It’s not often that we hear of a Hollywood love story that spans decades. Even some of the longest marriages can end in divorce.
And then there’s Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Though never married, they’ve been together since 1983. Their 40-year relationship has stood the test of blended families, fame, and time to stand as a beacon of enduring love – even without a ring being involved.
A Relationship That Took 17 Years to Begin
When Goldie Hawn was 21, she met 16-year-old Kurt Russell on the set of Disney film The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band. While Hawn admits that she found Russell charming, he was too young for her to consider at the time.
Hawn went on to marry Bill Hudson and have two children – Oliver and Kate. However, their marriage only lasted 4 years and ended in a strained relationship between Bill and their children.
Just three years after her divorce, Goldie reconnected with Russel at an audition for Swing Shift. Russell claims he put his “worst foot forward” but got the date anyway.
Their first date is Hollywood legend – starting at the Playboy Mansion and ending with a police call – but it spawned a relationship that lasted.
Building a Blended Family
Both Hawn and Russell came into their relationship with children – Oliver and Kate Hudson from Hawn’s marriage, Boston from Russell’s – creating a unique and loving blended family.
Their son, Wyatt, born in 1986, solidified their bond as a family.
Oliver and Kate often talk about their love for their stepdad, with Kate being especially vocal about his support and treating them like his own:
“Never missed a school play, a soccer game, a hockey game, a dance recital and the list goes on and on. No matter what he was doing in his busy life, he always showed up. Not because he had to but because there was no other place on earth he would rather be than with his family. We felt the purity of that our whole childhood and my gratitude for his love is immeasurable.”
Their Secrets to a Lasting Relationship
Though choosing to remain unmarried throughout the decades has often been cited as an unconventional approach, it seems to work for them.
Their relationship is often cited as proof that a committed partnership thrives on genuine connection, not a piece of paper. “Why should we?” Hawn once quipped, “Isn’t that a better question?”
In interviews, they’ve often talked about what makes their relationship work through all the ups and downs of their careers:
““Love, gratitude, compassion, because sometimes every man or every woman will drive their partner crazy. Family. Fun. Laughs. Sex,” Hawn says. “If you don’t nurture that, and remember, you’re done.”
They prioritize quality time, celebrate each other’s successes, and weather life’s storms together. Hawn emphasizes the importance of “wanting to be together,” highlighting the conscious choice to nurture the relationship.
An Inspiration to Enduring Couples
With divorce rates at nearly 50% and in a world obsessed with instant gratification and disposable relationships, Hawn and Russell offer a refreshing perspective.
They show us just how we can make our love a lifelong journey, defying expectations and inspiring others to believe in its enduring power. Their story is a reminder that true love isn’t a fairy tale ending, but a commitment to choose each other, every single day.
