William H. Macy Shares Rare Insight Into Felicity Huffman Marriage

by

William H. Macy is shamelessly proud of his wife’s dinner party tricks. 

The former Shameless star shared a sweet story about his 28-year marriage to Felicity Huffman, explaining that she began a family holiday tradition that they’ve continued for years.

William shared a fun family tradition with TopMob News’ Will Marfuggi at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles on November 16th. He explained that his wife, Felicity, places a question under each person’s plate at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and everyone has to answer it in front of the whole group.

The Fargo actor, who has two adult daughters, Sophia Grace Macy and Georgia Macy, with Felicity, explained that guests can expect a wide range of questions. These could be anything from heartwarming prompts like, “What’s the kindest thing someone ever did for you?” to more revealing ones like, “What’s your most embarrassing moment?”

The game quickly became the life of the party, with William describing how it sparked a lively and energetic atmosphere that lasted all night.

William is excited about the holidays and spending time with family, but he’s also looking forward to seeing Jeremy Allen White, his former co-star, at the Governors Awards. The 75-year-old actor shared his anticipation for the reunion.

William shared how happy he is to have watched Jeremy Allen White, who played alongside him on Shameless, mature as an actor and achieve great success.

He enthusiastically praised the experience, noting Jeremy was very young when the show first aired in 2011. He admitted to playing a terrible father on the series, but said he genuinely enjoyed working with everyone involved.

William recognized that the younger actors—like Jeremy, as well as Emmy Rossum, Cameron Monaghan, and Emma Kinney—were all destined for great success in the future.

He remembered everyone being very focused. They took the show incredibly seriously, even though it had some funny moments. He pointed out that, surprisingly, comedy itself isn’t always fun to create.

For more stars who have offered glimpses into their long-lasting marriages, keep reading. 

You know, after years of helping people build fulfilling lives, I’ve learned that laughter truly is essential – especially in a marriage. As Phil Donahue shared with Marlo Thomas in their book What Makes a Marriage Last, he never expected so much joy in his own relationship! He believes the secret to their over 20-year partnership is simply loving each other, flaws and all – he calls that grace. And it’s not about avoiding conflict, it’s about how you handle it. They’ve found that even after a big disagreement, one of them will try to lighten the mood with a joke – often about what they were fighting over! It’s a way of saying, ‘I might not admit I was wrong, but can we find our way back to connection?’ When they can do that, they know they’re on the path to resolving things. It’s a beautiful reminder that humor and acceptance are powerful tools for a lasting, happy marriage.

They’ve managed to maintain a strong relationship without needing major changes, simply by following the advice they received before getting married in 2003. Even with five children, they prioritize weekly date nights and have chosen to avoid buying a television, preferring other ways to connect.

Chip says his biggest piece of advice is to relentlessly pursue the person you love. After twenty years, he still approaches their relationship like he’s trying to win a second date. He jokes that while he can’t guarantee his wife would never be unfaithful, it wouldn’t be due to a lack of affection or forgotten special occasions – he always makes sure to tell her he loves her and show his appreciation.

Kevin Bacon jokingly advises against taking marriage advice from celebrities, a sentiment echoing their own motto: “Keep the fights clean and the sex dirty.” This phrase is their way of quickly shutting down any further questions about their relationship.

In reality, they prioritize resolving disagreements quickly and avoid prolonged arguments. As Bacon’s wife explained, they focus on finding solutions rather than “winning” a fight. They simply don’t enjoy conflict and want to restore peace as quickly as possible because fighting is unpleasant. Ultimately, she emphasized that they are committed to making their marriage work, no matter what challenges they face – there is no backup plan.

After over 37 years of marriage, the actors have learned how to argue constructively. As one of them explained, they avoid bringing up past hurts. They believe some couples intentionally target their partner’s weaknesses during disagreements, but they don’t engage in that behavior.

They do have arguments, of course. One admits to wanting to immediately take back hurtful things he says, but knows that doesn’t solve anything. Instead, he lets his wife take the lead and gives her space to cool down. She, in turn, tries to be understanding, reminding herself that even when he says something thoughtless, he’s a good person who likely didn’t intend to cause pain.

In December 2024, ahead of their 40th wedding anniversary, Curtis shared on Today that her husband still makes her laugh more than anyone else. She playfully added that he must find something to like about her, even if she isn’t sure what it is.

Neil Patrick Harris believes the key to his long-lasting relationship is accepting that relationships are constantly changing and hard to define. After 21 years together, including navigating career changes—like his partner David Burtka’s cookbook release in 2019—raising twins Gideon and Harper, and facing challenges, Harris explained that marriage isn’t static. He shared that intimacy evolves, and couples need to find new ways to connect and reignite attraction as they age. Ultimately, he says, you begin to fall in love with someone’s inner self, and then with their physical presence again. It’s a continuous process of change, and he and Burtka keep rediscovering their love for each other in new ways.

The comedic duo jokingly believe their laughter actually extends their lives. It’s not just a feeling – they’ve turned it into a game. As the actress from Can You Ever Forgive Me? explained, whenever they share a particularly hilarious moment, especially one that leaves them breathless, they estimate how much extra life it’s added. She admits to constantly tallying up these ‘life extensions,’ claiming a good laugh could buy her months!

They also limit how long they allow disagreements to last. Following the advice to avoid going to bed angry, Falcone shared that she once tried letting an argument linger overnight, only to realize she’d forgotten what she was even upset about. She believes trying to resolve conflicts when everyone is tired or has had something to drink is pointless, and has never had a late-night argument end with a satisfying resolution and a truce.

Both had been married previously when they met in 1995, and quickly found themselves blending families, each with two children. The actor from Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist remembers realizing there wasn’t a guidebook for step-parenting. “I understood right away that these kids already had mothers—and I wasn’t one of them. So I asked myself, what could I offer?” she recalled. “I decided to be their cheerleader—everyone can use another one of those! I didn’t try to set rules, discipline them, or teach them what was right or wrong. They already had parents for that.”

The Cheers actor completely agreed. “I think it’s smart to offer yourself as a friend,” he said. “To say, ‘I won’t discipline you, and I won’t judge you. I’ll just hang out with you and be there for you.’ That’s what you have to do—truly be present for them.”

Elton John and David Furnish first formalized their relationship with a civil union in Britain on December 21, 2005, and later married on the same date nine years later when it became legal. However, they celebrate their connection beginning with a chance meeting at a dinner party in 1993 at John’s home in Windsor, England – a gathering arranged by a mutual friend.

Remarkably, every Saturday, no matter where they are, they write each other handwritten letters. They estimate they’ve exchanged around 1,352 letters over the years. Furnish explains that handwriting feels deeply personal and that the letters provide a space to reflect on the past week and discuss the one ahead. John agrees, saying that consistent communication is key to a long-lasting, successful relationship.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always been fascinated by couples who truly prioritize their relationship, and this couple exemplifies that. They’ve intentionally nurtured their 40-year marriage, almost keeping it a beautiful secret amidst life’s changes – she even shared she had dreams about him before they met! They’ve made a conscious effort to keep their connection strong, even when things get hectic. They both agree that marriage comes first, and they actively refocus on each other when they start to drift. If I could share one piece of wisdom from them, it’s this: put your bond above everything else. He put it beautifully: he’d do absolutely anything for his wife, facing any challenge to ensure she feels loved. And that’s the key – protect that connection fiercely. If you value a lasting, happy marriage, never let anything – or anyone – come between you and your partner.

ABC News reporter Roberts admits she doesn’t enjoy casual phone calls. “I don’t like just checking in,” she said. “If you’re calling just to ask ‘What’s up?’, I really don’t like that.” However, a close friend, who loves to chat on the phone, helped her change her perspective.

One friend pointed out, “Maybe he just feels comfortable hearing your voice, because it makes him feel like everything is okay.” Roberts realized, “That’s really sweet. I’d never thought of it that way. If it makes him happy, then it should matter to me.”

Now, she takes a moment to respond with kindness, saying something like, “Sweetie, I’m busy, but what’s happening with you? Great, I’m glad you called. I have to go now, talk to you later, love you.” She says this simple change makes a huge difference to him, and it doesn’t take much effort on her part to be kind. The couple celebrated their 29th anniversary in September 2024.

Their strong marriage of almost 30 years started building from the very beginning. Even small arguments – like the time the actor threw the talk show host’s ring out the window – felt like they could end everything. The talk show host explained that early in a marriage, little issues can quickly become major problems, whether it’s about money, work, or raising children while exhausted. However, her husband taught her to step away and calm down, realizing those moments weren’t dealbreakers. Now, as parents of three, they’re enjoying the rewards of that lesson. The actor believes that truly happy couples have overcome difficult times together, and that’s something to celebrate.

Oh my gosh, she’s just SO real, you know? She actually said she’s basically a loner, which, honestly, I totally get! And him? He’s the life of every party, calls himself the ‘mayor of everywhere’ – it’s adorable! She’s a little chaotic, a bit messy, while he’s…well, a perfectionist, apparently! An Oscar winner said he’s a little OCD! But they’ve been married since 2003, can you believe it? They just…let each other be!

She told everyone her best marriage advice, and it’s amazing. She says marriage isn’t about the wedding day, it starts before that. It’s when you look at the person you love most, and you realize they have this one thing…this one habit or trait that you know is going to annoy you SO much. You think, ‘Oh no, I don’t know if I can handle this!’ But then, instantly, you’re like, ‘But I love him anyway!’ She says that moment, that realization, is when your marriage truly begins. It’s just…so perfect and relatable! I’m obsessed with them!

Maintaining a long-term relationship, like any lasting over 50 years, requires quickly resolving conflicts. Jane Fonda, star of Grace and Frankie, explained that she usually takes the lead in apologizing after an argument. She finds it easy because her love for her partner is strong, and she hates to see them feel alone, even for a short time. Ideally, she avoids needing to apologize at all. She’s learned that saying something hurtful in anger will ultimately make you feel worse, causing a second wave of anger and potentially affecting your health and the relationship itself.

It’s perfectly fitting that Jerry, a former judge, says his long marriage to the famous Judge Judy works because he generally lets her have the final say. For her, the key is accepting that you won’t always get your way. Their first marriage ended in 1990 because he wasn’t able to provide the support she needed after her father passed away. However, when they remarried quickly a year later, she understood he wouldn’t suddenly become a homemaker or take charge of things like birthday parties.

She explained simply that unhappiness in a relationship often comes from trying to change someone, which they’ll likely resent. Her advice? Don’t marry anyone expecting them to be different than they are.

The actor from Lost credits his wife with being the rock of their family. He told TopMob News in April 2025 that her patience and support throughout his varied career have been invaluable. He said, “She’s kept our family stable and has been fantastic.”

The actor described his wife as incredibly patient and said she and their two sons always keep him grounded, no matter what challenges he faces.

“They shape my values,” he added. “It’s great to have that perspective and North Star.”

Read More

2025-11-18 00:49