Tina Fey Shares Insights on Her 25-Year Marriage
Tina Fey, the renowned comedian and actress known for her work on Saturday Night Live and the sitcom 30 Rock, recently opened up about her marriage to Jeff Richmond during an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. The couple is set to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, and Fey shared some heartfelt and humorous reflections on their long-lasting relationship.
Fey and Richmond tied the knot in 2001 and are parents to two children, Alice, who is 20 years old, and Penelope, who is 14. During the interview, Fallon asked if they had any special plans for their milestone anniversary. Fey confirmed that they had already celebrated a bit early with a quiet weekend at a hotel in Los Angeles.
“We had a little weekend at the hotel, quiet. Did nothing. Sat by the pool,” she recalled. “At one point, we said, ‘Do you want to walk around a mall?’ and I was like, ‘Yes!’ Walk around a mall with no kids, not go into Hollister, just do what you want.”
She added, “You want to look at these wide shoes… for an hour? Do it, do it. This is love.” The lowkey celebration, which included a relaxed day out, was described as “awesome” by Fey.
A Love Story That Began in Chicago
The couple first met in the early 1990s in Chicago at Del Close’s ImprovOlympic Theater. In a past interview with Women’s Health in 2007, Fey reflected on their early days together. She noted that the age difference between them played a role in their relationship.
“We met when I was 24. He’s nine years older than I am. It was actually a really great age difference because he was much more mature than someone my own age,” she said. “There was no game playing or ‘I’ll call you tomorrow.’ It was a very easy, respectful relationship from the beginning, and it very quickly and easily became quite solid.”
They exchanged vows on June 3, 2001, during a Greek Orthodox ceremony. Their partnership has extended beyond their personal lives, as they have collaborated on various projects. One notable example is the transformation of the 2004 film Mean Girls into a Broadway musical in 2018.
A Unique Dynamic with Alec Baldwin
Tina Fey’s former 30 Rock co-star, Alec Baldwin, once wrote in his 2017 memoir Nevertheless that Fey reportedly referred to Richmond as “travel-size.” Baldwin admitted that he initially questioned the match, saying, “When I saw him, I thought, ‘What’s she doing with him?’”
However, after working with both Fey and Richmond on 30 Rock, Baldwin changed his opinion. “Jeff, who was the talented composer and music supervisor on 30 Rock, is as loose and outgoing as Tina is cautious and dry,” he wrote.
Keeping Their Relationship Private
Despite their public success, Fey and Richmond have largely kept their relationship out of the spotlight. They have made rare red carpet appearances over the years. In 2024, Fey stood tall beside her husband at the opening night of the Broadway production Death Becomes Her. They also attended the star-studded New York premiere of Mean Girls that same year.
Last month, Fey revealed the secret to their long-lasting marriage while speaking to Entertainment Tonight. “Separate bathrooms,” she simply said. “If you can afford it. And if you can’t afford it, then one person has to go to McDonald’s to use the bathroom.”
Staying Busy in the Industry
In addition to celebrating her anniversary, Fey has remained active in her career. She recently reprised her main role in the Netflix series The Four Seasons, with the second season dropping on May 28. She is also the co-creator and writer of the comedy drama series, and her husband, Jeff Richmond, serves as the composer for the project.
