Michelle Pfeiffer’s 31-Year Marriage Began with a Blind Date She Almost Didn’t Go On
The famous actress made a great choice with her second husband. At first, though, she thought her sister might have been a better match for him.
Michelle Pfeiffer, a celebrated actress known for movies like Scarface and Grease 2, has had a fascinating life both on and off the screen. She has been married twice, with her second marriage beginning from an unexpected blind date. That marriage has now lasted over three decades.
The California-born actress has always shown a mix of elegance and humility. Once described as “shy and nervous” at a big event in Venice, she seemed like a small-town girl handling the pressures of fame. Despite being famous, Michelle prefers to keep her personal life private, saying, “It’s so hard for me to put myself out there.”
Michelle’s life and love story reflect her grounded personality. Before her current marriage, she had a young romance. In 1981, she married actor and director Peter Horton, known for Thirtysomething.
Their marriage ended in 1988. Looking back, Michelle said, “I married Peter when I was really young. I’m not the same person I was back then.”
Michelle didn’t tell her kids about her first marriage until they were older. She later said, “When I finally told them, they were like, ‘Wait, what?!’”
Michelle’s journey to finding lasting love began with a blind date, which she shared during an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Although she avoided blind dates in the past, her best friend convinced her to meet writer and producer David Kelley.
To keep it casual, Michelle planned a group bowling party with eight people. At dinner, Michelle sat across from David’s best friend, while David ended up talking to her sister, who Michelle described as “outgoing and charming,” unlike her reserved self.
Michelle jokingly suggested her sister would be a good match for David, but her friend disagreed, saying, “You’re sitting across from your future husband.” Ironically, Michelle and David barely talked that night, and he left early for another event.
Two days later, David called Michelle, and they talked for an hour. That conversation was the start of their enduring love story.
When Michelle and David started dating, she was already in the process of adopting her daughter, Claudia. When Claudia arrived, they had only been together for two months. This gave Michelle a chance to see David’s true character. “He stepped up in a way that separates the boys from the men,” she said.
The couple married in November 1993, and David officially adopted Claudia that year. In August 1994, they had a son, John. Michelle shared that John and Claudia have always been close in age and share a strong sibling bond.
Looking back, Michelle has nothing but praise for her husband. “I chose really well with David. I got lucky,” she said in an interview.
Almost 20 years into their marriage, Michelle reflected, “I never take him for granted. I’ve never met anyone with more integrity than David. I respect that.” She added that respect is key to their bond, saying, “If you don’t respect your partner, you’ll get sick of them.”
In the late 2000s, Michelle and David moved to a quiet rural area in northern California to give their kids, Claudia and John, a simpler life.
Their home, surrounded by nature and animals, offered a peaceful escape from the chaos of Hollywood. Michelle remained down-to-earth and focused on what really matters.
She also hopes to pass on important values to her kids. She wants them to “be fighters” and “survivors,” staying true to themselves. She’s inspired by her grandmother, who raised five kids during the Great Depression and moved to California at 50.
In a 2021 interview, Michelle explained how her focus on family influenced her career. “I was picky about roles,” she said, adding that balancing work with parenting made it hard for directors to hire her. Eventually, she realized it was easier to step back from acting.
During her break from acting, Michelle focused on her family and adjusting to life in the Bay Area. “I didn’t miss working,” she said, explaining that raising kids kept her busy. But as her kids grew older, she returned to acting, saying, “My kids were ready for me to go back to work.”
Michelle admitted that her efforts to keep her career separate from her children’s lives made them less interested in her movies. Her daughter even learned about Michelle’s fame from friends. “I realized I’d done her a disservice trying to protect her,” Michelle reflected.
To connect her kids with her work, Michelle tried showing them one of her films, possibly Grease 2. But she admitted, “They watched a little and then wandered off.”
Michelle keeps her work and personal life separate, including with David. When asked if she’d work with him, she said no but praised his talent as a writer, especially for female characters.
She explained that their relationship is too important to risk mixing with work, as both are passionate about their jobs.
Now married for over 31 years, Michelle and David occasionally share glimpses of their life together on social media, drawing loving reactions from fans.
“You’re still such a beautiful couple,” one fan wrote. Another added, “David is such a lucky man!” Fans often praise their authenticity, calling them a “genuine” and “beautiful couple.”
Now 66, Michelle is open about aging. In a recent interview, she said she hasn’t used Botox or fillers but finds aging challenging. She added she might consider them in the future, saying, “I’d never say never.”
Michelle Pfeiffer’s life is a testament to grace, strength, and resilience. Her journey through love, family, and career continues to inspire fans, showing the beauty of staying true to yourself.
