William H. Macy shared a thoughtful reflection on his enduring relationship with Felicity Huffman at the Governors Awards 2025 in Los Angeles, offering a personal example that highlights their unique bond. Citing a cherished family tradition, Macy’s comments provide a valuable William H. Macy marriage insight, illustrating how meaningful gestures can strengthen family ties through the years.
Family Traditions Foster Connection in the Macy-Huffman Home
Having spent nearly three decades married to Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy expressed his admiration for a simple yet profound ritual initiated by his wife. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, Huffman places a thought-provoking question beneath each guest’s dinner plate, encouraging everyone at the table to share their responses and stories. Macy explained,
“One of the things we do, which is very cool,”
William H. Macy, Actor. He continued,
“Felicity, my wife, puts a question under everybody’s plate at Thanksgiving and at Christmas, and it’s a question that you have to answer for the whole table.”
William H. Macy, Actor.
As an example, the actor revealed the types of questions that spark rich conversation among attendees, ranging from,
“What’s the kindest thing someone ever did for you?”
William H. Macy, Actor, to,
“What’s the most embarrassed you’ve ever been?”
William H. Macy, Actor. These creative prompts help turn a typical family gathering into a memorable opportunity for connection.
According to Macy, this activity is highly anticipated and sets an energetic tone for the evening.
“Boy, the dinner party takes off, and it never comes down after that.”
William H. Macy, Actor. The tradition not only encourages deeper understanding between family and guests, but also reinforces the bonds that underscore long-lasting relationships.
Celebrating Milestones and Meaningful Reunions
Beyond his appreciation for Huffman’s thoughtful traditions, William H. Macy looked forward to reconnecting with Jeremy Allen White during the Governors Awards. White portrayed Lip Gallagher, son to Macy’s Frank Gallagher on Showtime’s Shameless. Reflecting on White’s career, Macy described the joy he feels seeing his former co-star thrive after their years together on set.
He fondly recalled the early days of Shameless, noting how youthful White was at the series’ launch in 2011.
“I played the worst father in the world, but I was really delighted to work with them all the time.”
William H. Macy, Actor. Macy’s comments offered insight into his enduring affection for the cast and the seriousness with which everyone approached their work, including Emmy Rossum, Cameron Monaghan, and Emma Kinney.
“We were deadly serious on that show. I mean, there were jokes and stuff like that—but comedy is no laughing matter.”
William H. Macy, Actor.
Insights from Other Long-Term Celebrity Marriages
The resilience and inventiveness of the Macy-Huffman marriage echoes through other notable couples who candidly discuss the lessons they’ve learned over years—even decades—spent together. Their approaches vary, yet common threads of humor, loyalty, and open communication emerge in each story.
Finding Humor and Grace: Mariska Hargitay & Peter Hermann
Mariska Hargitay and Peter Hermann have built over two decades of marriage centered around laughter and mutual acceptance. Hermann once shared,
“I never thought that I would laugh this much in my marriage. That is such a fundamental ingredient of who you are, this insistence on joy,”
Peter Hermann, Actor. He credits their bond to an understanding that love persists despite flaws.
“And I think what sustains our marriage is that I know you love me in spite of who I am, and that is the definition of grace.”
Peter Hermann, Actor. Even after disagreements, their shared humor helps bridge the gap,
“One of us will test the waters with a joke—about the very thing we were fighting about,”
Peter Hermann, Actor, promoting reconciliation. Hermann further explained,
“It’s like one of us says, ‘I’m not saying I was wrong, and I’m not still insisting I was entirely right, but can we at least inch our way back toward the place where we caught at stuff together?’ Once that happens, it’s a pretty good sign that things are on their way to getting patched up.”
Peter Hermann, Actor.
Staying Connected: Chip Gaines & Joanna Gaines
Chip and Joanna Gaines attribute the strength of their marriage, even after raising five children, to prioritizing regular time together and ongoing courtship. Date nights remain essential, and they make deliberate choices to stay engaged, including forgoing television in favor of conversation. Chip once remarked,
“I’m not saying she’d never cheat on me,”
Chip Gaines, Entrepreneur, but reassured,
“but it’s not going to be because I never told her I loved her or because I didn’t send her flowers or I forgot our anniversary.”
Chip Gaines, Entrepreneur. Their commitment to the small, consistent acts of love forms the foundation of their enduring relationship.
Resolving Conflict with Compassion: Kyra Sedgwick & Kevin Bacon
With a 36-year marriage, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon emphasize avoiding protracted arguments and seeking resolution instead of victory. Bacon prefers not to dispense advice,
“My first piece of advice is not to take advice from celebrities,”
Kevin Bacon, Actor. He and Sedgwick developed a straightforward motto,
“Keep the fights clean and the sex dirty,”
Kevin Bacon, Actor, to maintain focus on what matters. Sedgwick elaborated,
“Honestly, we don’t like to fight, so when we actually are in an argument, we’re both looking for a solution,”
Kyra Sedgwick, Actor, and focuses on the desire for peace,
“For the most part we’re struggling to get back to everything being okay, because it sucks to fight.”
Kyra Sedgwick, Actor. Ultimately, they agree,
“There is no Plan B. No matter what, we want to work it out.”
Kyra Sedgwick, Actor.
Maintaining Empathy: Michael J. Fox & Tracy Pollan
In more than 37 years together, Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan have navigated challenges by showing compassion, particularly during disagreements. Fox pointed out,
“Tracy and I don’t pick scabs,”
Michael J. Fox, Actor, highlighting their commitment to kindness,
“In some marriages, people look at their partner and see vulnerability and they just can’t help but go after that vulnerability, like it’s a sport or something. We don’t do that.”
Michael J. Fox, Actor. Recognizing the need for occasional distance, Fox admitted,
“If I’ve said something stupid, I have the tendency to want to take it back and make it all okay,”
Michael J. Fox, Actor, but accepts that, at times, space and understanding are required. Pollan offers this measured view,
“Sometimes you just have to say to yourself, ‘You know what? He said something schmucky and it made me feel bad. But he’s a good person and I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn’t realize that what he said hurt my feelings.’”
Tracy Pollan, Actor.
The Importance of Laughter: Jamie Lee Curtis & Christopher Guest
Jamie Lee Curtis stresses the value of humor through her decades-long partnership with Christopher Guest.
“He still makes me laugh more than any human being,”
Jamie Lee Curtis, Actor, she affectionately stated, and with a nod to their playful dynamic, joked,
“and I’m sure there’s something about me that he likes. I don’t know what it is, but I’m sure there’s something.”
Jamie Lee Curtis, Actor.
Defining Love Through Change: Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka
Neil Patrick Harris reflects on the evolving nature of marriage, acknowledging that relationships transform over years.
“I think one of the things that has kept us together all of these years is that we both define relationships as something that’s relatively indefinable,”
Neil Patrick Harris, Actor. With partner David Burtka, Harris appreciates the necessity of finding new ways to connect, especially through life’s inevitable changes. He mused,
“When you have sex with the same person over and over, it gets redundant, and so you try different things. Then one day you don’t like each other, and suddenly you’re not attracted to each other, so you have to figure out how to be reattracted to them—but in a different way because you’re aging.”
Neil Patrick Harris, Actor. Ultimately, Harris notes,
“So in a weird way, we keep falling in love with each other in different ways, over and over.”
Neil Patrick Harris, Actor.
Humor and Forgiveness: Melissa McCarthy & Ben Falcone
Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone infuse their 19 years of marriage with joy by embracing lighthearted moments and not letting grievances linger. According to McCarthy,
“Whenever we have a good laugh,”
Melissa McCarthy, Actor, and especially during moments of boisterous laughter,
“especially a crazy one, when you’re like, Oh, my God, and you’re almost dizzy—we always assign it a specific amount of time that it added to our lives. And I’m always adding it up. I’ll say, ‘Okay, that was like two months—I just got two more months to live!’”
Melissa McCarthy, Actor. Falcone also subscribes to the philosophy that late-night arguments rarely yield progress,
“I tried it once, and I realized that in the morning I had forgotten what I was mad about. You’re not getting any answers if you’re parsing out an argument when everybody is tired and possibly had a drink or two. I’ve never had the thing where you’re having an argument at ten o’clock at night, and then you say, ‘Well, that was good. I’m glad we got to the bottom of that. We agree. Truce signed.’”
Ben Falcone, Actor.
Blending Families and Supporting Each Other: Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen
When Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen combined their families in 1995, they recognized the complexities involved in step-parenting. Steenburgen observed,
“There is no book that tells you how to do it, so the one thing I figured out right away is that they already have a mom—and it’s not me. So what did they need from me?”
Mary Steenburgen, Actor. She decided her role was to provide encouragement,
“That’s when I realized that everybody needs a cheerleader, right? There’s never too many of those in your life, so that’s what I’ll be. I never set their boundaries, disciplined them, or tried to teach them right from wrong. They have parents who do that.”
Mary Steenburgen, Actor. Danson agreed entirely,
“I think that’s really wise, to offer yourself as a friend,”
Ted Danson, Actor, and advocated for genuine presence,
“‘I’m not going to discipline you and I’m not going to judge you. What I’m going to do is hang out with you and be there for you.’ And that’s what you have to do: absolutely, genuinely be there.”
Ted Danson, Actor.
Upholding Rituals: Elton John & David Furnish
Elton John and David Furnish, after legally cementing their union in Britain both as a civil partnership and later as spouses, continue to honor the anniversary of their first serendipitous meeting in 1993. Despite their busy lives, each Saturday the pair exchanges handwritten letters—now numbering over a thousand—as an ongoing testament to their dedication. Furnish commented,
“There’s something very spiritual and real about handwriting,”
David Furnish, Producer, and views each letter as a chance to revisit their week together and look ahead,
“and the cards are a chance to reflect on the week that’s passed and talk about the week that’s coming up.”
David Furnish, Producer. Elton John affirmed the centrality of communication,
“It’s part of the success, I think, of a lasting relationship. Communication is the most important thing.”
Elton John, Singer.
Valuing Marriage as a Priority: Dr. Mehmet Oz & Lisa Oz
For Dr. Mehmet Oz and Lisa Oz, both dreaming of their partnership before they met, the commitment to make their marriage a top concern never wanes. Lisa remembered,
“Six months before I met him, I had these recurring dreams about this person I was going to marry,”
Lisa Oz, Author. She reiterated the importance of prioritizing the relationship,
“Marriage is a priority for both of us. And that means that we act on that and refocus when we’ve lost sight of the ball,”
Lisa Oz, Author. Mehmet Oz expressed willingness to go to any length,
“The bottom line is this: I would do anything for her. Climb any mountain, take any bullet—in the chest, too, by the way. I might do things that justifiably make her really angry at me, but I would never let anything block me from delivering my love to her,”
Mehmet Oz, Doctor, and concluded,
“You will never let anyone touch it.”
Mehmet Oz, Doctor.
Learning to Communicate: Al Roker & Deborah Roberts
ABC News reporter Deborah Roberts and her husband, Today anchor Al Roker, discovered mutual satisfaction in adjusting to one another’s communication preferences. Roberts described her challenge with routine calls,
“If you’re calling just to say, ‘So, what’s up?’ no, I do not like that.”
Deborah Roberts, Journalist. It was a friend who suggested the calls were a comfort to Roker, which shifted her outlook.
“One friend said to me, ‘Did you ever think that maybe he just feels comfortable when he hears your voice, because that tells him that all is right in the world?’”
Deborah Roberts, Journalist. Accepting this, Roberts learned to accommodate her husband’s needs,
“I have learned to take a breath and say, ‘Sweetie, I’ve got some stuff going on, but what’s going on with you? Great. I’m glad to hear from you. Got to go. Talk to you later. Love you.’ That makes all the difference in the world to him, and it doesn’t kill me for two minutes to be nice and sweet.”
Deborah Roberts, Journalist. The couple celebrated their 29th anniversary in September 2024.
Turning Challenges Into Growth: Kelly Ripa & Mark Consuelos
In the early days of marriage, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos faced moments when small conflicts threatened their stability. Ripa identified the tendency,
“Early in a marriage, it’s easy to let little things become big things—whether it’s financial strain or career strain or you have kids and you’re sleep-deprived,”
Kelly Ripa, Television Host. She credits Consuelos for teaching her to pause before reacting,
“But Mark taught me to walk away and take a breath. That’s when you figure out that it’s not a marriage-defining moment.”
Kelly Ripa, Television Host. As they weathered these challenges, Consuelos reflected on the rewards,
“Anytime you see a couple who seems truly happy, you can bet they’ve gone through some crazy, crazy stuff together and they’ve survived,”
Mark Consuelos, Actor, and summed up,
“That’s something to be proud of.”
Mark Consuelos, Actor.
Accepting Differences: Viola Davis & Julius Tennon
Oscar winner Viola Davis, whose marriage to Julius Tennon began in 2003, describes herself as an introvert and him as highly outgoing. Nonetheless, they remain supportive by accepting each other’s quirks. Davis offers this advice,
“Marriage does not start when you walk down the aisle,”
Viola Davis, Actor, and elaborates,
“Your marriage starts when you look over at a person who you love more than anything, and there’s something about him—just one character trait that makes you say to yourself, ‘Oh man, that’s going to drive me crazy. I don’t know if I can deal with this.’ And then the next minute you say, ‘But you know what? I love him.’ That’s when your marriage starts.”
Viola Davis, Actor.
Apologizing and Preventing Hurt: Lily Tomlin & Jane Wagner
Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner, together for five decades, make a point of preventing lasting discord. Tomlin explained,
“Usually, I’m the one who apologizes. It’s not hard because I love her and can’t bear for her to feel lonely for even five minutes.”
Lily Tomlin, Actor. She also recommends restraint,
“Remember, when you’re angry at your partner and say something hurtful, you will be more angry at yourself later for having said hurtful things to the person you love. You’ll feel angry twice. Not good for your blood pressure, and certainly not good for your relationship.”
Lily Tomlin, Actor.
Letting Partners Be Themselves: Judge Judy Sheindlin & Jerry Sheindlin
The Sheindlins’ marriage has overcome profound difficulties, including a brief divorce. Jerry Sheindlin found success in marriage by allowing Judy Sheindlin to win, but she believes fulfillment hinges on acceptance. She shared,
“Every relationship is different, but there is a common thread of unhappiness, and that unhappiness comes from trying to make another person different from who they are. You can try, but they’re always going to resent it,”
Judy Sheindlin, Judge. Her advice remains direct,
“I don’t think you should marry anyone with the expectation of changing who they are.”
Judy Sheindlin, Judge.
Supporting Growth: Daniel Dae Kim & Mia Kim
Daniel Dae Kim acknowledges the critical role Mia Kim has played throughout his international acting career, crediting her patience and stability as central to their strong family.
“My wife—being patient as I traipse around the world, going from job to job—she’s kept our family stable. She’s been fantastic.”
Daniel Dae Kim, Actor. He described her as a “very patient woman” and noted the family’s grounding influence.
“It’s great to have that perspective and North Star.”
Daniel Dae Kim, Actor.
Family Rituals and Personalized Traditions Strengthen Marriages
From William H. Macy’s touching dinner party tradition to Elton John and David Furnish’s handwritten letters, these varied practices underscore one unifying point: unique rituals help strengthen familial and marital bonds. Each couple’s story, whether focused on humor, communication, patience, or acceptance, offers practical examples for building resilience amid the tensions and emotions that define long-term relationships.
As Macy’s experience reveals, meaningful traditions such as the question-under-the-plate game not only enliven family gatherings but establish lasting memories. Across all these marriages, the willingness to adapt, find joy in daily life, and support one another through life’s phases proves integral to lasting partnerships. With couples ranging from newlyweds to those celebrating fifty years, the collective wisdom found in their stories, and in every William H. Macy marriage insight, highlights the value of intentional, heartfelt connection.
