Meryl Streep and Don Gummer's Secret to Longevity in Marriage: The Happiness That Started With Correspondence

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Once upon a time, Meryl Streep, who decided to marry the architect Don Gummer, was condemned. But she never followed the lead of public opinion and was accustomed to act only as she saw fit. Perhaps that is why she has earned a reputation as one of the main bitches in Hollywood. Then, in 1978, the publications predicted an imminent divorce for the actress. But 42 years have passed, and Meryl Streep and Don Gummer are still happy together.

Novel in letters

Their acquaintance took place at a time when Meryl Streep had not yet recovered from the death of John Casale, who died in her arms. For the past three months, she has been almost forever by his bed, instilling hope and faith in her beloved. She herself could hardly imagine where to get her strength. But the actress would give half her life to have him there. John died in the spring of 1978, and Meryl had no idea how to live on.

From the apartment where they lived together, Meryl had to urgently leave. Some sources claim that the legal wife of John Casale asked to vacate the living space, with whom he never managed to divorce, others say that the actress decided to move herself, unable to be in the place where the air was saturated with memories of her love.

Meryl Streep accepted the offer of Harry's brother to live in the apartment of his friend, who had left for a long time to Europe. She didn't even know the sculptor Don Gummer, the landlord. She was simply happy to have the opportunity to change her place of residence, especially since she did not plan to be at home so often. The actress was going to work almost around the clock in order to drown out the pain after the loss of her beloved with fatigue.

In her new home, the actress sometimes came only to take a shower and spend the night, the rest of the time she spent on the set and rehearsals. Once, returning home, she found the owner of the apartment there, who ran home to pick up some things while passing through New York.

Meryl Streep was pretty embarrassed, she didn't even know how to thank Don for his generosity. And suddenly she offered to write him letters, the only thing that she could do for him. Suddenly, her savior agreed.

For the next four months, Meryl Streep wrote letters that became both her personal diary and a means of healing. It seems that she herself did not notice how the correspondence, which became the fruit of her feelings of gratitude, turned into a real epistolary novel. She began to wait for letters in response, and her own messages did not look like friendly ones for a long time.

When, after a while, Don Gummer told Meryl about his imminent return, she was more worried than before the first appearance on the stage. She even baked an apple pie for Don's arrival, although she never considered cooking her strong point. Just six months after they met, Meryl Streep and Don Gummer have already become husband and wife.

And journalists in every interview with the actress tried to prick her: how could she get married just six months after the death of a loved one? Meryl Streep answered very restrainedly: he is what she needs. He would be calm, strong, kind and reliable.

Meryl's family did not understand her either, too quickly, in their opinion, she forgot about her feelings. But Streep did not doubt the correctness of her decision. The memory of John will always be with her, but at the same time, she must live on. Don supported her, helped her straighten her shoulders and taught her how to be happy again.

In her heart, the actress is still sure that John Cazale, watching her from heaven, found her a worthy spouse himself.

The secret to a strong marriage

More than 42 years have passed since Don Gummer named Meryl Streep his wife. They raised four wonderful children and still look at each other with loving eyes.

The actress became a wonderful mother who managed to act in films, win numerous awards and at the same time raise children, look after the house and cook food, invariably preferring quiet family evenings to high-profile Hollywood events.

She loves her work and always responds to the proposals of the directors, if they are interesting to her. And if they do not demand sacrifice from her. She is not ready to put cinema above her family, and no Oscars or Golden Globes will replace Don Gummer's full of tenderness.

One has only to remember how at one of the Oscars, the actress began her speech with gratitude to her husband, so that in the finale the sound of applause would not drown out what she wanted to say publicly. Meryl Streep spoke words that made even skeptics cry:

Don’s eyes were moistened as well, who was sitting in the hall with his hand to his heart and didn’t take his eyes off his wife, full of love and tenderness.

When the actress is asked what is the secret of her happy marriage, she often smiles and confesses: the ability to keep quiet in time. And also in finding compromises and giving in if a loved one needs it.

Meryl Streep and Don Gummer know how to listen and hear each other, it's simple and difficult at the same time, but without this nothing will work out in a relationship. It is important for them to know each other's problems and admit that they are wrong in time, to be able to follow not only their own aspirations, but also the advice of someone who is nearby. You need to talk about everything that worries. But Meryl Streep considers mutual understanding and the ability to prioritize to be the most important. And, of course, love. The one who covers everything, believes everything and never stops.

The happiness of Meryl Streep and John Casale did not last long, but left the warmest memories in the soul of the actress. Love made her learn the most important life lesson from this relationship.