Despite being a famous Hollywood actress, Lily Tomlin had to hide her true feelings for someone special.
Since rising to fame in the late 1960s for her roles on various variety series and comedy sketch shows, the acclaimed actress has held a special spot in the hearts of audiences for many years.
She recently appeared alongside Jane Fonda in the hit Netflix show “Grace and Frankie,” which depicts the story of two women whose husbands have come out as gay and are planning to tie the knot.
Over the years, her other acting credits have included ‘Nashville’, ‘The Late Show’, ‘Shadows and Fog’, ‘All Of Me’, ‘Flirting With Disaster,’ and ‘Big Business.’
Tomlin has not only showcased her talent in live-action roles, but she has also contributed her voice to various animated projects such as ‘The Ant Bully,’ ‘The Simpsons,’ and ‘The Last Of The Red Hat Mamas.’
Tomlin has proven to be an extremely private individual, concealing a major part of her life for over five decades, even though her acting career appears to be endless.
She has been married to author Jane Wagner for 55 years, which is a significant part of her personal life.
Meeting Jane Wagner
Tomlin has been acquainted with Wagner since 1969, when he started making appearances on the comedy-sketch show “Laugh-In.” During this period, Tomlin created a variety of amusing characters, while also showing a desire to bring in a writer to assist in further developing one of them – a wise five-year-old character named Edith Ann.
Wagner was brought on board in 1971 to work on the characters, and she and Tomlin immediately formed a strong connection. They quickly became a recognized couple. During a 2020 interview with Variety, Tomlin looked back on their relationship and stated that she felt it was “love at first sight in two minutes” for her.
Wagner shared with the site that as their relationship matured, their personal and professional lives became more robust. He attributed his growing confidence to Lily, who had faith in his work. They shared similar interests, and he found it remarkable that they were so aligned aesthetically.
She added, “The value she placed on my work was incredibly meaningful to me. I witnessed her determination and her resilience, which inspired me in a profound way.”
Wagner undoubtedly found it gratifying to see Tomlin appreciate her work, and vice versa. During the interview, she also noted that Tomlin’s admiration served as the motivation she needed.
When did Tomlin and Wagner marry?
Surprisingly, this unique duo didn’t initially intend to tie the knot. Tomlin recently shared details about her relationship with Wagner on “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” shedding light on the reasons that led them to take the next step in their partnership.
Corden inquired about the reason behind the couple’s 45-year wait before getting married, prompting Tomlin to explain that a persistent individual on the red carpet kept asking about their marriage plans. She added that once it became legal for them to marry, she felt compelled to do so.
The couple tied the knot in December 2013— a whole decade ago— however, they sneaked off to grab their marriage license a few days before the big day.
The couple got married in a small ceremony at a friend’s place, and Tomlin shared that she didn’t want the media to talk about them.
Featured image by getty images
