You know Ted McGinley. Even if you don't think you do, you do. He’s the guy who showed up on Happy Days, The Love Boat, and Dynasty right before things got weird—leading to that whole "Patron Saint of Jumping the Shark" label that he actually wears with a decent amount of pride. But while his TV characters like Jefferson D'Arcy were often scheming or a little bit shallow, his real life is remarkably stable. Honestly, in a town where marriages usually have the shelf life of a carton of milk, Ted McGinley and wife Gigi Rice are basically an anomaly.
They’ve been married since 1991. Think about that for a second. That’s over three decades of navigating Hollywood’s ego-driven waters without a single messy tabloid scandal.
How It Actually Started (It Wasn’t a Red Carpet)
A lot of people assume they met on a sitcom set. It makes sense, right? They both have those "classically attractive TV star" vibes. But the truth is a bit more old-school. They actually met in Jupiter, Florida.
Ted was there doing a play at the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre. Burt Reynolds was a huge mentor to both of them. Gigi, who is an accomplished actress herself (you’ve seen her in The John Larroquette Show and A Night at the Roxbury), was a student at the theater institute.
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A Florida Connection
- The Meeting Spot: Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre.
- The Vibe: High-stakes theater training under a legend.
- The Result: Total "love at first sight" for Gigi, though they both admit they fell pretty hard and fast.
They didn't just date for a few months and call it. They moved to Los Angeles together and settled into the Hollywood Hills, though they eventually moved to Pacific Palisades because Gigi wanted a place with actual sidewalks where they could walk with their kids. It’s those kinds of "normal" decisions that seem to define their relationship.
Why the "Ted McGinley and Wife" Dynamic Defies Hollywood Logic
There is this weird thing that happens when two actors get married. Usually, one person's career takes off and the other's stalls, leading to a lot of resentment. Or they both get famous and can't handle the competition. Ted and Gigi somehow skipped that script.
Ted is currently having a massive career resurgence on the Apple TV+ hit Shrinking as Derek. If you haven't seen it, he plays the "husband who is always just there in the background being hilarious," and honestly, it’s some of his best work. Meanwhile, Gigi has consistently worked for decades. She’s appeared in everything from Frasier to 9-1-1.
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They recently became the honorary co-mayors of Pacific Palisades, taking over the role from Eugene Levy. That’s not a "fame-hungry" move. That’s a "we really love our community" move.
Raising a Family Away from the Cameras
The couple has two sons, Beau and Quinn. You don't see them plastered all over Instagram or starring in a reality show about "The McGinleys." That’s intentional. Ted has often said in interviews, especially recently while promoting his faith-based series The Baxters, that family comes first. Period.
It’s interesting to hear him talk about his "faults." In a 2024 interview, he admitted that he has a tendency to just "keep moving on" and doesn't always stay in touch with old co-stars. But he doesn't move on from his family. He’s the guy who prioritizes the Sunday dinner over the industry party.
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The Secrets to a 34-Year Marriage
- They actually like each other. It sounds simple, but Gigi recently told Circling the News that they love each other’s company even more today than they did at the start.
- Shared Faith. Ted has been very open lately about how his faith guides his decisions, and it’s clearly a foundation for their household.
- No Ego. You don't see them competing for the spotlight. When they show up on red carpets—like they did for the SAG Awards in 2025—they look like a team, not two solo acts.
What Most People Get Wrong
People love to joke about Ted McGinley being the "show killer" because he joined series late in their runs. But look at the math. He was on Married... with Children for nearly 200 episodes. That’s not a fluke. He’s a pro. And you don’t stay a pro in this business without a solid home life to ground you.
When you search for Ted McGinley and wife, you aren't going to find "10 Shocking Secrets." What you find is a couple that survived the 80s, the 90s, and the current streaming era by being remarkably normal. They deal with the same stuff everyone else does: finding a neighborhood with good sidewalks, raising kids, and figuring out what’s for dinner.
What We Can Learn From Them
Honestly, the biggest takeaway from their marriage is that "boring" is actually a superpower. They aren't chasing headlines. They are chasing longevity. If you're looking for a blueprint on how to stay married while working in a high-stress industry, you could do a lot worse than looking at these two.
If you want to keep up with what they're doing now, keep an eye out for Ted in the latest season of Shrinking or look for Gigi’s upcoming guest spots. They’re still very much in the game, just on their own terms.
Actionable Insight: If you're struggling to balance a high-pressure career with your personal life, take a page from the McGinley book: prioritize your local community and don't be afraid to move to where the "sidewalks" are. Your environment dictates your peace.