Today is Mo’Nique’s birthday, and everyone knows she deeply loves her husband of 18 years.
The Oscar-winning actress and comedian is known not only for riveting performances but for her love for her family, which includes her four sons: Shalon, Jonathan, David, Mark Jr., and, of course, her beloved husband, Sidney Hicks.
The two are inseparable, attached to the hip, with an unbreakable bond despite the critics. Throughout her career, Mo’Nique has emphasized the importance of her union, which spans decades. The pair grew up in Baltimore and 10th grade at Randallstown High School, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Although the actress had two marriages before Hicks and had a son, and Hicks was in a long-term relationship and had a child himself, they remained friends throughout those relationships. After those relationships ended, the close friends became roommates, leading to their love affair. “Our energies and spirits just connected,” the actress told THR. “We’ve not been apart since,” she said.
When speaking to The New York Times, Hicks said: “Before she was my wife, she was my sister,” adding, “And there have been moments when she was like my little girl. When you go through all these dynamics with someone, you understand them.”
Check out some of the sweetest photos of Mo’Nique And Sidney Hicks throughout the years.
Mo’Nique and husband Sidney Hicks (Photo by John Heller/WireImage)
Sidney Hicks and Mo’Nique during Fox Searchlight Pictures Presents “Phat Girlz” Los Angeles Premiere at Archlight Cinemas in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by E. Charbonneau/WireImage)
Mo’Nique and husband Sidney Hicks (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
Mo’Nique and Sidney Hicks during “Shadowboxer” Los Angeles Premiere – Red Carpet at ArcLight in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES – APRIL 3: Actress Mo’Nique (R) and her fiance Sidney Hicks arrive arrives at the premiere of Fox Searchlight’s “Phat Girlz” at the ArcLight Cinema’s on April 3, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 26: Comedian/actress Mo’Nique (L) and her husband Sidney Hicks arrive at the 2007 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on June 26, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Sidney Hicks and Wife Mo’Nique (Photo by Malcolm Ali/WireImage for BET Network)
Actress Mo’Nique (L) and husband Sidney Hicks arrive at the 15th Annual Critic’s Choice Movie Awards at the Hollywood Palladium on January 15, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Actress Mo’Nique (R) and Husband Sidney Hicks arrive at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre on March 7, 2010 in Hollywood, California. on March 7, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 12: Actress Mo’Nique and actor Sidney Hicks arrive at the 40th NAACP Image Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on February 12, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for NAACP)
Actress Mo’Nique (L) and actor Sidney Hicks attend the 25th Independent Spirit Awards Hosted By Jameson Irish Whiskey held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on March 5, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage)
ATLANTA – OCTOBER 02: Mo’Nique and Sidney Hicks attend the BET Hip Hop Awards ’10 at Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center on October 2, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 27: Actress Mo’Nique (L) and husband Sidney Hicks attend the 1st Annual D.I.V.A. awards at Rockwell on February 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 29: Actress Mo’Nique (L) and husband Sidney Hicks arrive for the New York screening of “Bessie” held at The Museum of Modern Art on April 29, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Brent N. Clarke/FilmMagic)