Dan Bucatinsky and Don Roos celebrate 33 years of love and laughter
'The key is allowing each other space while sharing what we love' says Bucatinsky of his 33-year marriage
Dan Bucatinsky and Don Roos have been proving that long-lasting love is possible in Hollywood.
The Emmy-winning actor and writer sat down exclusively with People to share the secret to his 33-year relationship with the acclaimed writer-director.
“When I met Don, he was one of Hollywood’s top screenwriters, and I was working in the box office of the Canon Theatre selling cassette tapes for Forever Plaid,” Bucatinsky, 60, recalled.
“It’s been a wild ride watching each other’s careers blossom and raising two incredible kids, Eliza, 21, and Jonah, 18.”
The couple legally married in 2008, shortly after same-sex marriage became legal in the U.S. “We had kids at that point and we were like, ‘I think we should probably make this legitimate,’” Bucatinsky said.
So, what’s the secret to more than three decades together? “The key to the longevity is acknowledging our differences and allowing each of us to not expect the other one to share every experience and every interest,” Bucatinsky explained.
“Don and I are really different—he loves to be indoors, I love the outdoors. I’m an extrovert, he recharges with his face in a book. But we come together to share so many things we love.”
He added with a laugh, “We both make each other laugh, which I think is probably job one.”
Both have successful Hollywood careers, and their paths have intersected professionally as well.
Bucatinsky has starred in shows like Scandal, Hacks, and The Comeback, while Roos has written or directed films such as The Opposite of Sex and Marley & Me.
They’ve also collaborated on projects like Web Therapy and Who Do You Think You Are?
Bucatinsky emphasized that embracing individuality has been essential. “It’s a natural impulse to want your other half to join you in all the things you love, and it’s not necessarily realistic or fair.
Letting each other find what we love while building a home, raising kids, traveling, laughing—that’s what works for us,” he said.
Currently, Bucatinsky stars as Billy Stanton in the third and final season of The Comeback, airing Sundays at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO Max.