The Secret to Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's 35-Year Marriage

The couple fell in love on a movie set in 1987, and the rest is history.
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick
Photo: Getty Images
sarah hanlon entertainment and celebrity editor the knot
by
Sarah Hanlon
sarah hanlon entertainment and celebrity editor the knot
Sarah Hanlon
Entertainment & Celebrity Editor
  • Sarah is the Entertainment & Celebrity Editor for The Knot, with special focuses on pop culture and celebrity wedding news.
  • Before joining The Knot Worldwide, Sarah was a contributing writer for Bravo at NBC Universal.
  • Sarah has a degree in journalism and resides in New York City.
Updated Dec 06, 2023

Considering they have one of the longest marriages in Hollywood, there's so much to learn about love from Kevin Bacon, 65, and Kyra Sedgwick, 58. The actors' love story is a real-life example of the invisible string theory (you know, the one from the Taylor Swift song). The two first crossed paths when Sedgwick, then a fan, met Bacon in a New York City deli while he was in between Broadway performances in 1978. Fate brought them together on the set of Lemon Sky nearly 10 years later, and the rest is history.

Following their wedding in 1988, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon have been happily married for 35 years. They share two children, a son Travis and a daughter Sosie, and they've continued to collaborate professionally in the entertainment industry. Here, we break down what makes Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's relationship so successful in the public eye. Look back on their complete relationship timeline, and see what they've said is the secret to nearly 40 years of wedded bliss.

  • After a brief fan encounter in 1978, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick officially met on the set of Lemon Sky in 1987.
  • Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon got engaged on December 24, 1987. Their wedding took place on September 4, 1988.
  • Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick have two children together: a son, Travis, and a daughter, Sosie.

In this article:

How Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Met

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick
Photo: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection | Getty Images

If you're curious to know when Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick met, most sources will say it was in 1987 on the set of Lemon Sky. But, technically, their first interaction was nine years earlier. Sedgwick and her brother, then fans of Bacon, saw him getting lunch at a deli in between shows for his off-Broadway play, Getting Out.

During an appearance on The View, Bacon revealed that the aspiring actress, who was just 12 years old at the time, approached him and said, "I liked you in your show!" Although he doesn't remember the encounter, it was indeed the first time the future spouses crossed paths.

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's Relationship Timeline

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick
Photo: Frazer Harrison | Getty Images

Following their fateful meeting at a New York City deli in 1978, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick met (again) on a film set in 1987—and they were married the following year. Look back on the couple's complete relationship timeline here.

1987: Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Fall in Love On the Lemon Sky Set

Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon's love story began on the set of Lemon Sky, a movie adaptation of the play of the same name. Bacon developed a crush on his co-star, going so far as to organize a group dinner hoping she would attend. He recalled the attempt on a 2012 episode of Conan, noting that when she didn't show up, he encouraged her to get a massage at his hotel. Then, he offered, after she was done and he finished his workout at the gym, they could get dinner together.

"And I'm thinking, 'Yeah sure, that's not going to happen. I'm not going to tell him when my massage is,'" Sedgwick interjected. "Years later, he told me he had actually called downstairs and I was getting massaged, which is kind of creepy, but whatever," she joked.

The sleuthing was worth it. In a 2023 interview with People, Sedgwick remembered having a feeling of comfort the morning after their first date, which consisted of dinner and hours of conversation. "I remember waking up and going, 'I feel like home,'" she said. "I realized, 'Oh, that was him.'"

April 27, 1987: Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Step Out as a Couple

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick in 1987
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection | Getty Images

By the spring of 1987, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon were ready to take their romance public. The couple attended a charity event in New York City on April 27, marking one of their very first appearances as a couple.

December 24, 1987: Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon Get Engaged

The two ended the year as fiancés. Kevin Bacon proposed to Kyra Sedgwick on Christmas Eve, and he later recounted the moment on an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2021. "She was so touched, cried, said I do," he reminisced.

But a few months into their engagement, they experienced their first communication hurdle. "We're lying in bed and she wakes up, and she's crying, and she's crying, and she can't even say what's going on," he recalled. "Finally, she goes, 'I don't like the ring!'" Admitting he wasn't much of a "jewelry guy," he explained that he picked a ring he thought was "banging." But after Sedgwick expressed her feelings (which she felt "terrible" about), the couple went shopping for a replacement. They ultimately landed on a floral-shaped diamond set within a halo of smaller diamonds on a thin band—and Sedgwick still proudly wears it to this day.

September 4, 1988: Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedwick's Wedding Takes Place

Kevin Bacon and his wife Kyra Sedgwick got married on September 4, 1988, less than a year after their engagement. While not many details are known about the couple's big day, we break down what we do know below.

June 23, 1989: Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon's Son is Born

The following year, Kyra Sedgwick and her husband expanded their family with the birth of their son, Travis. The couple's first child was born on June 23, 1989.

March 15, 1992: Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's Daughter Is Born

A few years later, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's daughter, Sosie Ruth, was born on March 15, 1992.

January 1995—Present: Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Collaborate Professionally

From 1995 on, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick have continued to work together on various entertainment projects. They starred in films like Murder in the First, Cavedweller and The Woodsman. Then, in 2006, Bacon made his directorial debut for the film Loverboy, which was a family affair. Not only did he direct his wife, their children also had small roles.

Notably, Sedgwick starred in USA's legal drama The Closer for seven seasons, and her husband had the honor of directing her for four episodes. They swapped roles in 2022 when Sedwick directed Bacon in the sci-fi flick Space Oddity.

December 2008: Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Lose Their Money in a Ponzi Scheme

Like all marriages, Kyra Sedgwick and Kevin Bacon's hasn't been without struggle. The couple faced a significant setback in December 2008 when they lost the majority of their money in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme. "We found out when the world found out," Sedgwick said of the ordeal. "We had both been working professionally—Kev since he was seventeen and me since I was fifteen—and it was our savings, all the money we had."

During a 2022 episode of the Smartless podcast, Bacon revealed how the setback ultimately made their marriage stronger. "When something like that happens, you look at each other and you go, 'Well, that sucks, and let's roll up our sleeves and get to work,'" he shared. "We've made it this far, our kids are healthy, we're healthy, you know? Let's look at what we have that's good. We can still both work."

September 4, 2023: Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick Celebrate Their 35th Wedding Anniversary

In honor of their milestone 35th wedding anniversary, Kyra Sedgwick shared a vintage photo from the set of their first movie. "It was 1987- on the set of "Lemon Sky" - I met a man named Kevin. Happy 35 my love." In his anniversary post, Bacon wrote, "35 years feels like a heartbeat."

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's Wedding

While not many details are known about Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's wedding day, which took place on September 4, 1988, we can determine a few key details based on photos the couple shared on social media over the years. In several wedding snaps, we can see that the groom wore a light grey plaid suit for the occasion. Kyra Sedgwick's wedding dress was a white lace gown with a high neck, and she wore her curly hair in an updo with a white clip.

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's Kids

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick with their son Travis
Photo: Donna Ward | Getty Images

It may come as no surprise that Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's children followed in their parents' artistic footsteps—especially after they all starred in the 2008 film Loverboy together. Their son, Travis, is a music composer. His work has been featured in films like Story of a Girl, Girls Weekend, and his parents' film Space Oddity.

Their daughter, Sosie, also works in the entertainment industry. After landing a gig as Miss Golden Globe in 2014, she's since starred in popular TV shows like 13 Reasons Why, Mare of Easttown, and The Closer alongside her mom. "As an actor, there is so much rejection," Sedgwick told Good Housekeeping. "Kevin and I have had some painful experiences, and you don't want your kid to go through that. But I want [Sosie] to follow her passion, and acting has become her passion."

The Secret to Kevin Bacon and Wife Kyra Sedgwick's 35-Year Marriage

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick
Photo: Kevin Mazur/VF23 | WireImage for Vanity Fair

Considering so many short celebrity marriages and PR stunts dominate headlines, it's all the more impressive and inspiring to see celebrity couples thrive in the spotlight. After celebrating 35 years of marriage in 2023, it's clear that Kyra Sedgwick and husband Kevin Bacon are happier than ever. In a March interview with People, the couple shared the secret to their long-lasting marriage—and it might not surprise you. "We've always been each other's biggest support and fans," she told the outlet, adding, "A sense of humor is crucial. He is very freaking funny."

Bacon shared that, as much as he loves working professionally with his wife, he continues to find joy in the small moments. "To me, walking down the street together just shooting the s— in the middle of the night still feels like a nice place to be."

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