Inside Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell's 40-Year Love Story

Famous love stories never fail to make us swoon, especially when we get to see them play out in the public eye. Such is the case with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell—two of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who also happen to have one of our favorite romances of all time. Although the stars never formally got married, they've been together for 40 years. They have one of Hollywood's longest-lasting relationships, which, in our opinion, is a feat worth celebrating.

Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn's undeniable chemistry has sizzled on-screen, but their relationship is even better off-camera. After meeting in 1966 and reconnecting 17 years later, Kurt, 72, and Goldie, 78, continue to steal our hearts with their love and adoration for each other. Here, we look back on their incredible decade-spanning love story, breaking down their complete relationship timeline, their modern blended family, and the reason why they've never tied the knot.

• Although Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn aren't married, they've been together for 40 years.
• Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell first met in 1966 on a movie set. They reconnected 17 years later when they starred in Swing Shift.
• Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell have three children from previous relationships and one son together. Today, they're proud grandparents of eight.

In this article:

• Are Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn Married?
• Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell's Relationship Timeline
• All About Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn's Kids

Are Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn Married?

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So, are Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn married? The answer is no. Although they've been together for 40 years, they never legally sealed the deal—a decision they still stand by to this day. When asked by CNN host Chris Wallace about their choice to never head down the aisle, Hawn replied, "Why should we get married? Isn't that a better question? I like the idea that I can wake up in the morning and make decisions every day if I want to be here." She continued, "Ultimately, staying independent with independent thinking is important. So you can hold on to yourself and you're going to actually have that feeling."

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Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell's Relationship Timeline

We're suckers for a good love story, and this one certainly doesn't disappoint. It took nearly 20 years after their first meeting for Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell to fall in love and embark on their lifelong partnership—and we break down all the sweet details here.

1966: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell Meet on Set

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Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn met in 1966 on the set of Disney's musical The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band. At the time, both actors were determined to not date anyone else in the industry. Plus, given their six-year age difference, romance simply wasn't in the cards.

In 2012, Hawn reminisced about their first encounter, saying, "I was 21 and he was 16 and I thought he was adorable but he was much too young. And then years later we met up again and I liked him and I remembered that I liked him very much when I first met him. But we both said we would never go out with another actor so it just shows you never can tell."

1983: Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn Start Dating

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Seventeen years later, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell reconnected at his audition for the movie Swing Shift. Russell, who was reading lines with Hawn, told Conan O'Brien that he almost ruined the encounter...because he was so hungover. "I didn't know Goldie at all outside of having worked with her many years before," he explained to the late-night host. "I just didn't know in my mind what I was going to see. She had a great body, and so the first that came out was 'Man, you got a great figure.' And it kind of came out quickly and it could've been wrong and she said, 'Why thank you.'"

Their first date took place shortly after, and it was rather eventful. The night began with swing dancing at the Playboy Club before they visited an empty house Hawn had recently begun renovating. One thing led to another, and they had a moment of intimacy when they were busted…by cops! "The police walked in because we had to break into the place to get in," Russell recalled on the talk show Harry. "That was our first date. It was a lot of fun, I'll tell you what. I can't believe it was a long time ago."

1984: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell Star in Swing Shift

Russell ultimately booked the role on Swing Shift, and the couple fell in love while filming the romantic drama. Reflecting on their early days together, Hawn told People that she quickly developed feelings for her costar. "He was so good-looking, but he had no pretense about him," she explained. "I could tell right away he wasn't a womanizer."

What sealed the deal, though, was how he interacted with her children. (Hawn shares children Oliver and Kate Hudson with her ex-husband Bill Husdon, while Russell had a son, Boston Russell, from his previous marriage.) "What really got me was when I watched my kids when they'd come to the set and how he was with them," she continued. "He was amazing with them. He was such a natural."

July 10, 1986: Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn Welcome a Son

Three years into their relationship, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell's blended family grew once again. They welcomed their first child together, son Wyatt Russell, on July 10, 1986.

1987: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell Star in Overboard

Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn's undeniable chemistry stole the screen in their comedy Overboard, which premiered in 1987. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live in 2020, the actress revealed that she and her partner rarely watch their own movies—but when Overboard came on the TV unexpectedly one night, they couldn't help but relive the fun. "It was so fabulous... how we started looking at what we did together," she told host Andy Cohen. "It was great!"

March 29, 1989: Goldie and Kurt Fake a Proposal at the Oscars

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This iconic moment at the 1989 Oscars was the closest Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell ever got to a proposal. While presenting the award for Best Director, the two tricked fans into thinking they were about to get engaged. "We fit in completely to the theme of the show," Hawn began. "Because we're costars, we're compadres, we're companions and we're a couple." Russell said, "There's only one thing we're not…married." With a coy laugh, Hawn asked, "Is that a proposal?"

While the audience erupted in cheers, Russell looked backstage and said, "Oh, they want us to speed things up...listen, we'll talk about it later tonight." Hawn joked, "We will talk about that later."

The actress shared the clip on Instagram in honor of Russell's birthday in 2021, writing, "No, we never got married but one thing that continues to grow is our love. You're a wild one, brilliant, lovable, childlike, perfectly maddening, a father supreme and deeply funny! I can't imagine my life without you at any age, Kurt Russell. You're the catch. And you're all mine."

January 2004: Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn Become Grandparents

From co-stars to grandparents! Kurt and Goldie looked forward to welcoming this milestone, with the actress telling People in 2003 that she would "love to be a grandmother." Her wish was fulfilled when her daughter, Kate Hudson, welcomed son Ryder Russell Robinson with her then-husband Chris Robinson in 2004. In a separate interview with the outlet, Kate opened up about her desire to quickly start her own family. "I want (children) early enough to really experience my parents young. I want my parents to be able to see my kids graduate from high school."

May 4, 2017: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell Receive Hollywood Stars

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Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell's illustrious careers were celebrated when they both received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2017—and their speeches were incredibly moving and emotional. "To you, I owe my wonderful life," Russell said to his longtime love. "Simply put Goldie, I cherish you. All the stars in the sky or on the boulevard can't hold a candle to that... There's no one else I'd rather be next to for all of that than Goldie Hawn."

November 2018: Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn Act Together Again

To the delight of fans everywhere, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn shared the screen once again nearly 30 years after Overboard premiered. The couple starred in The Christmas Chronicles, a Netflix holiday film in which they play Mr. and Mrs. Claus. It was a family affair, as their son Oliver also appeared in the movie. They reprised their role in the sequel, which was released in 2020.

March 2023: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell Share Why They Never Got Married

It's one of the most common questions they receive. (Seriously—read or watch any interview with this famous duo, and there's a good chance it'll come up.) So, why did Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn never get married? In a 2023 interview with Variety, Russell opened up about facing the question constantly in the 1980s. "We were like, 'Why does anybody care about that?'" At one point, they even asked for input from their family about the potential of tying the knot. "We'd asked our kids if they cared about it," he continued. "They didn't. We didn't."

Hawn added more context in a 2023 interview with CNN. "I like the idea that I can wake up in the morning and make decisions every day if I want to be here," she explained. "Ultimately, staying independent with independent thinking is important. So you can hold on to yourself and you're going to actually have that feeling."

All About Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell's Kids

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Given their status as Hollywood legends, it's no surprise that Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell's kids followed in their parents' famous footsteps. Goldie Hawn's daughter from her previous marriage is Kate Hudson, a beloved actress known for her role in iconic rom-coms like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Bride Wars, Almost Famous, and many more. Her brother, Oliver Hudson, is also an actor, known for projects like Rules of Engagement, The Cleaning Lady, and Splitting Up Together.

Kurt Russell's son from his previous marriage is Boston Russell. Unlike his siblings, Boston didn't pursue a career in the public eye. He has one credit as a production assistant from 1996 but otherwise stays out of the spotlight. On rare occasions, he has appeared on red carpets to support his family.

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell welcomed one child together, son Wyatt Russell, who was born in 1986. A former ice hockey player, Wyatt is now an actor known for his work in the Marvel series The Falcon and Winter Soldier.

The Hawn-Russell family continues to grow. Goldie and Kurt are grandparents to Kate's three kids: Rani Rose, Bingham and Ryder; Oliver's three kids: Bodhi, Wilder and Rio; and Wyatt's son, Buddy.