Hollywood is basically a graveyard for long-term relationships. Honestly, it’s rare to see a couple last through a single press tour, let alone decades of intense public scrutiny, health scares, and the weird age-gap discourse that follows them everywhere. But when you ask who is Catherine Zeta-Jones married to, the answer has remained famously consistent since the turn of the millennium. She is married to Michael Douglas.
They’ve been together for over twenty-five years. That is an eternity in movie star years.
It’s easy to forget just how much of a stir they caused back in the day. He’s exactly 25 years older than her. Curiously, they even share the same birthday—September 25th. If you’re into astrology or just weird coincidences, that’s a pretty heavy one. When they first started dating in the late 90s, people were skeptical. They figured it was a classic Tinseltown fling. But here we are in 2026, and they are still standing.
The Deauville Film Festival: Where it all started
The story of how they met sounds like something out of a screenplay, which is fitting. It was 1998 at the Deauville Film Festival in France. Catherine was there promoting The Mask of Zorro, the movie that basically made her a global superstar overnight. Michael was there for A Perfect Murder.
The legend goes that Michael Douglas walked up to her and said, "I want to father your children."
Bold. Maybe even a little bit cringe by today's standards? Catherine’s response was apparently a very cool, "I’ve heard a lot about you and I’ve seen a lot about you, and I think it’s time I say goodnight." She left for Scotland the next morning. But Michael wasn't having it. He sent her flowers and a massive apology, and the rest is history. They weren't just some casual tabloid fodder; they were the real deal.
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Who is Catherine Zeta-Jones married to today? A look at Michael Douglas
To understand the dynamic, you have to look at who Michael Douglas is beyond just being the husband. He isn't just an actor; he’s Hollywood royalty. The son of the legendary Kirk Douglas, Michael carved out a career that arguably eclipsed his father's in terms of sheer box office power and awards. We’re talking about the man who produced One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and starred as Gordon Gekko in Wall Street.
When they married in November 2000, it was the wedding of the century. It happened at the Plaza Hotel in New York. It cost a reported $1.5 million. In 2000 money, that was an astronomical sum.
Breaking down the age gap stigma
People love to talk about the 25-year difference. It’s the first thing critics pointed to when they got engaged. Catherine has always been pretty blunt about it, though. She’s often mentioned in interviews that she’s always been more "old soul" and that Michael's maturity was a draw, not a drawback.
It’s interesting because as the years have passed, that gap has mattered less and less to the public. When you see them on red carpets now, they just look like a seasoned, comfortable couple. They’ve navigated Michael’s battle with stage IV tongue cancer (originally reported as throat cancer) and Catherine’s own public struggles with Bipolar II disorder. Those aren't the kind of things a "trophy marriage" survives.
The 2013 "Break" that everyone thought was the end
It wasn't always smooth sailing. If you were following the trades back in 2013, you probably remember the headlines. The couple announced a "break" to "evaluate and work on their marriage."
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Usually, in celebrity-speak, that’s code for "my lawyer is currently drafting the divorce papers."
But they actually did the work. They spent about six months apart, lived in separate houses for a bit, and then quietly reconciled. It’s one of the few instances where a high-profile Hollywood separation didn't end in a multi-million dollar settlement. They just... stayed married. Catherine has since said that you can't expect the "honeymoon period" to last forever and that a long marriage requires a lot of "giving and taking."
Their life in the 2020s
These days, the focus has shifted toward their children, Dylan and Carys. Both have shown interest in the family business, which isn't surprising given their DNA. The family lived in Bermuda for quite a while to give the kids a "normal" upbringing away from the paparazzi, but they’ve since moved back into the thick of it with homes in New York and Europe.
Michael is still working, recently seen in the Ant-Man franchise and The Kominsky Method. Catherine has had a massive resurgence too, especially with her role as Morticia Addams in Wednesday. They are both very much still in the game.
Key Facts about the Douglas-Zeta-Jones Marriage
If you’re looking for the quick stats to settle a bet, here’s the breakdown of the marriage that everyone thought wouldn't last:
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- Wedding Date: November 18, 2000.
- The Venue: The Plaza Hotel, NYC.
- The Age Difference: Exactly 25 years.
- Shared Birthday: September 25th.
- The Children: Dylan Michael (born 2000) and Carys Zeta (born 2003).
- Total Years Together: Over 25 years (including the dating period starting in 1999).
Why their relationship still matters in pop culture
We live in an era of "starter marriages" and PR-managed relationships. Seeing a couple like Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas stay together through genuine health crises and mental health struggles is actually kind of refreshing. It’s not just about who is Catherine Zeta-Jones married to; it’s about the fact that they’ve managed to maintain a private core in a very loud industry.
They don't overshare on social media. They don't do "at home" reality shows. They maintain a bit of that old-school Hollywood mystery.
Michael once said in an interview with AARP that the secret to their longevity was "mutual respect" and "kindness." It sounds simple, almost too simple. But when you’re both multimillionaires with massive egos and the world watching your every move, kindness is probably the hardest thing to maintain.
Looking ahead: The Douglas legacy
As we move further into the late 2020s, the "Douglas" name is essentially a dynasty. With Michael entering his 80s and Catherine still very much a leading lady in her 50s, the dynamic has shifted. She’s often the one taking center stage at events now.
There’s a lot of talk about Michael retiring, but he seems to be one of those guys who will work until he can't. Catherine, meanwhile, is expanding into lifestyle branding and more prestige TV. They seem to have found a balance where they aren't competing for the spotlight, which is often what kills celebrity unions.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers
If you are researching the couple or just curious about their history, keep these nuances in mind:
- Check the sources on Michael's health: Many older articles cite throat cancer, but Michael later clarified it was tongue cancer. He reportedly hid the specific type on the advice of his surgeon to avoid the stigma and potential for disfiguring surgery talk.
- Look at the 2013 reconciliation: This is a case study in celebrity crisis management. They didn't do a tell-all interview immediately; they waited until they were solid before speaking about it.
- The Pre-nup: While the details are private, it was a massive story in 2000. It's often cited in legal circles as one of the most comprehensive celebrity prenuptial agreements ever drafted, which ironically might be one reason they stayed together long enough to actually work through their problems.
- Follow their official social media for accuracy: Catherine is surprisingly active on Instagram, often posting throwback photos that give a more authentic look at their domestic life than the tabloid shots from the 90s.
The answer to who is Catherine Zeta-Jones married to is Michael Douglas, but the "why" is much more interesting. It's a mix of old-fashioned grit, a very specific pre-written "agreement" on how to handle their lives, and a genuine shared history that outlasts the superficiality of their industry. They’ve proven the skeptics wrong for over two decades, which, in Hollywood, is the ultimate win.