Ralph Macchio became a household name in 1984 when The Karate Kid premiered as one of the year's most popular movies. Since then, he's kept busy by appearing in popular films and TV shows (My Cousin Vinny, Ugly Betty). But in 2018, he found a major career resurgence when he reprised his role as Daniel LaRusso on the new hit show, Cobra Kai (seasons 1-4 are now on Netflix, and season 5 comes out in September). Macchio's Hollywood career has spanned four decades, and one part of his life that has remained consistent throughout all of it is his relationship with his wife of 35 years, Phyllis Fierro.
Believe it or not, Macchio and Fierro, who is currently a nurse practitioner and has worked on the front lines amid COVID-19, met when they were teenagers. The two first started talking in his grandmother's basement during his cousin's birthday party. "I was 15 ... and we met at my cousin's Sweet Sixteen ... and we met and hit it off, and we're still in love, and it's awesome," Macchio said during an episode of Live! With Kelly and Ryan in 2019.
![new york, ny october 04 actor ralph macchio and wife, nurse practitioner, phyllis fierro attend the divorce new york premiere at sva theater on october 4, 2016 in new york city photo by gilbert carrasquillofilmmagic](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/ralph-macchio-phyllis-fierro-recent-1610040060.jpg?resize=980:* ""Divorce" New York Premiere")
The two married 12 years later on April 5, 1987. In 1992, they welcomed their first child, a daughter named Julia, into the word, and in 1996 they had their son, Daniel. Both Julia and Daniel have followed in their father's footsteps. Julia is a dancer and actress (Girl Most Likely, Stella's Last Weekend), and Daniel (yes, he's named after the Karate Kid character) is a composer and actor (From the Heart of the Crowd).
Macchio and Fierro celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary this year, and the actor recently opened up to People about what he thinks is the key to his successful marriage. "It's the belief through the easy times, through the tough times, whatever we encounter, that we are meant to be together."
Aww!
Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers gift guides, product reviews, crafts, and TV shows like Yellowstone. She’s currently stitching up a cross-stitch pattern for the magazine’s next issue
