Warren Beatty spent decades as the poster boy for the "eternal bachelor." He was the guy who seemingly dated every famous woman in Hollywood, from Madonna to Diane Keaton. People just assumed he’d never settle down. Honestly, the betting odds on him ever wearing a wedding ring were slim to none for a long time.
Then came 1991.
If you're wondering who is Warren Beatty married to, the answer has been the same for over thirty years: Annette Bening. They’ve been married since 1992, which is basically several centuries in "Hollywood years." While many expected a short-lived fling between two stars, they ended up building one of the most stable families in the industry.
The lunch that changed everything
It’s kinda wild how it started. In 1990, Beatty was looking for a leading lady for his movie Bugsy. He met Annette Bening for a business lunch to discuss the role of Virginia Hill. Beatty later told the New York Post that it took about ten minutes—maybe five—to realize he was in trouble. He was famously quoted as saying he felt "elated" but also felt the "passing of a way of life." Basically, he knew the playboy days were numbered the second he saw her.
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He actually called the director, Barry Levinson, right after that lunch and told him he was going to marry her.
Bening, for her part, wasn't just impressed by the looks. She’s mentioned on The Drew Barrymore Show that his intelligence was the real "aphrodisiac." They didn't even start dating during the filming of Bugsy. Beatty actually promised her he wouldn't hit on her while they were working. He kept that promise until the very end of the shoot when he finally asked her out to dinner.
Avoiding divorce by waiting
Beatty was 54 when he finally tied the knot. That's pretty late by traditional standards, but he has a very specific philosophy on it. He’s said in multiple interviews, including one with TODAY, that he wasn't trying to avoid marriage all those years; he was trying to avoid divorce. He wanted to be absolutely sure.
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The family life nobody expected
After they got married in March 1992, the guy who used to be everywhere suddenly... disappeared? Sorta. He took a massive 15-year hiatus from the movie business. He wasn't bored; he was just busy being a dad.
The couple has four children:
- Stephen Ira Beatty: Born in 1992, just a month before their wedding. He is a writer and activist.
- Benjamin Beatty: Born in 1994, arriving right around the time their second movie together, Love Affair, came out.
- Isabel Beatty: Born in 1997.
- Ella Beatty: Born in 2000. She’s recently followed in the family footsteps, appearing in the series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.
Beatty has called his children the "biggest thing" that ever happened to him. He’s even described Stephen as a "hero" and a "genius." It’s clear that for a guy who once lived for the limelight, the quiet life at home became the actual priority.
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Are they still together in 2026?
Yes. Despite the occasional "sad" YouTube thumbnail or tabloid rumor suggesting isolation, Annette Bening and Warren Beatty remain married. Bening is still very active in the industry—she recently picked up another Oscar nomination for Nyad—and she speaks about Warren with a lot of warmth.
She told PEOPLE that marriage is the "greatest challenge" but also the greatest thing. They’ve managed to navigate a 21-year age gap and the pressures of fame by keeping their private life mostly private. They don't parade their kids on red carpets constantly. They don't do reality shows. They just... live.
What we can learn from them
The secret to their longevity seems to be mutual respect and a genuine interest in each other. Bening has noted that Beatty is a "terrific audience" and a great listener. In an industry where relationships often end over ego or scheduling conflicts, they decided early on to prioritize the home front.
If you’re looking to follow their lead on maintaining a long-term partnership, focus on these real-world takeaways:
- Wait until you're ready: Don't rush into a legal commitment if you're still looking for "the next best thing."
- Respect the "off-screen" time: Beatty’s willingness to step away from his career to raise his kids shows that balance requires sacrifice.
- Find an intellectual match: Bening often cites Beatty's mind as the thing that keeps her interested.
To get a better sense of their dynamic, you can watch their onscreen chemistry in Bugsy (1991) or the remake of Love Affair (1994). Both films offer a glimpse into the spark that turned a legendary bachelor into a devoted family man.