Tony Hawk has landed plenty of 900s, but landing a marriage that lasted was a different kind of trick.
For years, the headlines around the Birdman were as much about his revolving door of wives as they were about his vertical air. People love a scandal. And when Tony Hawk and wife Catherine Goodman first got together, the rumor mill was absolutely spinning. Why? Because Cathy was the ex-wife of Matt Goodman—Tony’s childhood best friend and business partner.
Matt was a groomsman in Tony’s first three weddings. Yeah. It was heavy.
But here’s the thing about the internet: it loves a messy narrative, even if the real people involved have moved on. While everyone was busy calling it a "betrayal," the actual humans in the room were quietly building a stable, blended family that has now survived over a decade. Honestly, it’s probably the most "adult" thing Tony has ever done.
The Limerick Wedding and a Non-Traditional Vibe
Tony and Cathy didn't go for the typical California beach wedding. On June 27, 2015, they flew to Ireland. They tied the knot at Adare Manor in Limerick, and if you saw the photos, you’d know it wasn't your standard white-lace affair.
Cathy wore a black lace gown. Tony was in a sharp black suit.
It looked more like a high-fashion funeral for their old lives than a wedding, but in the best way possible. Tony’s kids were all there—Riley, Spencer, Keegan, and Kadence. Cathy’s kids were there, too. They weren't just joining two people; they were merging two entire ecosystems. Tony’s caption on Instagram at the time was simple: "Tying the Celtic knot with my best friend."
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It’s easy to roll your eyes at the "best friend" trope in celebrity marriages, especially after three divorces. But with Cathy, the vibe felt different from the jump.
Why the First Three Didn’t Work
You can't understand why Tony Hawk and wife Catherine Goodman work without looking at the wreckage of the previous three attempts. Tony has been pretty candid about this lately.
- Cindy Dunbar (1990–1993): They were high school sweethearts. Tony was barely in his twenties and the skate industry was actually dying at the time. They had Riley, but Tony was traveling constantly to save his career. Neither of them was ready for the "real world."
- Erin Lee (1996–2004): This was the era of the Pro Skater video games. Tony became a global icon overnight. Success is great for the bank account, but it's a nightmare for a marriage if you’re never home.
- Lhotse Merriam (2006–2011): This one ended in the most public way possible when the "best friend’s wife" news broke.
Tony admits he was a "workaholic." He prioritized the board over the breakfast table. By the time he met Cathy, he wasn't just a skater; he was a man who realized that if he didn't change his approach, he’d be 80 years old and alone.
Catherine Goodman: The Artist and the Anchor
So, who is she?
Catherine Goodman isn't some "trophy wife" or a corporate executive. She’s a British-born artist with a background in film production. She’s got this edgy, creative energy that matches Tony’s, but she’s also remarkably grounded.
They share a "unique" approach to parenting. Tony told the Sydney Morning Herald that they connect on a deep level about how to raise their kids to be independent. It's not about being "alternative" for the sake of it. It’s about giving their kids the tools to make good choices.
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You see them together at the Oscars or at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and they look... relaxed. That’s the word. No forced smiles for the paparazzi. Just two people watching skateboarding with Snoop Dogg.
The Grandma "Only Rule"
The family grew again recently. Riley Hawk—who is now a pro skater himself—married Frances Bean Cobain (yes, Kurt Cobain’s daughter). In September 2024, they had a son named Ronin.
Tony is a grandpa now.
But Cathy is the one keeping him in check. Tony recently shared that he has exactly one rule when it comes to the baby: He can’t stand the kid up on a skateboard yet.
"She said, 'You can't stand up. That's the only rule,'" Tony told People. Why? Because that’s a milestone Riley needs to have with his son first. It’s a small detail, but it shows the kind of emotional intelligence Cathy brings to the family dynamic. She knows where the boundaries are.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that their relationship destroyed a friendship.
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While the optics were definitely weird in 2011, Matt Goodman eventually came out and said he was "totally cool" with it. He had already split from Cathy a year before she started seeing Tony. They’ve all been in communication. The kids are all friends.
It’s a reminder that real life is usually a lot more boring—and more mature—than the tabloids want you to believe.
Actionable Takeaways for Blended Families
Tony and Cathy’s relationship isn't just celebrity gossip; it’s a case study in making a complex family work. If you're in a similar spot, there are a few things you can learn from how they handled the transition:
- Prioritize the Kids’ Stability: Tony’s kids had a "rough upbringing" with different co-parents, as Riley admitted in the Until the Wheels Fall Off documentary. Tony and Cathy focused on making the transition as smooth as possible by keeping everyone involved.
- Set Hard Boundaries with Travel: Tony significantly scaled back the "always-on" mentality that killed his first three marriages.
- Respect the "Firsts": Cathy’s rule about the grandson and the skateboard is a perfect example of respecting the roles of the next generation.
- Ignore the Noise: If they had listened to the public outcry in 2011, they wouldn't be celebrating 10+ years together now.
Tony Hawk and wife Catherine Goodman aren't a "perfect" couple because perfection doesn't exist in the skate world or the real world. They’re a successful couple because they stopped trying to perform for the crowd and started focused on the people inside their own house.
For more on the Birdman's current life, you can check out his recent work with the The Skatepark Project, where he and Cathy are both involved in bringing safe places to skate to underserved communities.