Pretty Woman turns 35 today!
The classic romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts, Richard Gere, Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo, Ralph Bellamy and more, was released on March 23, 1990. And in spite of early mixed reviews, it’s become a staple in the rom-com canon, thanks in large part of Roberts and Gere’s undeniable onscreen chemistry.
Though we can’t ever see anyone else play the role of Edward Lewis, Julia Roberts has since revealed she had to plead with Gere for him to take the part.
“This was just not feeling like anybody really had what it took to play this part that everybody really wanted,” she said on Entertainment Weekly Radio. “People knew Garry [Marshall], and I think a lot of people wanted to work for Garry, but it was more like comedians were wanting to play the part and it didn’t work.”
Roberts then revealed that she and Marshall, who was the director, flew to New York and took a meeting with Gere. When Marshall stepped out of the room, Roberts essentially begged for Gere to take the part.
“He is a very serious actor and he had specific thoughts about the movie and the part and what worked and didn’t work for him. I think I just nodded and smiled and agreed with everything he said,” she recalled with a laugh. “And I just said, ‘You have to do this movie. If you don’t do this movie and it falls apart, and I lose this job, it’ll just be terrible.’ I kind of pleaded with him in a real way.”
It worked, and the rest is history: Vivian and Edward rode off into the sunset in his limo, and a classic was born. See who the cast “rescued right back” in real life.
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Julia Roberts’ Husband Daniel Moder
Julia Roberts played Vivian Ward, an escort with a big heart looking for Prince Charming to come and save her. In real life, the Oscar-winning actress found love with cinematographer, Daniel Moder.
The two met in 2000 when they both worked onThe Mexican. She played Brad Pitt’s love interest, Samantha, while he was behind the scenes as a cameraman. At the time, they were both in relationships and didn’t get together until 2002; they married that same year.
Roberts and Moder share three kids together: 20-year-old twins Hazel Patricia and Phinnaeus Walter and another son named Henry Daniel, 17.
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Richard Gere’s Wife, Alejandara Silva
Jason Alexander has managed to keep his marriage to wife Daena Title, away from the spotlight. The Seinfeld alum — who played weaselly businessman and Edward’s partner, Phillip Stuckey — married Title back in 1982, and 43 years later, the two are still going strong.
Asked what the key to their successful marriage has been, Alexander told the Today show, “I’m married to a woman who lives this thing that I first heard of in A Raisin in the Sun. It’s kind of quoted there, but she does it. It goes something like this: On my worst day, she remembers me on my best day and beckons me back.”
“If you have a partner who can do that, because we all have worst days, you don’t give up on that partner,” he said. “I am a lucky man.”
The longtime couple welcomed their first son Gabe in 1992 and followed up with another boy named Noah in 1996.
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Amy Yasbeck’s Husband John Ritter
Héctor Elizondo played accommodating hotel manager Barney Thompson, who essentially took Vivian under his wing and showed her how to live like a first-class lady.
Offscreen, Elizondo has been married to wife Carolee Campbell for 56 years, having tied the knot back in 1969. According to IMDb, the couple shares a son named Rod.
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Laura San Giacomo’s Husband Matt Adler
Playing Vivian’s streetwise mentor, Kit, was Laura San Giacomo.
Though she’s continued working, Giacomo lives a quieter life these days. The NCIS actress has been married to her husband Matt Adler since 2000.
She has a 29-year-old son from her previous relationship with Cameron Dye.
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Larry Miller’s Wife
Elinor Donahue played Bridget, the kind saleswoman who Barney calls upon to help Vivian with finding a dress for her first dinner with Edward.
Outside of the brief appearance in Pretty Woman, Donahue also lent her talents to TV shows and movies such as The Andy Griffith Show, Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, Father Knows Best and many more.
Offscreen, the now-retired actress has been married to her husband Lou Genevrino since 1992. Donahue has four kids from a previous marriage to Harry Ackerman.
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Alex Hyde-White’s Wife Shelly Bovert Hyde-White
Chelsea Lauren/WireImage
Alex Hyde-White played David Morse, the heir to the shipbuilding company Edward wanted to buy. David’s father was played by the late Ralph Bellamy, in his last role.
Alex Hyde-White wed his long-term love, Shelly Bovert Hyde-White in 1997. The couple have two sons, Jackson Connor and Garrick.
Source: People
