They Stayed Unmarried: Kurt Russell Turns 72 And Goldie Hawn Said She Can't Imagine Life Without Him

Mar 17, 2023

Goldie Hawn has had a prolific acting career throughout her life, but she has never let that get in the way of her personal life. With Kurt Russell, her partner of 40 years, Hawn has set out the ultimate couple goals, and the bar is set quite high when one looks at their adorable photos and their journey. In an industry where real-life romances don't last very long, Russell and Hawn have been together since 1983 for four decades and are an inspiration.

In March 2021, Kurt Russell celebrated his 70th birthday, which was a big one! For the special day, Goldie Hawn posted a heartwarming tribute to her longtime partner, as did Kate Hudson for the man she has embraced as her "Pa." 

Hawn and Russell have raised four children together and share one biological child, and are currently grandparents to seven grandchildren, with their newest grandbaby being born in February 2021. As they celebrate every new milestone together, the couple has shown the Hollywood industry that a long-term, dedicated relationship is not only possible but can let you thrive when you meet the right person. 

After being together for four decades, the legendary actress claims Russell still makes her feel beautiful. Their love is one for the ages and despite never getting married, they continue to show why they're one of Hollywood's best couples. However, they do receive questions about why they have chosen to not marry, and have discussed this decision in various interviews in the past. In fact, it may very well be that this decision has helped to keep their relationship strong. 

In a sweet birthday tribute on Instagram, Goldie Hawn posted an old video of the dynamic couple joking about a possible marriage proposal, and it highlights just how funny and warm both of them are. The post was captioned, “Happy birthday baby! What a wild ride. No, we never got married but one thing that continues to grow is our love. You’re a wild one, brilliant, lovable, childlike, perfectly maddening, a father supreme and deeply funny!” What a wonderful sentiment that Hawn has expressed! 

“I can’t imagine my life without you at any age, Kurt Russell. You’re the catch. And you’re all mine ” the post continued. 

The couple has been together for exactly four decades, and seeing posts like this just shows us that their love is only strengthened by the years. 

Russell’s stepdaughter, Kate Hudson, also chimed in with a birthday wish for her “Pa” and it is just as sweet as her mom’s tribute. Her post was an old throwback photograph of their entire family, and Hudson took the opportunity to elaborate on just how important Russell has been in her life. Her heartfelt caption said, “I’m gonna gush cause I don’t often about this man but I figure since today he turns 70 I’m gonna let it out. Plus he’ll never see this 😂” 

The last sentence is probably a jab at the fact that Russell does not have an official Instagram profile. However, that has not stopped Hudson from pouring her heart out in a post for her father figure. 

"I often wonder how how different our life would have been if he never entered the picture. How different I would be. Let me fill you in," writes the starlet.

"He’s a pick up your boot straps kinda dad. Don’t cry, shake it off you’re ok, kinda dad. Don’t let ‘em push you around you got this, kinda dad. Don’t listen to the noise you’re doing great, kinda dad. Shake those hips like no ones watching, kinda dad. Always get back on the horse, kinda dad. Never miss a show or game, kinda dad. Kids before anything, kinda dad. Work hard play hard, kinda dad. My girl can rule the world, kinda dad."

It is so sweet to know that Russell has had such a beautiful impact on all of his children. This was a conscious choice on the part of the parents, however, as Russell said in an interview with the Daily Mail in 2018:

"Everyone has their marker on what is really important and where you draw the line. For Goldie and me, that core value was this: the kids come first. That big movie I turned down came at an age when they really needed one of us around."

With parents like this who put their kids first, it is no wonder that the entire Hawn and Russell family is so close. Hudson had also spoken about how important her parents are to her in an interview with People in 2020. "Mom is kinetic and she is a butterfly. And Pa likes his family and his home. But when they’re together, it’s so powerful." 

Hudson's birthday tribute for Russell did not end just there, however. The long, detailed post continued, 

"His laugh will echo through generations as powerful as his concocted stories of grandeur that may or may not be true (may we never know). He’s an original. One of kind. A powerful, intelligent, talented, loyal family man. He has taught me that we can all exist with immense love through our differences. And his dedication to my mother and their fight for love forever is as admirable as it gets." 

"I love this man so much! A note for all dads of girls. He gave me the gift of confidence instilling a knowingness in me that I deserved everything I worked for and I knew that he’d always have my back in whatever challenges may lay ahead. When you have a dad who gives you permission to be confident you live courageously. And that’s my insta love letter to my dad who has lived 70 years today. ❤️ Happy Birthday Pa. How bout we give some big Hip Hip Hoorays to this wild man!"

This is a beautiful tribute from a daughter to a father, and it just warms our heart to see how close everyone in the family is! Hudson and her brother Oliver are Hawn's children whom she shared with ex-husband Bill Hudson. Kurt had son Boston Russell from a previous marriage to Season Hubley, and Hawn and Russell share son Wyatt, and have co-parented all their children in their blended family. Through all of their time together, the family has always come first for its members. 

From Hawn's side, the couple has six grandchildren. Oliver shares three children with his wife Erinn Bartlett: Wilder, 13, Bodhi, 10, and Rio, 6. Meanwhile, Hawn is also grandmother to Kate's three children: Ryder, 16, Bingham, 9, from her previous marriage to Matt Bellamy, and 1-year-old Rani with singer Danny Fujikawa. Most recently, Wyatt welcomed his first child, a son, with his wife Meredith Hagner!

The couple named him Buddy, and we are sure that everyone is completely delighted to have this new blessing brought into their close-knit family. While the date of Buddy's birth is not yet clear, in an Instagram post Hagner revealed that he was born two weeks after they had a photo-shoot for Vogue Magazine.

According to Hello! Magazine, Hawn is "incredibly close" to all her grandchildren and was even present for all of their births. Hawn told Australian Women's Weekly, "A good family is the answer to happiness." She also added,

"I look at our kids and grandchildren and there's nothing in the world that could make me as proud as I am of all of them. Being a grandmother is amazing, I love it. It brings incredible joy. Family is so important."

In terms of how they've managed to create such a warm and loving family atmosphere, Russell and Hawn have been able to do so since spending quality time together is one of their priorities in life. "We always trim the tree on Christmas Eve and we have a big meal,” Russell told Closer Weekly. "The grandkids put their pajamas on and hang up their stockings. We get the fire going and when it gets dark we always choose someone to read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.'" 

It is also important for Hawn to celebrate big events with her grandchildren throughout the year, such as granddaughter Rio's preschool graduation and charity functions for the Goldie Hawn Foundation. Photos of such events on her social media show how close the family truly feels with one another. 

Kurt and Goldie have been together since 1983. They initially met in 1966 while filming together, but reconnected on the set of their film "Swing Shift," and have been inseparable ever since, even going on to star in further movies together after becoming romantically involved. The couple has even joined each other on-screen again in the last few years in "The Christmas Chronicles" movies, where, rather fittingly, they play Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. The first movie was released in 2018, while the sequel came out in November 2020. We couldn't think of a better pair to play the iconic roles than Hollywood's golden couple Hawn and Russell. 

However, one interesting thing about their relationship is that the couple never chose to get married. Hawn openly discussed the topic in a 2007 interview with Woman's Day magazine. Asked why they won't head down the aisle, Hawn responded: 

"Because we have done just perfectly without marrying. I already feel devoted and isn't that what marriage is supposed to do? So as long as my emotional state is in a state of devotion, honesty, caring and loving, then we're fine."

She goes on to mention their children and how they've managed to raise them into "beautiful people," adding:

"We did a great job there and we didn't have to get married to do that. I like waking up every day and seeing that he is there and knowing that I have a choice. There is really no reason to marry."

Having been through a failed marriage, Russell said in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Tracy Smith that he had been determined to undermine his relationship with Hawn, especially in the initial stages: "Matter of fact, when I met Goldie, I was at a time in my life, and a period in my life, when I was going to put my worst foot forward when it came to any kind of a relationship with the possibility of a relationship," said the father-of-two. "I put my worst foot forward. If you can handle that, then maybe there’s a chance of some reality there of being together."

This seemed to take Hawn by surprise but Russell insisted that he did, saying that he had been hungover the first time he met her: “Well, the first time I met her, I was horribly hungover. That’s not a good foot forward." To which Hawn told Russell, "But you were fun." 

When asked what the secret to their relationship is, the two actors shook their heads and said there is no secret. “You’ve got to want to be together," Hawn said to The New York Times. Russell shared her sentiment, saying, “It’s up, and down, it’s sideways, it’s whatever. At the end of the day, how do you explain it? ... It’s the same thing as what you’re saying. I call that love.”

This definitely sounds like true love! What do you think of this beautiful couple? Let us know your thoughts, and be sure to pass this inspiring love story along to your friends and family as well!