Hollywood is basically designed to break people up. The schedules are grueling, the egos are massive, and the privacy is nonexistent. Yet, somehow, John Cho and wife Kerri Higuchi have been together for nearly two decades without a single tabloid scandal. They’re like the unicorn of Tinseltown—a couple that actually likes each other.
If you know John Cho, you probably know him as the guy who made us all crave White Castle or the man who took over the helm of the USS Enterprise as Sulu. But behind that leading-man energy is a very quiet, very deliberate family life. Honestly, it’s kinda refreshing. In an era where every celebrity couple has a joint Instagram account and a "personal" brand, Cho and Higuchi have opted for the opposite: total discretion.
Who is Kerri Higuchi?
Most people just refer to her as John Cho’s wife, but Kerri Higuchi isn't just someone standing next to a star on the red carpet. She’s an artist in her own right. She’s an actress, a director, and a writer who has been in the industry just as long as John has.
You’ve probably seen her and didn't even realize it. She played Dr. Elizabeth Chen on Grey’s Anatomy—a show John also guest-starred on, though they didn't meet there. She’s also popped up in Parks and Recreation, Scandal, and ER. Back in 2005, she even wrote and directed her own film called Mr. Isaac.
John has been very vocal about how much he respects her craft. He once told Glamour that he’s learned a lot about acting just by watching her. That’s a big deal coming from a guy who’s been the lead in everything from indie darlings to massive blockbusters.
They Met at UC Berkeley (But It Wasn't Love at First Sight)
The origin story of John Cho and wife Kerri Higuchi starts at the University of California, Berkeley. They were both students there in the mid-90s. But if you’re looking for a "met-cute" story where they locked eyes over a stack of textbooks and lived happily ever after, you’re going to be disappointed.
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They didn't actually start dating until years later.
Basically, they both moved to Los Angeles after graduation to chase the acting dream. That’s when the sparks finally flew. John has admitted that he was a bit of a mess back then. He was "unsettled" and "scatterbrained," which are his words, not mine. Kerri, on the other hand, was the total opposite. She was confident. She knew exactly who she was.
That self-assurance is what drew him in. He was attracted to her poise because it was something he felt he lacked at the time. It’s the classic "opposites attract" dynamic, but with a lot more intellectual depth.
The Secret New Year’s Eve Wedding
By 2006, they were ready to make it official. They got married on New Year’s Eve in Northern California.
John described the wedding as a "one-night-only show" where he had to be the producer, director, star, and host all at once. Anyone who has ever planned a wedding knows that feeling. It’s stressful. But he also said he was "fuzzy with affection" that night.
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They’ve been married ever since. No messy public breakups, no "we’re taking a break" announcements. They just... exist. It’s wild how rare that is in their line of work.
Raising a Family in the Shadows
The couple has two children: a son born in 2008 (reportedly named Kage) and a daughter born in 2013. If you’re looking for photos of their kids on social media, good luck. You won't find them.
John Cho and wife Kerri Higuchi are incredibly protective of their children’s privacy. They don't do the "celebrity kid" thing. No reality shows, no public Instagram accounts for the toddlers, nothing. John has even joked about "maternity leave" when his kids were born, prioritizing being a dad over whatever script was landing on his desk at the time.
Being a father changed everything for him. He’s mentioned that having kids rearranged his values. It put everything in its proper place.
Why Their Privacy Matters
In 2026, the "parasocial relationship" between fans and stars is at an all-time high. We feel like we own these people. But Cho and Higuchi have built a wall around their home.
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- Boundary Setting: They rarely talk about each other in interviews.
- Career Sacrifice: Kerri stepped back from acting to be a stay-at-home mom, though John still praises her talent constantly.
- Mental Health: Kerri was actually the one who encouraged John to go to therapy.
That last point is huge. John has credited his wife with helping him realize that he doesn't always have to be the "soldier" for the family. He’s allowed to be weak. He’s allowed to talk about the deep stuff. That kind of support is likely why they’ve lasted while other Hollywood marriages crumble after eighteen months.
Practical Insights from the Cho-Higuchi Dynamic
You don't have to be a movie star to learn something from how these two handle their lives. Their relationship offers a few "real world" takeaways that actually matter.
- Marry Your Equal: John doesn't see Kerri as "the wife." He sees her as a peer whose talent and confidence he admires. Mutual respect is the bedrock.
- Privacy is a Choice: You don't have to share everything. In an age of oversharing, keeping some things for yourself actually makes them more special.
- Support Goes Both Ways: From therapy to career pivots, they seem to back each other up without ego getting in the way.
The "Starring John Cho" movement might have put his face on every movie poster, but in his real life, he’s perfectly happy sharing the spotlight—or stepping out of it entirely—with Kerri.
To see more of John Cho's recent work, look into his roles in Searching or the live-action Cowboy Bebop, where you can see the depth he brings to his characters, much of which he attributes to the stability of his home life.