Celebrity Couples Who've Been Together For Forever

While nearly every other day celebrity couples are calling it quits, the spouses on this list have lived together happily for years outside of the limelight — so much so that we almost forgot they’ve earned a place among Hollywood’s rare assortment of successful celebrity couples.

Shanice and Flex Alexander

Singer Shanice scored a hit with the song “I Love Your Smile” in the early 90’s. Although her career never quite took off, Shanice quickly settled into married life. It turns out comedian and actor Flex Alexander liked her smile, so much so, he made Shanice his wife on Valentine’s Day in 2000. The happy couple has two children together. Most recently, Alexander made a guest appearance on Vh1’s “Single Ladies” in 2012.

Reagan Gomez-Preston

Actress Reagan Gomez-Preston became a household name back in the 90’s on the sitcom “The Parent Hood” with Robert Townsend. While she was starring on the hit show, her love life was also picking up some steam. Gomez-Preston met model and member of the R&B group Quo, DeWayne Turrentine, in 1995. After dating for a few years, the couple tied the knot in 1999. They welcomed their first child in 2007 and another one in 2011.

Tamara “Taj” Johnson and Eddie George

For nine years, he was one of the NFL’s leading running backs but Eddie George is also known as the husband of SWV’s Tamara “Taj” Johnson. George and Taj got married in 2004 and welcomed their first child together the following year. Although their love was chronicled in the reality show “I Married A Baller,” their marriage may have hit a rough patch last year. The former Heisman Trophy winner was busted in the car with an intoxicated 21-year-old blonde professional golfer named Rachel Conner behind the wheel of car early one morning. Taj did an interview a few months later assuring everyone they were fine.

Melika and Carl Anthony Payne II

We first fell in love with him as Theo Huxtable’s best friend Cockroach on the hit sitcom “The Cosby Show.” And we still loved him as the somewhat dimwitted big-girl loving Cole Brown on “Martin.” While Carl Anthony Payne was fast becoming one of television’s funniest supporting actors, he was also working hard on his marriage. The actor tied the knot with Melika in 1992. Payne took in and helped raise Landon Brown, Melika’s son from a previous relationship with R&B singer Bobby Brown. Payne recently portrayed L.A. Reid in VH1’s TLC Story.

Omar Epps and Keisha Spivey

Omar Epps made his mark early on in his career by starring opposite Tupac Shakur in the 1992 cult classic “Juice.” After snagging a few more movie roles, Epps settled down as a television actor in Fox’s hit show “House.” He also settled down with his longtime girlfriend and mother of his child, Keisha Spivey of the R&B group Total. The couple tied the knot in 2006 and had another child the following year. Epps also has an older daughter from a previous relationship.

Grant Hill and Tamia

Drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 1994, NBA superstar Grant Hill would dominate around and above the rim for much of his career. And he was one of sports most eligible bachelors until singer Anita Baker introduced him to songstress Tamia. Sparks flew and the couple tied the knot in 1999. They became parents a few years later after Tamia gave birth to daughter Myla. In 2003 the “Stranger In My House” singer revealed she has been battling multiple sclerosis. Luckily the disease went into remission and Tamia had their second child a few years later.

Pamela and Morris Chestnut

Morris Chestnut scored his first role in John Singleton’s poignant 1991 film “Boyz In The Hood.” Since his debut, Chestnut has starred in over 30 films, becoming one of the regular go-to Black actors today. Born and raised in California, the “Best Man” star tied the knot back in 1995 to wife Pamela. The couple has two children together. Up next for Chestnut is “The Best Man Holiday.”

Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone

She made us keel over with laughter in her breakout role as Megan in 2011’s “Bridesmaids,” but Melissa McCarthy has been making her husband Ben Falcone laugh since the 90’s. McCarthy and Falcone met at the L.A. based comedy troupe The Groundlings but dated eight whole years before finally tying the knot in 2005. Partners at home and at work, Falcone has worked with his wife before. He played the Air Marshal in “Bridesmaids” and is set to direct his wife in the upcoming movie “Tammy.”

D.L. and LaDonna Hughley

D.L. Hughley has been in the business of making people laugh for over two decades. He first gained national attention as host of BET’s “ComicView” in the early 90’s. While he’s gone on to tour the world, star in his own sitcom, then host his own late night political talk show, there has been one constant in his life and that is wife LaDonna. The couple got married back in 1986. They share three children, two daughters and one son. In recent years, Hughley has been vocal about his son’s battle with Asperger’s syndrome.

Sophia and Derek Luke

Derek Luke caught his big break early on in his career with his very first film when he was cast in Denzel Washington’s directorial debut “Antwone Fisher” as the title character in 2002. Luke has credited his patience with finding just the right script and project to join for his longevity in Hollywood so far. Standing by his side the whole time has been his supportive wife Sophia. The couple tied the knot back in 1998 before Luke set out to conquer the movie industry. The couple welcomed their first child in 2007.

Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres

After getting his start in theater, Laurence Fishburne earned mega fame when he switched over to movies and went on to star in the blockbuster franchise “The Matrix.” Perhaps best known for playing Ike Turner in the biopic “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” Fishburne met his second wife Gina Torres on the set of “The Matrix Reloaded.” They tied the knot in 2002 after a yearlong engagement. Torres currently stars in USA Network’s “Suits.”

Paula Patton and Robin Thicke

Miley Cyrus stirred up quite the hornet’s nest with her recent MTV VMAs performance with singer Robin Thicke. The former child actress brought twerking to the forefront as she grinded on the “Blurred Lines” singer. One person who didn’t have a problem with the dirty dancing, though, was Thicke’s wife Paula Patton. The two got married back in 2005 but they have been together since the age of 14 — way before his singing career and her acting career took off. Patton gave birth to their first child in 2010.

LL Cool J And Simone Smith

The ladies have loved Todd Smith since he burst onto the rap game wearing rope chains and Kangol hats in 1985. Better known as LL Cool J, there’s been one lady by his side that has loved the “Around The Way” rapper since they were high school kids. After dating for more than eight years, LL made an honest woman out of Simone during the height of his career in 1995. By that time, the couple had already welcomed two girls and a boy into the world. Simone gave birth to their fourth child in 2000.

Denzel and Pauletta Washington

Women have been guilty of coveting another woman’s husband for years when it comes to Denzel Washington. The man often referred to as the finest actor of our time — both in terms of talent and his physical attributes — has been married to his wife Pauletta since 1983. The two met on the set of his first screen work, television film Wilma, which means we never even had a chance.