Sterling K. Brown opens up about what kept his marriage to Ryan Michelle Bathé going as the couple approaches a major milestone.
The actor, 49, recently shared an informed perspective on a long-term commitment ahead of their 20th wedding anniversary.
Speaking during a live recording of That was usthe review podcast for This is uson January 17, Brown discussed the ups and downs of fictional marriages on the show with former costars Mandy Moore and Chris Sullivan.
“I will celebrate 20 years of marriage in March,” Brown said, referring to Bathé, whom he called “the love of my life.”
He explained that the foundation of their relationship is not perfection, but perseverance. He said the reason their marriage has lasted is because they continue to choose each other even when things aren’t easy.
The actor also emphasized that compatibility does not mean constant harmony. Rather, he described marriage as an ongoing decision to show up, adapt, and commit, especially during imperfect moments. That mentality, he said, has allowed them to grow together instead of apart.
Brown and Bathé first met as students at Stanford University in the 1990s. They dated on and off during college before breaking up after graduating in 1998. Years later, they reconnected and eventually eloped in 2006 with a larger wedding ceremony the following year.
The couple subsequently welcomed two sons, Andrew in 2011 and Amaré in 2015.
