Denzel Washington & Pauletta Pearson

It’s notoriously difficult to have a lasting marriage while working in the entertainment scene, but it seems that Denzel Washington and his wife Pauletta Pearson have made it look easy. Having been together for nearly 40 years, the couple occasionally shares advice on what makes their bond unbreakable.

The duo first met in 1977 while shooting the TV movie Wilma. Not long after, they started dating. While Washington has since become an A-lister, Pearson has also continued to forge a path in the movie industry, appearing in Philadelphia and She’s Gotta Have It. The duo wed on June 25, 1983, and welcomed four kids together who are now rising Hollywood stars in their own right. As for the key to a happy marriage, Washington credits his wife for making their marriage work and doing the “heavy lifting.” He also said their “spiritual foundation helps everything.”