Fri May 23 12:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance Celebrate Nearly 30 Years of Marriage, Share Secrets to Success
**Los Angeles, CA** – Veteran actors Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance are approaching their 30th wedding anniversary, a testament to their enduring love and commitment in the often turbulent world of Hollywood relationships. Vance, 65, shared insights into their long-lasting marriage at the world premiere of his new movie, “Lilo & Stitch,” at the El Capitan Theatre.
“It’s really about when my wife is happy, the land is happy,” Vance told PEOPLE, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing his wife’s well-being. “So I just try to [go], ‘Does this work for you, baby?’ It doesn’t work … we’re not doing that.”
The couple, who tied the knot in 1997, are not only partners in love but also in parenthood, raising their fraternal twins, Bronwyn Golden and Slater Josiah, now 19. Vance revealed that respect is a cornerstone of their successful relationship, alongside open and honest communication about major decisions. “You gotta talk about [it] and figure out which way … [you] want to go,” he explained.
Vance also provided an update on their children, both of whom are navigating their freshman year of college and exploring their own paths, potentially following in their parents’ footsteps. “They’ve finished their freshman year. They’re exploring, as they should,” he said. “But both of them are doing some film work. And my daughter may major in film with sociology. And my son’s doing a lot of different things … doing plays, doing films, doing camera work.”
Ultimately, Vance says his and Bassett’s greatest desire is for their children to find fulfillment in their chosen fields. “I just want them to be happy, as does my wife. If it’s in the business, [if] it’s not — just find something that makes you get up in the morning.”
The couple’s love story began in the 1980s when they met as drama students at Yale, though they lost touch for several years before reconnecting in 1994. As Bassett revealed in their 2007 book “Friends: A Love Story,” their first kiss was a pivotal moment, confirming for her that Vance was “the one.” With their commitment to communication, respect, and mutual support, Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance continue to serve as a shining example of a loving and lasting Hollywood marriage.
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