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Home · News

23 Famous Black Couples Happily Married For Over 10 Years

These couples prove happily ever after is for real.

By Charli Penn · April 26, 2016October 27, 2020
01
Omar Epps and Keisha Epps

The Epps are on their 10th year of marital bliss. The actor and the former Total singer tied the knot in 2006. They live in California with daughter K’marie, who was born in July 2004, and their son Amir, born December 25, 2007. Epps has a daughter Aiyanna Yasmine from a previous relationship.

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02
Morris Chestnut and Pam Byse

Morris Chestnut and his wife married in 1995 and will celebrate 21 years of marital bliss this year. “I have been with my wife for a number of years now and the number one thing that keeps us strong is a mutual respect; that is first and foremost,” he once told ESSENCE about the secret to their success.

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03
Courtney B. Vance and Angela Bassett

Dynamic actors and lovebirds Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance were college sweethearts who met while students at the Yale School of Drama. They married in 1997 and welcomed twins in 2006.

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04
Duane Martin and Tisha Campbell

Twenty years into their marriage, actor Tisha Campbell and actor-turned real estate developer Duane Martin still have that newlywed glow. The couple have two children together.

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05
Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker

Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker met and fell in love on the set of the Soul Food TV series. It was love at first sight. The pair married on May 21, 2005 in Gundelfingen, Germany and have two beautiful children together.

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06
The Obamas

We already know the President and First Lady’s romantic love story well, but it has to make this list. They tied the know in 1992 and will celebrate 24 years of marriage this year. Bravo!

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07
Forest Whitaker and Keisha Whitaker

Forest and his lovely wife Keisha married in 1996 after meeting on the set of their movie Blown Away. They have two daughters together, Sonnet and True, while they are also parents to son Ocean and Autumn from previous relationships.

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08
Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington

The Washingtons tied the knot on June 25, 1983. Denzel met his leading lady on the set of his first screen work, the television film Wilma. The couple have four children together.

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09
Spike Lee and Tonya Lee Lewis

Spike Lee and Tonya Lee Lewis met during the congressional Black caucus weekend in D.C. They were married a year later in a private ceremony in New York.

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10
Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres

Actors Laurence Fishburne and Gina Torres fell in love and became husband and wife in 2002 at The Cloisters museum in New York City. They have one daughter together, Delilah born in 2007, and Torres is also the stepmother to Fishburne’s two children, from his previous marriage.

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11
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

Jada met Will Smith in 1994 on the set of Smith’s television show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and began dating in ’95. On New Year’s Eve in 1997, they became husband and wife. They have two (equally famous) children together, Jaden and Willow, and Jada is stepmother to Trey Smith, Will’s son from a previous marriage.

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12
Magic Johnson and Cookie Johnson

In 1991, NBA star and business executive Magic Johnson married his love Earlitha “Cookie” Kelly in a small wedding. The couple have one son, Earvin III, and an adopted daughter, Elisa.

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13
Blair Underwood and Desiree DaCosta

Another picture perfect love story. On September 17, 1994, Blair Underwood married Desiree DaCosta, with whom he has three beautiful children, Paris, Brielle, and Blake.

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14
Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson

LaTanya Richardson Jackson and hubby Samuel L. Jackson met when she attended Spelman College and he was over at nearby Morehouse College. It was love sweet love and the pair tied the knot in 1980 and have one child.

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15
Grant Hill and Tamia

The former NBA star and the singing sensation were introduced by singer Anita Baker in the 90s. After a three year courtship, Grant and Tamia were married on July 24th, 1999. The couple has two daughters, Myla and Lael.

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16
Al Roker and Deborah Roberts

TV journalists Al Roker and Deborah Roberts have two decades of marriage under their belts. Roker has a daughter, Courtney, 28, from his first marriage and Roker and Roberts are parents to Leila, 17, and Nick, 13.

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17
Ice Cube and Kimberly Woodruff

Rapper turned actor Ice Cube and his wife Kimberly Woodruff, tied the knot in 1992. The couple have five children together.

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18
Snoop Dogg and Shante Taylor

Snoop Dogg and his high school sweetheart Shante Taylor first married in 1997, but divorced in 2004. Years later they reconciled and renewed their vows in 2008. The pair have three children, Corde Broadus, Cordell Broadus and Cori Broadus.

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19
D.L. and LaDonna Hughley
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20
Rodney and Holly Robinson Peete

The actress and the famed former footballer have been in wedded matrimony since 1995 after he proposed during an episode of Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper! The Peete’s have four children–twins Ryan and Rodney Jr. and two other sons Robinson and Roman. Their son Rodney Jr. suffers from Autism, a diagnosis their family has openly embraced and discussed. 

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21
LL Cool J and Simone Smith

Ladies Love Cool James and so does his wife Simone of 21 years! They married in 1995 and have 3 children. 

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22
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon

The Emmy-winning actress and her husband just celebrated 13 years of marriage! They have a daughter, Genesis. 

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23
T.D. and Serita Jakes
T.D. and Serita Jakes have been married since 1981! Look at what marriage and ministry can do!
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