauty found within long-lasting love. It commemorates not just their 40-year commitment but also the ever-evolving bond they continue to cultivate.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest's story is proof positive of what can develop when two people hold each other's hands through the winding road of life, always ready to discover what lies around the bend.
