From teen sweethearts to lifelong partners: Stars who found love early

Love at first sight have you heard of it? From childhood buddies to life partners, and building a family together is something most people fantasize about.

Some celebrities have held on to something far rarer than fame, the love they found long before the red carpets and flashing cameras.

From high school crushes to lifelong partners, these stars prove that true love can flourish even under the spotlight.

1. Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Coogler:

Ryan Coogler first met his wife, Zinzi, during their teenage years in California, and the two have been inseparable ever since.

In an interview on Hot 97, Ryan shared that his wife played a huge role in his success as he recalled that She gifted him the $300 screenwriting program Final Draft when he couldn’t afford it, helping him launch his film making career.

“My wife, she was my girl at the time, [and] they had a software where you could write screenplays. I was trying to write in Microsoft Word. It’s impossible because your format gotta be right."

He continued, “I was broke, playing football on the little scholarship money. And my wife scrapped together some cheese and bought me Final Draft, which is the software that you write your movies on. And she got me that."

The two got married in 2016 and are parents to two children.

2. Denzel Washington and Pauletta Washington:

Denzel Washington first met Pauletta Washington, who starred in Jesus Christ Supersta, on the set of his first movie, 1977's Wilma and the two got married in 1983. They are parents to four children.

"You can buy a house, but that doesn't make it a home," Denzel told People in 2018. "And not to say a man can't make a home a home, but my wife has made our house a home, and raised these beautiful kids and protected them and sacrificed for them, she did the heavy lifting."

Back in November The Equalizer star appeared on Tom Brady's radio show and parised his wife, saying, "I have been blessed beyond measure with the greatest woman in the world, who not only is a beautiful woman and a great wife and a great mother of our children, but she holds everything together.”

3. Marcus Mumford and Carey Mulligan:

Marcus Mumford, best known as the front man for Mumford & Sons band, first met Carey Mulligan at a children’s summer camp, where they became pen pals as preteens.

During a 2024 appearance on Good Morning Britain, Carey revealed, “We became pen pals after and that’s how we kept in touch, we didn’t have phones."

“We used to fax a bit when fax machines were cool. We need to get kids doing the pen pal thing again. It’s a good thing.”

The two reconnected after years as adults, getting married in 2012 and now they are parents to three children. 

4. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Vanessa Nadal:

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Vanessa Nadal first crossed paths when they both attended Hunter College High School but the two never spoke.

A few years later, in 2005, Lin-Manuel worked up the courage to reach out to his former classmate on Facebook. The two got married in 2010 and share two children.

"She was gorgeous and I'm famously bad at talking to women I find attractive. I have a total lack of game," he told The New York Times in 2010.

The songwriter also took to Instagram and wrote, "My wife is the smartest person I've ever met. I'm no scientist (although she was) but watching her brain go to work on a challenge is like watching Jordan dunk or Phelps swim—years of training and God-given talent are converging to make what seems miraculous to the rest of us just WHAT HER BRAIN DOES."

5. Elizabeth Banks and Max Handelman:

Elizabeth Banks first met Max Handelman at the University of Pennsylvania in 1993.

Years later, the two got married and became parents to two children.

"It's the thing I'm most proud of," Banks told PORTER of their marriage in 2019. "I do think people grow together or they grow apart. We definitely grew together. We were constantly making decisions that kept us close."

These love stories proved that in the world of flashing cameras, red carpets, and constant public scrutiny, some bonds remain untouched by fame.