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If you’ve watched even ten minutes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, you probably have a specific image of Larry David. He’s the guy who gets into a fistfight over a sample at an ice cream parlor or accidentally offends a war hero. He's the patron saint of the "social assassin." So, when news broke that Larry David and Ashley Underwood got married in 2020, the collective internet reaction was basically: Wait, someone can actually live with him?
Honestly, it’s one of the most successful "Hollywood" relationships that barely anyone talks about. They aren't constantly posting staged vacation photos or launching a joint lifestyle brand. They just... exist. And in a world of messy celebrity divorces, their partnership is surprisingly stable, even if Larry describes their domestic life as a series of arguments over dishwashing schedules.
The Dinner Party That Actually Worked
Most people meet their spouses through apps or at work. Larry and Ashley? They were set up by Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher.
In 2017, at a birthday party for the Borat star, Larry was seated next to Ashley Underwood. Now, if you know anything about Larry David, you know he hates long social obligations. He has spent decades trying to figure out how to leave parties early without being "that guy."
According to Larry, he and Ashley were hitting it off. The banter was top-tier. But instead of lingering and risking a lull in the conversation, Larry did the most Larry David thing possible: he left before dessert.
"I was doing so well, banter-wise, I didn't want to risk staying too long and blowing the good impression," he told The New York Times.
It worked. Most people would find that behavior bizarre, but Ashley apparently found it charming—or at least hilarious. She’s a producer herself, having worked on Cohen’s satirical series Who Is America?, so she was already well-acquainted with the eccentricities of the comedy world.
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Who Is Ashley Underwood, Anyway?
People often try to pigeonhole her as just "Larry's wife," but she has her own track record in the industry. She isn't just a bystander in Hollywood.
Before she was producing high-stakes satire with Sacha Baron Cohen, she actually had a very different life. There’s often some confusion online because there is another Ashley Underwood who was a contestant on Survivor (Redemption Island), but Larry’s wife is a different person entirely. The producer Ashley Underwood studied at the American University of Paris and eventually worked as a nurse to support herself while finishing her studies.
She eventually pivoted into the entertainment world, carving out a niche as a field producer. Her work on Who Is America? and Borat Subsequent Moviefilm shows she has a stomach for the chaotic, improvisational style of comedy that Larry David helped pioneer. You kinda have to have a thick skin to navigate those sets, which probably makes her the perfect foil for Larry’s neurotic energy.
Living Together: The Pandemic Test
Moving in together is always a gamble. Moving in together right before a global pandemic? That’s basically an extreme sport.
In 2019, Ashley moved into Larry’s Pacific Palisades home. She didn't come alone; she brought her cat, Elwood. Soon after, they adopted an Australian shepherd named Bernie (named after Bernie Sanders, naturally).
Then 2020 happened. Suddenly, the household included Larry, Ashley, and Larry’s daughter, Cazzie David.
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Larry has been very candid about the "friction" of that time. It wasn't some peaceful retreat. He described a house where someone was always at someone else’s throat—usually over the dishes. One person didn't do them; another person didn't help enough. It’s the kind of relatable, low-stakes drama that serves as the literal blueprint for Curb.
The TV Show Violation
One of the funniest insights into their marriage involves their "streaming etiquette." Or lack thereof.
Larry complained that Ashley has a habit of starting a TV series without him. In the world of modern marriage, that’s a felony. He told The New York Times that she’ll start a show, and then he’ll walk into the room, and she’ll instantly click off the TV to hide the evidence. It’s these small, petty grievances that make Larry David and Ashley Underwood feel like a real couple rather than a PR-managed entity.
Why It Works: The Social Pass
In a GQ interview, Ashley dropped a truth bomb about why she likes being with Larry. He’s her "social pass."
If they are at a boring dinner party, Ashley doesn't have to worry about making a polite excuse to leave. Larry will just take his last bite of food, stand up, and walk out. She just shrugs, follows him, and lets him take the "blame" for being the rude one.
"I just get to ride his coattails," she joked.
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It’s a match made in heaven. She gets to go home early, and he gets to be himself. Most wives would be mortified by a husband who refuses to stay for the cheese plate. Ashley sees it as a perk of the job.
The Wedding Nobody Saw Coming
The pair tied the knot in October 2020. It was a private ceremony in Southern California. For a man who once joked that he’d never get married again after his 2007 divorce from Laurie David, the move caught some fans off guard.
Ashley even poked fun at this on Instagram for his birthday, posting a photo of him and joking that he did two things he swore he’d never do: get another dog and get another wife.
There is an age gap—about 38 years—but if you watch them together at events or read their interviews, it’s clear the gap is irrelevant compared to their shared sense of humor. They both seem to value privacy and a good laugh over the typical Hollywood spectacle.
Actionable Insights for the "Socially Relatable"
What can we actually learn from the Larry and Ashley dynamic?
- Leave on a high note. Don't wait for the conversation to die. If you’re winning, walk out. It creates a "leave them wanting more" effect that clearly works for long-term romance.
- Find a partner who shares your "petty." If you hate doing dishes and they hate doing dishes, you're going to fight. But if you both find the fight funny? That’s a marriage.
- Respect the TV pact. Seriously. Don't start a show without your spouse. It’s the number one cause of household tension in the 21st century.
If you want to keep up with them, don't expect a reality show. They’re more likely to be spotted walking Bernie in the Palisades or quietly attending a premiere before sneaking out the back door.
To see more about how Larry’s real life mirrors his art, you can look into his daughter Cazzie David’s book of essays, No One Asked For This, which gives some hilarious (and sometimes painful) looks at what it’s actually like to live in the David household.