Honestly, if you only know Cheryl Hines as the woman who had to put up with Larry David’s antics on Curb Your Enthusiasm, you’re missing the wildest part of her real life. It’s 2026, and the world looks a lot different than it did when she first tied the knot with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. back in 2014. These days, she isn't just a Hollywood actress; she’s the wife of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Think about that for a second. One minute you’re filming a mockumentary about social faux pas, and the next, you’re navigating the West Wing while your husband is at the center of the biggest political shift in recent history.
Most people searching for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wife want to know if they’re still together or how a liberal-leaning actress survives a marriage to a man who basically broke the political mold. It hasn't been a smooth ride. Not even close. From secret diaries to "roadkill" van dates and even an emu named Toby, the story of Cheryl and Bobby is way more "unscripted" than anything you’d see on HBO.
The Woman Behind the Name: Who is Cheryl Hines?
Before she was a Kennedy, Cheryl was a Florida girl who worked as a bartender and a telephone operator. She eventually made her way to the Groundlings in LA, which is where she sharpened the comedic timing that made her a star.
She met RFK Jr. in 2005. The matchmaker? None other than Larry David himself. It’s kinda ironic when you think about it. At the time, they were both married to other people. It wasn't until 2011, after they were both going through divorces, that things turned romantic.
They got married in 2014 at the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port. It was a huge affair—300 guests, lobster, and enough celebrity power to light up Cape Cod. But behind the scenes, Cheryl was stepping into a dynasty that is as complicated as it is famous. She once joked that while the Kennedys are out saving the world or doing extreme sports, she’s just trying to find the remote and a bag of potato chips.
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The Women Who Came Before
To really understand who Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wife is today, you have to look at the history. Bobby has been married three times.
- Emily Ruth Black (1982–1994): They met in law school. They had two kids, Robert III and Kathleen. The marriage ended in divorce, but they stayed relatively low-profile compared to what came later.
- Mary Kathleen Richardson (1994–2012): This is the tragic chapter. Mary was a designer and a close friend of Bobby’s sister, Kerry. They had four children: Conor, Finn, Aiden, and Kyra. Their divorce was incredibly messy and public. Sadly, Mary took her own life in 2012 while the legal battle was still ongoing.
Cheryl didn’t just marry a man; she married a legacy and a lot of emotional baggage. She became a stepmother to six children while raising her own daughter, Catherine Rose Young.
Living With the "Lust Demons" and Political Chaos
The last few years have been a gauntlet for Cheryl. When Bobby decided to run for President in 2023, the backlash hit her hard. Hollywood is a small town, and many of her friends didn't take kindly to her husband's shift toward Donald Trump’s orbit.
Then came the "Olivia Nuzzi" scandal.
Reports surfaced about a "sexting" affair between Bobby and the political journalist. In her 2025 memoir, Unscripted, Cheryl didn't hold back. She admitted she "hit a wall." There was even talk that she "ordered" him to move her to D.C. because she didn't trust him alone in the city with what people called his "lust demons."
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Bobby even suggested they "fake" a separation at one point to save her from the public vitriol. She said no. She felt it was better to be honest than to get caught in a lie by the paparazzi. Instead of splitting, they bought a $4.4 million townhouse in Georgetown. It was a "marital bridge," so to speak.
What It’s Really Like at Home
If you think life with a Kennedy is all gala dinners and stiff suits, Cheryl’s book paints a much weirder picture. Bobby has a thing for exotic animals. We’re talking about an emu named Toby that lived in their backyard and once attacked her daughter. Cheryl apparently had to carry a shovel just to walk through her own yard.
And then there’s the roadkill.
Cheryl famously recounted early dates where the minivan Bobby drove smelled like "rancid roadkill." Why? Because he’s a master falconer and used the carcasses to feed his hawks. It’s the kind of detail you can’t make up. It’s gritty, it’s gross, and for some reason, it worked for them.
A Relationship of Disagreement
They don't agree on everything. Honestly, they disagree on a lot. Cheryl has been open about the fact that she doesn't always share his views on vaccines or specific policies.
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- Communication: She says she’s the "feeler" and he’s the "fact-checker."
- The Family Rift: She’s expressed deep sadness over how some of the Kennedy siblings publicly attacked Bobby.
- Safety: She’s lived in constant fear for his safety, given the family's history with assassinations.
The Actionable Reality
If you’re looking at the life of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wife as a template, there are some pretty heavy takeaways about modern relationships under pressure.
How to navigate a high-conflict partnership:
- Set Hard Boundaries: Cheryl moving to D.C. wasn't just about "control"; it was about presence. In any relationship facing external pressure, physical and emotional proximity matters.
- Agree to Disagree: You don't have to be a political carbon copy of your spouse. Maintaining your own identity (and career) is what kept Cheryl grounded.
- Humor as a Shield: Cheryl uses her comedic background to deflect the absurdity of her life. If you can’t laugh at the emu attacking your kid, you’re going to have a hard time.
Cheryl Hines has spent over a decade proving she isn't just a "plus one." Whether she’s at a Cabinet swearing-in or writing a tell-all memoir, she’s navigating a role that no one—not even Larry David—could have scripted for her. She remains the anchor in a life that is constantly, and sometimes violently, in motion.
If you want to understand the modern Kennedy era, stop looking at the podium. Look at the woman standing three feet behind it, probably wondering if the emu back home is behaved.