Diane von Furstenberg Reacts to Family’s Support Amid Career Milestone

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Diane von Furstenberg couldn’t be iconic without her support system. 

The 78-year-old received a lifetime achievement award at the Perelman Performing Arts Center’s annual gala and expressed how much it meant to her that her daughter, Tatiana von Furstenberg, 54, and granddaughter, Antonia Steinberg, 25, were there with her.

In an exclusive interview with TopMob News on October 28th, she shared that family is her top priority.

Diane, who has two children – Tatiana and Alexander von Furstenberg (55) – with her late ex-husband, Prince Egon von Furstenberg, understands the value of unwavering support. She recently celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband, Barry Diller.

The fashion designer excitedly described the occasion with her partner, Barry, saying, “It feels like only yesterday we fell in love, and it’s just wonderful!”

The couple, married since 2001, recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of when they first met and fell in love.

Diane celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary on Instagram, posting about how she and Barry fell in love on that day fifty years ago. She described Barry as wholeheartedly opening his heart to her, marking the start of a beautiful and lasting relationship filled with unconditional love.

She added, “Thank you BD.”

In his recent memoir, Who Knew, 83-year-old Barry revealed he is gay, but also stated that his love for Diane remains the strongest he’s ever felt.

Barry wrote that he couldn’t understand how they fell in love, either himself or for anyone else. He believed it just happened naturally, without any hidden reasons or attempts to make it happen. He felt they were meant to be together, somehow by fate.

Until then, the former studio executive had mostly been attracted to men, but he found himself drawn to the woman who created the wrap dress.

Barry said that when he started dating Diane, he automatically assumed their attraction was traditionally heterosexual, just as he’d previously assumed it could be something else. His first reaction when their relationship began was simply, ‘I didn’t realize this was possible.’

As he put it, “It really is the miracle of my life.”

For more stars with long-lasting marriages, keep reading…

In their 2020 book, What Makes a Marriage Last, Hermann explained to Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue that he never expected so much laughter in his marriage. He described a consistent focus on joy as a core part of who they are as a couple. He believes their marriage thrives because they love each other unconditionally, which he defines as true grace.

Finding happiness is essential, even after disagreements. Hermann shared that after a big argument, one of them will usually try to lighten the mood with a joke—often about the very thing they were fighting about. He explained, “It’s about finding a way back to connection, even if we don’t fully admit we were wrong.” When they can start to do that, it’s a good sign they’re resolving the issue.

The couple has managed to avoid major changes in their relationship by consistently following the advice they received before getting married in 2003. They prioritize connection – even with five children, they make time for weekly date nights and intentionally chose not to buy a television.

Chip says his biggest piece of advice is to passionately pursue the person you love. After twenty years, he still approaches their relationship like he’s trying to win her over. He jokes that while he can’t guarantee she’ll never stray, it won’t be because he stopped showing her affection, forgetting special occasions, or telling her he loves her.

Kevin Bacon jokingly advises against taking marriage advice from celebrities, reflecting a philosophy he and his wife, Kyra Sedgwick, have honed over their 36 years together. They famously shut down any further discussion about their relationship with the phrase, “Keep the fights clean and the sex dirty.”

In reality, they prioritize resolving disagreements quickly and avoid prolonged arguments. As Sedgwick explained, they focus on finding solutions rather than winning. They simply don’t enjoy fighting and want to restore harmony as soon as possible. Ultimately, she emphasized, they are committed to making their marriage work, because there is no alternative plan.

After 37 years of marriage, my husband and I have really learned how to navigate disagreements respectfully. We’ve made a conscious effort not to bring up past hurts – what I call ‘picking scabs.’ I see so many couples who seem to instinctively go for their partner’s weak spots during a fight, almost like it’s a game, and that’s just not healthy. We avoid that completely.

Of course, we still have arguments! I’m definitely someone who wants to immediately take something back if I say something clumsy, but I’ve learned that rarely helps. Instead, I try to follow my wife’s lead and give her some space to process. And she’s amazing at offering grace. She’ll tell herself, ‘He said something silly that bothered me, but he’s a good person, and I know he didn’t mean to hurt my feelings.’ It’s about assuming the best intent and extending that benefit of the doubt – that makes all the difference.

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 see something she likes in her too, even if she’s not sure what it is.

Neil Patrick Harris believes the secret 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 is never static. He described how intimacy evolves, and that couples need to find new ways to reconnect, both emotionally and physically, as they age. Eventually, he says, attraction shifts from physical to a deeper connection with someone’s personality, and then back again. It’s a constant process of change, and he feels they’re continually falling in love with each other in new ways.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always said laughter is the best medicine, and this comedic couple truly lives by that! They actually believe a really good, belly-laughing moment adds time to their lives. Seriously, they’ll estimate how many months or even years a particularly hilarious moment has gifted them! It’s such a sweet and playful way to look at things.

And they’re just as clever with disagreements. They firmly believe in not going to bed angry, and for good reason. One of them tried letting an argument simmer overnight once, and realized they’d completely forgotten what they were even upset about! They’ve learned that trying to resolve things when everyone is tired or has had a little too much to drink just doesn’t work. They’ve never had a late-night argument end with a satisfying resolution – it’s just not productive. It’s all about timing and choosing your battles, and they’ve definitely figured that out!

Both having been married previously, they met in 1995 and soon found themselves navigating not only a new marriage, but also the challenges of being stepparents – each with two children. The actor, known for Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, explained, “I quickly realized these kids already had mothers, and I wasn’t one of them. So, I asked myself, what could I offer?” She decided to be a supportive presence. “Everyone needs a cheerleader, and there are never enough of those. I focused on being that person – I didn’t try to set rules, discipline them, or teach them right from wrong. They already had parents for that.” Her Cheers co-star completely agreed. “Offering yourself as a friend is a really smart approach,” he said. “Letting them know you won’t discipline or judge them, but that you will spend time with them and be there for them – that’s what matters. You have to genuinely be present for them.”

When same-sex civil unions became legal in Britain, musician Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, had a ceremony on December 21, 2005. They then legally married on the same date nine years later. However, they celebrate their relationship beginning with a chance meeting at a dinner party in 1993 at John’s home in Windsor, England – a party arranged by a friend.

Every Saturday, no matter where they are, they write each other a handwritten note. Over the years, they’ve exchanged approximately 1,352 letters. Furnish explains that handwriting feels deeply personal and that the cards allow them to reflect on the past week and discuss the week ahead. John agrees, saying that consistent communication is key to a long-lasting relationship and a major factor in their success as a couple.

After quietly building a 40-year marriage – she even had dreams about meeting him long before they did – they’ve made a conscious effort to keep their relationship strong, even as their lives have changed. They prioritize their marriage, actively working to reconnect when they feel distant. If she could offer one piece of advice, it would be to always put that bond first. He passionately affirmed his devotion, saying he’d do anything for her, even face any hardship, and would never allow anything to come between them. He emphasized that if you value your marriage and your long-term happiness, you must protect it at all costs.

ABC News reporter Roberts admits she doesn’t enjoy casual check-in calls. “I don’t like it when people call just to ask ‘How are things?'” she explained. However, a close friend—who loves making phone calls—helped her change her perspective.

He pointed out, “Maybe he just feels comforted hearing your voice, knowing everything is okay.” Roberts realized this was a sweet thought she hadn’t considered before. “If it makes him happy, then it should matter to me,” she said.

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

Their almost 30-year marriage started building its foundation early on. They remember even small arguments – like when the actor once threw the talk show host’s ring out the window – feeling like they could end everything. The talk show host explained that it’s easy for little issues – like money problems, work stress, or raising kids while exhausted – to become major conflicts in a new marriage. But her husband, Mark, showed her the value of stepping away and calming down, realizing that not every disagreement is a dealbreaker.

Now, as parents of three, they’re seeing the rewards of that lesson. The actor believes that truly happy couples have faced difficult times together and come through them, and that’s something to be celebrated.

Oh my gosh, I just love hearing about them! She’s so real, admitting she’s basically a loner, while he’s the life of every party – he actually calls himself the ‘mayor of everywhere’! It’s hilarious because she’s a little messy, and he’s…well, a perfectionist, apparently! But they’ve been married since 2003, and they just get it. She says that’s her go-to advice for anyone getting married. It’s not about the wedding day, it’s about that moment when you look at the person you adore, and you realize they have this one thing that’s going to absolutely drive you up the wall. Like, you think, ‘Oh no, this is going to be tough!’ But then, instantly, you’re like, ‘But I love him anyway!’ She says that – that little moment of acceptance – is when the marriage actually begins. It’s just…so perfect and relatable! I’m obsessed with their honesty.

Maintaining a long-term relationship, like any 50-year partnership, requires quickly resolving conflicts. Jane Fonda, star of Grace and Frankie, explained that she usually takes the lead in apologizing. “It’s easy,” she says, “because I love her and can’t stand the thought of her feeling alone, even for a short time.”

Ideally, she avoids needing to apologize at all. Her biggest piece of advice is this: when you’re upset with your partner and say something mean, you’ll ultimately regret it and feel even worse. Saying hurtful things doesn’t just damage the relationship, it also harms your own well-being.

It’s very fitting that Jerry, a former judge, says his long marriage to the famous Judge Judy works because he generally lets her get her way. For her, the key is accepting that you won’t always agree with the outcome. Their marriage initially ended in 1990 because he wasn’t able to provide the support she needed after her father passed away. However, they remarried quickly a year later, and she understood he wouldn’t suddenly become someone who took charge of the home or planned events.

She explained simply that unhappiness in a relationship often comes from trying to change someone. “You can try,” she said, “but they’ll always resent it. Don’t marry anyone expecting them to be different than they are.”

The actor from Lost credits his wife with being the anchor of his family, especially given his busy and varied career. He told TopMob News in April 2025 that her patience and support have been invaluable, keeping things stable while he travels and takes on different roles. He described her as ‘fantastic’.

The actor described his wife as incredibly patient, and said she and their two sons always keep him grounded, no matter the situation.

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

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2025-10-30 23:20