Photo:Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
John CorbettandBo Derekhave a true Hollywood love story.
The pair met in 2002, when Corbett’s agent set him up with Derek as his date to the Academy Awards, and they instantly hit it off. The10actress’ first husband, John Derek, passed away from congestive heart failure in 1998, and in 2020, Derek revealed that she “didn’t expect to end up with anyone again.”
Though the couple had publicly stated that they didn’t plan to marry, Corbett and Derek had an intimate wedding in 2020 after nearly 20 years together.
“We still hold hands; we still have barbecues with friends a couple times a week,” Corbett said of Derek in a 2018 interview withCloser Weekly. “[And Bo] still laughs at all my jokes even though she’s heard them a million times. We just enjoy each other. I’m sad when she’s not around.”
Keep reading for a complete timeline of John Corbett and Bo Derek’s relationship.
March 2002: John Corbett and Bo Derek meet
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In 2002, the same year that Corbett’s filmMy Big Fat Greek Weddingpremiered, the actor was set to attend the 74th Academy Awards in March, but had no date.
“I said, ‘I’m not dating anyone,’ and he said, ‘I’ll get you a date, Corbett!’ And he set me up with Bo,” Corbett said during a 2015 appearance onTODAY. “I was very intimidated!” he admitted.
Derek, who joined Corbett for his TODAY appearance, said that though she “hadn’t dated in five years," they were instantly attracted to one another.
“I kept saying to my friends, ‘I’ll wait until all the sparks and all that get going,’ ” the actress shared. “And it finally happened."
“It was just an attraction, a comfort,” Derek later told Fox News of their first meeting.
She also opened up about her single life before meeting Corbett, saying, “Some women want to pair up again right away. I didn’t. I remember consciously fashioning myself after some girlfriends that I have [who] are single and led very full, fantastic lives with friends and family and projects that they do. And that gave them happiness."
December 2002: John Corbett and Bo Derek attend VH1 Big in 2002 Awards
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Nine months after their first date, Corbett and Derek arrived hand-in-hand at the VH1 Big in 2002 Awards in Los Angeles.
The newfound couple kept it casual; Corbett went tie-less in a black suit and Derek wore jeans and a red leather jacket.
February 26, 2012: John Corbett and Bo Derek attend the 84th Academy Awards
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Derek wore a purple gown with sheer sleeves while Corbett opted for a simple black tuxedo.
March 2014: John Corbett and Bo Derek attend the Vanity Fair Oscar Party
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In 2014, Corbett and Derek stepped out for theVanity FairOscar Party following the 86th Academy Awards. The pair held hands on the red carpet and wore matching ensembles, both dressed in sleek black suits.
March 15, 2016: John Corbett and Bo Derek attend the premiere of ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2’
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August 2016: John Corbett says he and Bo Derek likely won’t marry
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Despite being together since 2002, Corbett and Derek spoke openly about the fact that they had no plans to get married. In a 2016 interview withHuffPost, Corbett even advised against marriage, saying, “Don’t get married. I have a lot of friends that get divorces. It becomes this whole thing.”
That same year, Derek toldEntertainment Tonightthat she and Corbett didn’t feel pressure to get married.
“We talk about [marriage] sometimes, but we don’t have children and we’re not young, so there isn’t that pressure or need to get married,” she said.
In a 2020 interview with Fox News, Derek explained further, saying, “I think when you’re beginning a young family and you’re going to have children and set up this new family tree branch, it’s obviously a wonderful commitment and it’s meaningful. But for us in our lives, it hasn’t been yet.”
June 2017: John Corbett and Bo Derek dance together on the red carpet
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis/Getty
Corbett and Derek clearly have a lot of fun in their relationship. In 2017, Derek shared an Instagram video of the couple on the red carpet for the Golden Nymph Nominees Party, in which Corbett playfully sang and danced, before stepping aside to let Derek pose for the cameras on her own.
“Fun in Monte Carlo,” she captioned the clip. “Yep, I’m a born dancer!”
January 2018: Bo Derek shares her and John Corbett’s favorite vacation spot
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Due to their hectic work schedules, Derek said she and Corbett’s favorite place to relax together is at home at their cliff manor ranch in Santa Ynez, California.
“We both travel so much, so, for us, our favorite vacation place is home,” Derek toldCloser Weeklyin 2018. “That’s where the romance is.”
“We enjoy each other’s company; we make each other laugh,” Corbett added. “After 15 years we still hold hands; we still have barbecues with friends a couple times a week. [And Bo] still laughs at all my jokes even though she’s heard them a million times. We just enjoy each other. I’m sad when she’s not around."
June 2018: John Corbett and Bo Derek adopt a dog together
Bo Derek Instagram
Though she rarely shares Corbett on social media, Derek showed off the newest addition to their family — an adopted German Shephard puppy — in June 2018.
Along with a photo of Corbett posing with the dog, Derek wrote, “His name is Luka! Thank you for all your name suggestions…this one stuck. Special thanks to Denise. Luka is settling in like a Champ. Smokey and Chico accepted him to the pack from the first moment. And we are now a happy family of eight.”
November 2019: John Corbett and Bo Derek attend the WildAid Gala
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September 2020: Bo Derek says that she and John Corbett are isolating together during the COVID-19 pandemic
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“This has been the most time we’ve ever spent together,” she said in an interview withET. “You wake up, you have your coffee, you feed the horses, you feed the dogs, you feed yourself and you start this routine. So that part of it has kept us busy, occupied and it’s my favorite part.”
She added, “It was a big gesture for John to move up here because he’s definitely a night time guy and a city guy…and then slowly, he just started spending more time up here and now it takes a lot to get him to leave.“
September 2020: Bo Derek shares the key to her and John Corbett’s long-lasting relationship
While speaking withETin 2020, Derek also shared the secret to her and Corbett’s long-lasting relationship, saying, “I mean, you have to be in love: really, deeply, in love.”
The actress also added flexibility was key to their success as a couple. “We were such opposites in so many ways when we started out that we took this relationship one day at a time and it just happens to be 19 years later, we’re still together and we’re gonna go for one more day!” she said.
At the time that Corbett and Derek met, Corbett was portraying Aiden, an on-again, off-again boyfriend of Carrie Bradshaw, on the HBO hitSex and the City. He later reprised the role in the reboot seriesAnd Just Like That.
In her interview withET, Derek revealed that she was a fan of the series when they started dating, and when asked if she was Team Aidan or Team Big, she replied, “I think I was [Team] Big for her [Carrie Bradshaw]. Not for me. For her…I just didn’t think [Aidan] was right for her.”
December 2020: John Corbett and Bo Derek get married
During an appearance on onThe Talkin August 2021, Corbett revealed thathe and Derek had gotten married in December 2020after 18 years together. Derek’s rep also confirmed the news to PEOPLE, explaining that “Bo and John were married in a private ceremony late last year.”
“We’re pretty private people, we didn’t make an announcement, all our friends and family knew but this is the first time either one of us has said anything publicly about it because really we haven’t had an opportunity,” Corbett told hostJerry O’Connell. “So, you’re my buddy and now I guess I’m telling all of America, or the world.”
“After 20 years we decided to get married, we didn’t want 2020 to be that thing that everybody looks back at and hated,” he continued. “We thought, ‘Well, let’s get one nice thing out of it.’ "
August 2021: John Corbett and Bo Derek are enjoying married life
Shortly after Corbett shared the news that he and Derek had gotten married in 2020, a source told PEOPLE that the couple was enjoying their quiet newlywed life.
“They live on this amazing property in Santa Ynez,” the source said. “They seem to enjoy their quiet ranch life. They are both big animal lovers. They have many horses and adopted dogs.”
“Bo is involved in local charities. They support local businesses and are great people,” the insider continued. “As a couple, they are adorable. They always hold hands and look very happy.”
June 2022: John Corbett and Bo Derek attend the 48th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute
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The couple hit the red carpet in June 2022 to attend the 48th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute, at which Derek presented the annual award to her10co-star,Julie Andrews, theDaily Mailreported.
Corbett wore a navy suit while Derek opted for a black suit jacket and long black ruffled skirt.
November 2022: John Corbett and Bo Derek celebrate Derek’s birthday
Kevork Djansezian/Getty
For Derek’s 66th birthday, Corbett joined his wife at a Los Angeles Chargers football game. The team shouted out the actress during the game, showing the couple on the jumbotron and wishing her a happy birthday.
Derek shared the moment onInstagram, captioning the video, “Some birthdays are just better than others.”
January 10, 2024: John Corbett and Bo Derek attend theMasters of the Airpremiere
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The couple attended the Los Angelespremiere ofMasters of the Air, starringAustin Butler.Derek walked the red carpet in a black velvet suit, while Corbett was casually clad in slacks and a jacket he donned on the set ofAnd Just Like That…
source: people.com
