Reaching 38 years of marriage is impressive for anyone, but in Hollywood it’s often seen as especially rare.
Even with statistics suggesting only a quarter of couples reach 30 years together, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson—both 69—have kept their relationship going strong as they move through their fourth decade as a married couple.
Between them, they’ve built a large family: four children in total, including two from Hanks’ earlier marriage to Samantha Lewes, and they’ve also welcomed three grandchildren along the way.
Navigating a long-term relationship under the pressures of fame, wealth, constant travel, and public attention isn’t easy. Wilson has previously suggested that one surprisingly personal habit has helped them stay closely connected—something many partners might prefer to keep separate.
While promoting her album Sound of a Woman, Wilson revealed that she and Hanks still share the same bathroom—despite surely having plenty of space for separate routines if they wanted it.
For Wilson, that shared room matters because she sees it as a natural place for day-to-day connection—the spot where they catch up, talk through plans, and stay in sync. At the same time, she hinted there are moments when giving each other privacy is still wise.
She explained: “That’s where you download the day. You laugh about what you’re doing. In the mornings, you’re thinking about, ‘What are you doing today? Where are you going to be? Great, I want you there.'”
According to People, Wilson acknowledged that the idea might sound humorous, but said it’s also “very true” for the way their marriage functions.
She also pointed to compatibility on the bigger things—saying their shared values have played a major role in keeping them aligned as they approach 40 years together.
She said: “You have to be able to communicate to each other the things that are changing in your life — and also the things that are still staying the same so that you’re always working together for the greater good.”
Rather than describing the years as having passed in a blur, Wilson joked that their time together has felt more like “110 dog years.” Still, she credits a simple guideline for helping them through tense moments and tougher stretches.
She shared: “You never go to bed mad. I heard that early, early on, and I thought, ‘That’s actually really good.’
“You don’t want to wake up in the morning and have that lingering feeling. So whatever it is, resolve it before you go to bed.”