Inside Terry Crews and Rebecca King-Crews’ Enduring Love Story

Terry Crews has openly discussed the keys to his successful and happy marriage with his wife, Rebecca King-Crews.

Because he knows that being good at marriage isn’t necessarily a talent you’re born with.

Love isn’t just a feeling—it takes effort and practice every day,” said the host of America’s Got Talent in an October interview with TopMob News. “Many people think of love as something that either happens automatically or doesn’t, but that’s not true. You can actually improve your ability to love, and my partner and I did just that.

Terry and Rebecca were on the verge of divorce after 20 years of marriage. As Terry shared on The Drew Barrymore Show in 2024, they said “I do” in 1989 but had grown apart. It took nearly five years of therapy and counseling for them to understand each other’s changes and ultimately stay together.

He explained that he starts each day by asking himself, “Who am I serving today? What do they need, and how can I help them succeed?”

Learning this intimate detail feels different now that we know Rebecca has been privately battling Parkinson’s disease for over ten years.

Rebecca shared in an interview on Today on April 6th that a new treatment has helped her regain movement after three years. “I can write with my right hand and even balance on my right leg,” she said, demonstrating a newfound ability to perform a dance step called a ‘port de bras’.

She’s still recovering and expects the process to take about three months. In September, she’ll have another surgery to help with numbness and shaking on her left side.

It’s been incredibly difficult watching her struggle with her health issues for the past decade, Terry explained. Seeing her deal with tremors, insomnia, and difficulty staying steady was tough enough, but watching her write her name again after three years was deeply moving. He was overcome with emotion just recalling the moment.

Terry Crews, known from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, described his wife Rebecca as the foundation of their family. They have five children together: Naomi Burton-Crews (39), Azriél Crews (35), Tera Crews (27), Wynfrey “Winnie” Crews (23), and Isaiah Crews (20). They’ve been married for 36 years.

The 57-year-old described her as a hero. She didn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her, which is why she kept her experience private for so long. But after receiving treatment, and realizing many people weren’t aware of available options, she decided to share her story. She hopes that by speaking out, she can help others benefit from the same technology that helped her.

In his 2014 book, Manhood, Terry explained that he once believed he was like a superhero. He traced this feeling back to a serious electrical shock he experienced as a toddler. As he wrote, surviving the accident at age two made him feel incredibly strong and resilient.

The retired NFL player has come to terms with his own vulnerability, sharing in his memoir a story about nearly losing the person he loves most.

He shared with Parade in 2022 that almost losing Rebecca pushed him to make positive changes in his life. He explained he needed to reassess his priorities and work on himself, and he’s incredibly grateful they were able to rebuild their relationship and now have a wonderful family. He emphasized how thankful he is that they are still together.

In 1987, Terry, a 19-year-old student at Western Michigan University, went to church with a friend and was immediately captivated by the keyboardist.

He described being struck by a woman with a small blond child who stood out in the mostly Black church. He admitted he couldn’t help but watch her, even though she didn’t appear to notice or care about his attention, and he wondered about her story.

Rebecca told TopMob News in 2018 that Terry nearly ended up as just a friend. She explained he was “a little too nice” for his own good.

Despite his initial hesitation, Terry continued attending church events and eventually asked Rebecca out. Rebecca was a single mother to Naomi, who was six months old when they first met.

The couple got married on July 12, 1989, and two years later, he legally adopted Naomi as his daughter. They then had Azriél the following year. Tera joined the family in 1998, followed by Winnie in 2003, and Isaiah, who completed the family in 2005.

Naomi is now mom to 14-year-old daughter Miley Burton-Crews, Terry and Rebecca’s first grandchild.

However, before they celebrated that achievement, the couple went through a difficult time in their marriage in February 2010.

Terry said filming their BET reality show, The Family Crews, was a lot of fun. However, Rebecca felt something wasn’t right before the show even aired and asked Terry to be honest with her.

Terry confessed to a past sexual encounter with a massage therapist that occurred a decade ago, and his wife was deeply upset by the revelation.

But a few days later, Rebecca told him she forgave him and was willing to try and make things work, although she admitted things wouldn’t likely return to how they were before.

He then revealed he began telling his partner about his pornography use, an addiction he’d struggled with even before they met. She was unaware, as no one was. He felt incredibly grateful for a second chance.

Terry shared with People magazine in February 2025 that after starting therapy and demonstrating his dedication to personal growth and improving their marriage, they were able to completely rebuild their relationship over the next few years. He explained that they both consciously chose to become stronger as a couple.

In his book, Manhood, he explained that true intimacy in marriage only becomes possible when you’re completely honest with your partner. He wrote that until you can share everything about yourself – your experiences, your thoughts, everything – the relationship can’t reach its full potential.

In 2018, while on Dr. Phil, he explained that true love means someone accepts you completely – knowing both your best and worst qualities – and still loves you for who you are. He called this a rare and precious connection.

Rebecca shared in their 2021 audio memoir, Stronger Together, how they navigated difficult periods. She explained that strange, hopeful phrases kept coming to mind, like the thought, “You’re going to have a new marriage.”

You know, I’ve seen firsthand how relationships can truly evolve. I remember sharing with People magazine how my husband went through a real transformation. It was amazing to witness him become even more loving and kind. I’m incredibly grateful, because things could have easily gone in a different direction. The fact that he chose to work on us, to fight for our relationship, means the world to me.

She clarified that while she didn’t believe in forgiving endlessly, she felt that forgiveness could be incredibly liberating. “It really does open up a new chapter in your life,” she said.

Okay, so she still talks about forgiveness – she calls it the ‘F-word,’ which is just… amazing. She told TopMob that you absolutely have to forgive people and just let go of things. Seriously, she says if you don’t, you end up building this huge wall of bitterness, and then everyone thinks you’re fantastic for years, but eventually, after like, two decades, it all falls apart. It’s just… so insightful, you know? She gets it.

Which almost, but did not, happen to her and Terry.

He celebrated their wedding anniversary last summer on Instagram, writing, “36 years and just getting started!!”

Read on for more secrets behind the most enduring celebrity marriages:

In their 2020 book, What Makes a Marriage Last, Hermann revealed he never expected to share so much laughter with his wife of over 20 years, Marlo Thomas. He described a consistent pursuit of joy as a core part of who she is. “I think what keeps our marriage strong is knowing you love me for who I am, flaws and all—that’s true acceptance,” he explained.

He also shared their strategy for resolving conflicts. Even after a heated argument, one of them will try to lighten the mood with a joke referencing the very thing they were fighting about. “It’s about finding a way back to connection,” Hermann said of life with the Law & Order: SVU star. “Like saying, ‘I’m not admitting I was wrong, but can we start to reconnect?’ If that happens, we know things are getting better.”

They’ve managed to avoid big changes in their relationship by following the same advice they received before getting married in 2003. Even with five children, they prioritize weekly date nights and have chosen not to buy a television, opting instead for other ways to stay connected.

Chip says his biggest piece of advice is to passionately pursue the person you love. After twenty years, he still acts 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 – he makes sure to regularly tell her he loves her, send flowers, and remember their anniversary.

Kevin Bacon jokingly advises against taking relationship advice from celebrities, a sentiment mirroring their own mantra: “Keep the fights clean and the sex dirty.” They developed this phrase to quickly shut down any further questions about their marriage.

In reality, they prioritize resolving conflicts quickly and avoid prolonged arguments. According to Kyra Sedgwick, they focus on finding solutions rather than “winning” a fight. She explained to Thomas and Donahue that fighting is unpleasant, and they both want to restore harmony. Ultimately, she emphasized that they are committed to making their marriage work, because there is no alternative 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. Many couples, he noted, tend to attack their partner’s weaknesses, almost as a game, but they consciously avoid doing that.

They do still have disagreements, of course. He admits he often wants to take back insensitive comments and fix things immediately, but he’s learned that doesn’t work. Instead, he lets his wife take the lead and give him space. She, in turn, tries to be understanding, reminding herself that even if something hurtful is said, he’s a good person and 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 jokingly added that he must find something to like about her, even if she doesn’t know what it is.

Neil Patrick Harris believes the key to his long-lasting relationship is accepting that relationships are always changing and can’t be easily defined. Through over two decades of career changes – including his partner David Burtka becoming a chef and releasing a cookbook in 2019 – raising twins Gideon and Harper, and navigating life’s challenges, Harris says marriage is never static. He explained that even physical intimacy evolves, requiring couples to find new ways to connect and rekindle attraction as they age. Ultimately, he shared, attraction shifts from physical to emotional, and then back again. It’s a constant process of change, and in a way, they keep falling in love with each other anew, in different ways, over and over.

This comedic duo genuinely believes laughter is essential to their well-being, and not just within their 19-year partnership. The actress from Can You Ever Forgive Me? explained that they playfully calculate how much time a particularly hilarious moment adds to their lives. “Whenever we have a really big laugh—the kind that leaves you breathless—we estimate how many months it’s added to our lifespan. I’m constantly keeping a running total!” she said.

They also limit how long disagreements can last. Following the advice to not go 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 the next morning. She believes trying to resolve conflicts when everyone is tired or has had something to drink is unproductive. “I’ve never had a late-night argument end with everyone feeling satisfied and agreeing to a truce,” she added.

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 explained, “I realized right away these kids already had mothers—and I wasn’t one of them. So, what could I offer?” He discovered that everyone benefits from having a supportive figure in their life. “I decided to be their cheerleader. I never tried to set rules, discipline them, or teach them what’s right or wrong—they already had parents for that.”

The Cheers actor completely agreed. “It’s really smart to offer yourself as a friend,” he said. “Let them know you won’t discipline or judge, but that you’ll spend time with them and be there for them. That’s all you need to do: genuinely be present in their lives.”

When same-sex civil unions became legal in Britain, the famous singer and his Canadian advertising executive partner had a ceremony on December 21, 2005. They then legally married on the same date nine years later. However, they celebrate their relationship based on a chance meeting at a dinner party in the singer’s Windsor, England, home in 1993 – a party arranged by a friend.

Every Saturday, regardless of location or whether they’re together, the couple writes each other a handwritten note. Over the years, this has totaled around 1,352 letters. David Furnish explains that handwriting feels deeply personal and meaningful, and the cards provide an opportunity to reflect on the past week and discuss the coming one. The singer agrees, saying that consistent communication is key to a long-lasting and successful relationship.

After quietly building a 40-year marriage (“Six months before I met him, I kept dreaming about the person I would marry”), they’ve made sure their relationship remains a central part of their lives, even as everything else has changed.

“Marriage is our top priority, and we actively work at it, refocusing when we lose track,” she explained. If this surgeon could offer one piece of advice, it would be to always prioritize that connection. “Simply put, I would do anything for her—face any challenge, make any sacrifice. I might mess up and even make her angry, but I would never let anything get in the way of showing her my love,” he affirmed.

He added that if you value your marriage and your long-term happiness, you’ll fiercely protect it from anything that could harm it.

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

One friend 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, it should matter to me,” she said.

Now, she takes a moment to be kind and respond, saying something like, “I’m busy, but what’s new with you?” and then ending the call with affection. She’s found that these two minutes of kindness mean the world to him. The couple celebrated their 29th anniversary in September 2024.

Their almost 30-year marriage started building a strong foundation early on, even amidst disagreements. They recall one fight where the actor playfully tossed the talk show host’s ring out the window, but it felt like it could end everything. The talk show host explained that in the beginning of a marriage, small issues can quickly become major problems, especially with financial or career stress, or the challenges of raising children while exhausted. However, her husband taught her the importance of stepping away and taking a moment to calm down, realizing that not every disagreement is a dealbreaker. 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.

She describes herself as an introvert, almost a loner, while he’s a social butterfly, joking that he’s “the mayor of everywhere.” She’s a bit messy, and he’s a perfectionist, as she put it. Despite their differences, they’ve been married since 2003 and have learned to accept each other’s quirks.

That’s the advice the lead actress from How to Get Away With Murder gives to friends who are getting married. She explains that marriage doesn’t begin at the wedding ceremony, but when you realize something about your partner – a personality trait – that you know will be challenging. It’s that moment when you think, ‘This might be difficult,’ but immediately follow it with, ‘I love them anyway.’ That’s really when your marriage begins.

Maintaining a long-term relationship, like any lasting over 50 years, requires quickly resolving conflicts. Jane Fonda, star of Grace and Frankie, often takes the lead in making amends. She explains it’s easy to apologize because she deeply loves her partner and hates to see them feel alone, even for a short time. Ideally, she avoids situations where apologies are needed altogether. She’s learned that saying hurtful things in anger ultimately leads to more anger – anger at yourself for having said them to someone you care about. This double dose of anger isn’t healthy for you or the relationship.

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 a year later, she understood he wouldn’t suddenly become a homemaker or take charge of planning events.

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

The actor from Lost credits his wife with being the anchor of his life. He told TopMob News in April 2025 that her patience and support through his varied career and travels have been essential to keeping their family grounded. 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.”

2026-04-07 00:20

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