You probably know her as the woman who had to endure Larry David’s neuroses for twelve seasons on Curb Your Enthusiasm. But these days, Cheryl Hines is playing a role that is way more surreal than anything written in a Hollywood script. Honestly, if you told someone ten years ago that the actress who played Cheryl David would eventually be the wife of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, they’d think it was a deleted scene from a sitcom.
But here we are in 2026. Cheryl Hines is Robert Kennedy Junior's wife, and her life has become a wild mix of D.C. cabinet meetings, Brentwood estates, and a fair share of family drama that makes the Kennedys look like... well, the Kennedys. It hasn't been a smooth ride. Not even close. From high-stakes political shifts to very public marital "breaking points," the story of this couple is kinda messy and incredibly fascinating.
The Larry David Connection (Yes, Really)
It’s almost too perfect that the man who created a show about social awkwardness is the one who introduced them. Larry David actually set up the first meeting. It happened way back in 2006 during a ski weekend fundraiser for the Waterkeeper Alliance. At the time, both were married to other people. Hines was with her first husband, Paul Young, and Kennedy was with his second wife, Mary Richardson.
They didn’t start dating immediately. Life happened. Divorces happened. Fast forward to 2011, and they reconnected. Hines has described those early dates as a "dream," even if they were a bit eccentric. She once joked in her memoir Unscripted that the only thing bringing her back to earth during those first New York City outings was the "rancid smell of roadkill in Bobby’s minivan."
If that doesn't scream "Kennedy romance," I don't know what does.
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A Wedding at the Compound
They eventually tied the knot on August 2, 2014. The setting was the legendary Kennedy family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. It was a massive affair, despite the couple initially wanting to just elope with their kids. When you're a Kennedy—or marrying one—"simple" isn't usually in the cards. The guest list was a weirdly perfect blend of Hollywood and politics. You had Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Kevin Nealon mingling with Senator Ed Markey.
Hines even wore a Jackie Kennedy-inspired wedding gown. It was a symbolic nod to the dynasty she was joining.
Navigating the D.C. Minefield
Being Robert Kennedy Junior's wife in 2026 means living a life of total opposites. On one hand, she's an Emmy-nominated actress with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On the other, she’s the spouse of a high-ranking Cabinet official in Washington, D.C.
The transition hasn't been easy. Hines has been very open about the fact that she "hit a wall" when her husband’s political career took off. There were rumors of a "fake separation" suggested by Bobby himself to protect her from the vitriol of his critics. She shut that down fast. She didn't want to be caught in a lie by the paparazzi.
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Then there was the Olivia Nuzzi scandal in late 2024. Reports of a "personal relationship" between her husband and the journalist nearly broke them. Hines admitted she felt "unimportant" and "distant." She even stopped wearing her wedding ring for a bit. But they didn't split. According to her, they "locked themselves in a room" and "drilled down on the truth." It sounds intense because it probably was.
The Blended Family Dynamic
One thing people often overlook is how many kids are involved in this situation. It’s a huge group.
- Hines has one daughter, Catherine Rose Young, from her first marriage.
- Kennedy has six children from his previous marriages: Bobby III, Kick, Conor, Kyra, Finn, and Aidan.
That’s seven kids total. Despite the political rifts within the wider Kennedy clan—some of whom have publicly called Bobby's views "dangerous"—the immediate family seems to stay tight. Hines has noted that even when she and Bobby have "heated discussions" about facts and studies, they always come back to the kids.
Life in the Cabinet Era
Since Kennedy was sworn in as Secretary of Health and Human Services in early 2025, Hines has officially moved to Washington. They live in a $4.4 million townhouse in Georgetown. It’s a big shift from their $6.6 million Brentwood home in California.
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She’s recently released a memoir titled Unscripted, where she talks about the "entertainment bubble" she used to live in. Honestly, it sounds like she’s still adjusting. She’s making friends with other Cabinet spouses, but she’s lost some Hollywood friends who couldn't stomach her husband's politics.
Basically, her life is a constant balancing act between being a supportive partner and maintaining her own identity. She’s even launched an eco-friendly brand with her daughter, Catherine, called Hines + Young. It’s a way to keep one foot in her own world while the other is planted in the middle of a political hurricane.
What We Can Learn From the Hines-Kennedy Dynamic
If you're looking at this from the outside, it’s easy to judge. But there are a few actionable takeaways if you’re navigating your own complex family or career shifts:
- Communicate through the "Walls": When things got bad, they stopped everything to talk. It's a cliché, but it apparently worked for them.
- Maintain Your Own Brand: Hines didn't just become "the wife." She wrote a book, stayed active in advocacy for United Cerebral Palsy, and kept her business going.
- Accept Disagreement: Hines has publicly stated she doesn't always agree with her husband. She sees "both sides" of the vaccine debate and isn't afraid to say it's "complicated."
Staying relevant in 2026 as a political spouse requires a thick skin and a sense of humor. Luckily, after years of working with Larry David, Hines has plenty of both.
If you want to keep up with how the "MAHA" (Make America Healthy Again) movement is affecting their personal lives, keep an eye on Hines' press tour for Unscripted. She’s not holding back as much as you’d think.