Lily Tomlin: Hollywood Icon with a Hidden Love Story

A Hollywood Trailblazer

Lily Tomlin has been captivating audiences for decades, earning her place as one of Hollywood’s finest actresses. Her rise to stardom began in the late 1960s when she gained fame for her appearances on various variety series and comedy sketch shows.

In recent years, she’s charmed viewers with her role alongside longtime collaborator Jane Fonda in the hit Netflix series ‘Grace and Frankie,’ a show that revolves around two women whose husbands fall in love with each other and wish to marry.

Tomlin’s impressive acting credits extend to movies like ‘Nashville,’ ‘The Late Show,’ ‘Shadows and Fog,’ ‘All Of Me,’ ‘Flirting With Disaster,’ and ‘Big Business.’ She’s also lent her voice to animated shows and movies, including ‘The Ant Bully,’ ‘The Simpsons,’ and ‘The Last Of The Red Hat Mamas.’

A Private Life

Beyond her extensive acting career, Lily Tomlin has maintained a highly private personal life, keeping a significant part of it hidden for over half a century. That hidden aspect is her 55-year partnership with writer Jane Wagner.

Meeting Jane Wagner

Tomlin and Wagner’s journey began in 1969 when Tomlin was performing on the comedy-sketch show ‘Laugh-In.’ During this time, Tomlin was known for creating humorous characters. She expressed a desire to hire a writer to perfect one of these characters, a precocious five-year-old named Edith Ann. Wagner was brought on board in 1971 to work on these characters, and an immediate bond formed between her and Tomlin. Soon after, they officially became a couple.

In a 2020 interview with Variety, Tomlin described her love for Wagner as “love at first sight in two minutes.”

A Partnership That Thrives

As their romance blossomed, so did their personal and professional lives. Wagner shared, “When I got confidence, it was because of Lily, who believed in my work. We loved similar things, and it was just kind of remarkable that we were on the same page, aesthetically.” She continued, “Her appreciation of my work meant all the difference to me. I saw her motivation. I saw her drive, and her strength taught me something.”

Clearly, their mutual admiration for each other’s work has been a driving force in their relationship.

Marriage: A Decades-Long Decision

Surprisingly, marriage wasn’t always part of their plan. Tomlin discussed their marriage during an appearance on ‘The Late Late Show with James Corden,’ revealing why they waited 45 years to tie the knot. She humorously mentioned that a persistent red carpet interviewer kept asking when they would get married. Once marriage became legally possible, Tomlin felt compelled to tie the knot.

In December 2013, the couple quietly wed, having obtained their marriage certificate a few days prior, avoiding media attention. They exchanged vows in a private ceremony at a friend’s house.

A Sweet Love Story

Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner’s love story is undoubtedly one of the most endearing in Hollywood. Their enduring partnership, both personally and professionally, serves as a testament to the power of love and mutual support.

Here’s to celebrating Lily Tomlin and wishing her many more happy years ahead!