Academy Award-nominated actor Don Cheadle offered a surprising and tongue-in-cheek answer when asked about the secret to his decades-long relationship with wife Bridgid Coulter. Cheadle, 61, joked that “dr*gs” were the key to nearly 30 years of partnership, drawing laughs from an audience at the All the President’s Men benefit reading in Los Angeles on Monday.
Cheadle and Coulter, who began dating in 1992, finally married in a small ceremony during the COVID-19 pandemic, after more than 28 years together. The couple share two adult daughters, Ayana and Imani.
“Drugs, yeah, mostly drugs,” Cheadle said, pausing for a smile before clarifying his remark was meant in jest and not as serious advice. “We’re tight. We’re tight-knit, and we support each other. So it’s been great.”
A Long Road to “I Do”
Cheadle has a history of blending humor with heartfelt candor when discussing his relationship. In a 2021 interview, he explained that practical considerations played a role in why the couple waited so long to wed. “Our accountant proposed to both of us and he showed us the numbers,” Cheadle once quipped. “And we said, yeah, we should probably do it.”
He said then that the idea of marriage came up in conversation many times over the years. “It came up a lot of times. But every time, we were like, ‘But we’re already together?’” he recalled. “Really it’s because our accountant proposed to us. I wish there were some big sweet romantic story.”
Coulter described their intimate backyard ceremony at the time as “just beautiful,” adding it was meaningful because it was private and centered on their family.
Friends and colleagues have often marveled at the couple’s steady bond in an industry known for short-lived relationships. Cheadle’s humor, grounded in sincerity, sheds light on how the pair navigated Hollywood’s ups and downs.
While Cheadle’s off-the-cuff remark about drugs grabbed headlines, his broader message was clear: enduring relationships require support, patience and shared laughter. “We support each other,” he told the crowd. “So it’s been great.”
Coulter, an actress and producer who has worked with Cheadle on several projects over the years, has been described by friends as his anchor. Their relationship survived Hollywood pressures, long work hours and life changes with a blend of mutual respect and humor.