Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas share a lot of things: their occupation, their passion for golf, even their birthday (albeit 25 years apart). No wonder these two have had such a solid relationship for over 12 years. In honor of Catherine and Michael's respective 42nd and 67th birthdays on Sept. 25, let's take a look back at the couple's life together.
Danny DeVito introduced Michael and Catherine at Deauville American Film Festival in August 1998, but the couple didn't officially start dating until March 1999. So how did Michael snag one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood? By using a cheesy pickup line! He actually said, "I want to father your children," Catherine once told Parade. Here, the couple hits one of their first red carpets together: the premiere of Catherine's movie "Entrapment" in June 1999.
It didn't take long for Michael and Catherine to become inseparable, as a couple and as red carpet fixtures. From parties to premieres (like "The Muse" in August 1999), they were always in the spotlight as Hollywood's newest "it" couple.
Soon, Catherine seemed like part of the family. She was even on hand when Michael's dad, Kirk, celebrated his second Bar Mitzvah in December 1999. It's no wonder Michael asked Catherine to marry him that New Year's Eve
Wow, we're getting finger fatigue just
looking at the rock on Catherine's hand that she flashed at the premiere of "Wonder Boys" in February 2000. That's some engagement ring!.
Catherine and Michael had a typical yet posh New York wedding. Here, they're on their way to Russian Tea Room on Nov. 17, 2000, for their rehearsal dinner. The following day, they were wed at Plaza Hotel.
Surprisingly, Catherine and Michael have co-starred together only once, in the movie "Traffic." Catherine was pregnant with their son, Dylan, at the time, so the pregnancy was written into her role. Dylan was born Aug. 8, 2000, and "Traffic" premiered on Dec. 14, 2000.
With Catherine's Oscar win and a second baby on the way, the couple had a lot to be excited about at the Academy Awards in 2003.
If Catherine endured Michael's scruffy beard period circa January 2006, then the couple certainly can withstand anything.
When Michael's oldest son, Cameron, was convicted of drug charges and faced more than 10 years in prison, Catherine wrote a letter to the judge, hoping to lessen his sentence. "My stepson is a caring, considerate, worthy human being, but nevertheless, the disease, that for years he has tried to combat, did take over again," she wrote. "What is wrong is wrong, but may all these
positive attributes prevail." In the end, Cameron was sentenced to five years behind bars.
In August 2010, Michael announced that he was battling advanced stage IV throat cancer and had begun undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment. The following month, he and Catherine appeared at the premiere of "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps."
Catherine and Michael renewed their wedding vows that November to celebrate their 10-year wedding anniversary. They also took their son, Dylan, and daughter, Carys, for a much-needed vacation to Walt Disney World.
