Kelly Ripa's husband Mark Consuelos has revealed the secret to their long and happy marriage of 27 years.
The two met in 1994 when he auditioned for the soap opera All My Children, which launched their careers.
Over the decades, her work took her in different directions, as she became one of the biggest morning hosts in America and he starred in shows like Riverdale.
But the constant is their romance – they eloped to Las Vegas on May 1, 1996 and have been together ever since, welcoming three children.
Now their careers have converged again, and Mark is the latest in a line of co-hosts to join Live! play along. with Kelly.
What advice does Mark have for maintaining a successful relationship?
Kelly Ripa's husband Mark Consuelos has revealed the secret to their long and happy marriage of 27 years; pictured at the 2020 Oscars
The two met in 1994 when he auditioned for the soap opera All My Children, which launched their careers (pictured).
The constant is their marriage – they eloped to Las Vegas on May 1, 1996 and have been together ever since, giving birth to three children; pictured in 1997
“Find someone you enjoy walking on the beach with and talking about the future and what you want,” Mark told digital lifestyle magazine Mr Feelgood.
“We did that when we were 24 years old and we still do it today.” For example: “Wouldn't it be great if we could do that?” explained the Hollywood heartthrob.
“I never want to stop and dream about what we could do.” Now we're talking about grandchildren, and we design things around that theme – we want to be magnets, we want to be the favorite grandparents. “So we build the magnets so they have to come to us,” Mark said.
All three children Mark shares with Kelly have now reached adulthood – Michael is 26, Lola is 22 and Joaquim is 20.
“It's these kinds of conversations that really hold us together,” Mark said, reflecting on how he and Kelly plan their future lives.
“Even though I know I'm very annoying and she's extremely patient. I would say that’s definitely a big factor in our relationship – her patience.”
He gushed about Kelly, who “definitely challenges me in the best way possible.” I'm just crazy about her when I look at her. Something happens. That was the beginning: I can't help being with this person.”
Mark explained: “The word loyalty probably isn't strong enough – but I know she has my back and I hope she knows I have her back.”
“Find someone you enjoy walking on the beach with and talking about the future and your desires,” Mark told Mr. Feelgood. pictured on All My Children in 1997
“We did that when we were 24 and we still do it,” the Hollywood heartthrob explained: “Like, 'Wouldn't it be great if we could do that?'
All three children Mark shares with Kelly have now reached adulthood – Michael is 26, Lola is 22 and Joaquim is 20; pictured 2015
“Now we're talking about grandchildren, and we design things around that theme – we want to be magnets, we want to be the favorite grandparents,” Mark said
He added: “And I love the fact that the chapters in the book of our love story are just so different over time, especially since it's been 27 years now.” “Every chapter is so unique – and we have so lots of great memories.”
In February 2020, Kelly revealed on Live! that Mark had just surprised her with roses to celebrate the 26th anniversary of their first meeting.
He approached her as she was leaving the gym and said, “Hey, sexy” from out of her sight – leading her to believe she was about to be robbed.
She shared, “It never occurs to me that this person is talking to me, but it sounds too close and I thought, 'I'm about to get mugged by someone – I'm about to get mugged by someone I'm flirting with.' .” “Someone who can't even muster the attention to pay attention to me while he's mugging me!”
But eventually she realized that it was Mark who gave her the flowers and explained that “today marks 26 years to the day since we met.”
He gushed about Kelly, who “definitely challenges me in the best way possible” and “just makes him crazy about her when I look at her.”
Mark explained: “The word loyalty is probably not strong enough – but I know she has my back and I hope she knows I have her back.” pictured in 2006
“And I said, 'You're kidding!' I said, 'How did you know that?' to do a screen test for All My Children, that was the day we met,” she said.
Mark told Watch What Happens Live last year that he and Kelly briefly separated shortly before their wedding.
During the breakup, they had to meet to promote “All My Children” on “Live With Regis And Kathie Lee” – the show that Kelly would eventually co-host with Regis Philbin.
“We moved like furniture for 'Queen For A Day,' for the Mother's Day special, seriously, and we were together,” Mark said.
“She wouldn't talk to me, and that drove me crazy,” he recalled, confessing that he “followed her to Central Park, I stalked her, and then I came back to my house and then married.'The next day.'