“Lily Tomlin, acclaimed for her stellar acting career, once concealed the love of her life, a journey that unfolded over decades in the heart of Hollywood.
The illustrious actress earned her place in the hearts of audiences during the late 1960s, catapulting to stardom through her appearances on various variety series and comedy sketch shows.
In recent years, she graced the screen alongside her longtime collaborator, Jane Fonda, in the hit Netflix series ‘Grace and Frankie.’ The show revolves around two women whose husbands fall for each other and aspire to marry, adding another jewel to Tomlin’s extensive acting repertoire, which includes memorable roles in ‘Nashville,’ ‘The Late Show,’ ‘Shadows and Fog,’ ‘All Of Me,’ ‘Flirting With Disaster,’ and ‘Big Business.’
Tomlin’s talent also extended to voice acting in animated shows and movies such as ‘The Ant Bully,’ ‘The Simpsons,’ and ‘The Last Of The Red Hat Mamas.’ However, beneath her prolific acting career, Tomlin held a closely guarded secret for more than five decades.
This well-kept secret was her 55-year partnership with the writer, Jane Wagner.
Their Journey Began on ‘Laugh-In’ Tomlin’s connection with Wagner traces back to her days on the comedy-sketch show ‘Laugh-In’ in 1969. While renowned for her creation of comical characters, Tomlin recognized the need for a writer to perfect one of them—Edith Ann, a precocious five-year-old.
In 1971, Wagner joined the team to work on the characters, leading to an instant connection with Tomlin. Soon, their personal and professional lives intertwined, and Tomlin described it as love at first sight “in two minutes” when reminiscing about their romance in a 2020 interview with Variety.
Wagner shared her perspective, stating, “When I gained confidence, it was because of Lily, who believed in my work. We shared similar passions, and it was truly remarkable how aligned we were, aesthetically. Her appreciation of my work meant the world to me. I witnessed her determination, her drive, and her strength taught me valuable lessons.”
Their mutual admiration fueled their partnership, both personally and professionally.
When Did Tomlin and Wagner Marry? Interestingly, marriage was not initially in their plans. Tomlin discussed their marriage on ‘The Late Late Show with James Corden,’ revealing why they decided to take that step after 45 years together. Tomlin humorously explained, “Truthfully, there was a guy on the red carpet who constantly asked me when we were going to get married. And after it became possible to get married, I had no choice but to do it.”
The couple tied the knot a decade ago in December 2013, but they had obtained their marriage certificate discreetly a few days earlier, avoiding media attention. They exchanged vows in a private ceremony at a friend’s home.
The love story of Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner stands as one of the most endearing tales in Hollywood. Here’s to wishing Lily Tomlin the happiest of birthdays and many more joyous years ahead!”
