Barbra Streisand and James Brolin are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary this year. The couple opened up about their journey together and reflected on what it means to find love later in life.
They recently revealed a surprising secret about their relationship that had been kept secret for years. Read on to find out what they shared!
Their love story, like many others, began with a blind date. Barbra was dating James, but had a different idea of what he would look like. She expected a man with a full head of hair and a beard and was surprised to find Brolin bald.
True to her easy-going nature, Streisand didn’t hold back and jokingly pointed out that his hair was a bit messy. Instead of being offended, Brolin immediately felt a connection and realized she was someone special. While it took Streisand a few more outings to fully accept her feelings, the two soon fell in love and married in 1998.
This was not her first marriage; Streisand was previously married to Elliot Gould from 1961 to 1973, with whom she has a son, Jason. Brolin has also had two previous marriages, first to casting agent Jane Agee for 20 years and then to Jane Smithers for almost a decade. From these relationships he has three children: Josh, Jess and Molly, and four grandchildren: Eden, Trevor, Westlyn and Chapel.
Brolin often expresses his deep affection for Streisand, once saying: “Every night is a new adventure. Sleeping is a waste of time. I can’t wait to see her again in the morning”.
In a recent interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, the couple celebrated their milestone anniversary by sharing a surprising revelation: Brolin was celibate for three years before meeting Streisand.
“I was literally abstinent for three years and I asked myself: ‘Who needs that?'” he confessed, which provoked disbelief from King. Streisand playfully admonished him, shouting: “You can’t say that!”
When asked about his long period without intimacy, Brolin explained: “I had no interest in getting involved in a crappy situation”. Reflecting on their connection, he remarked: “After three years, that must have been one hell of a night?” to which he replied: “Wild!”
His reluctance stemmed from his previous marriages, as he did not want to enter into another unfulfilling relationship. However, a friend encouraged him to meet Barbra and the rest is history. It took some persuasion, but after asking her three times, Streisand finally agreed to marry him.
It’s surprising to learn that Brolin was celibate for such a long time! Their story is heartwarming and shows how they found each other despite all the odds. What do you think about their pairing? Share it in the comments! Feel free to pass this on to others to know their thoughts!