James Martin becomes the latest star to flee Hollywood’s ‘golden bachelor’ club as he settles down in his 50s with a younger woman… here are the aging celebrities who have followed the well-trodden path

It’s a common trope in Hollywood for famous male actors to be seen with many attractive young women.

Men who choose to stay unmarried are often admired by their friends and community, while women in the same situation are traditionally called ‘spinsters.’

Recently, we’ve noticed a pattern of older male celebrities choosing to commit to relationships and move past the stage of being eligible, unattached men over 60 – a trend sometimes called the ‘golden bachelor’ phase.

This week, it was revealed that James Martin, in his fifties, has decided to settle down, even though he previously said he would never marry.

The 53-year-old celebrity chef is reversing his previous decision and will now marry Kim Johnson, 39, after two years of dating.

It’s unknown what caused this change of heart, but James isn’t the only celebrity in his age group to start a relationship with a younger woman, as the Daily Mail reports.

George Clooney

It appears 53 is the magic number when it turns to turning one’s back on bachelorhood.

In 2014, George Clooney, one of Hollywood’s most sought-after bachelors, got married to Amal Alamuddin, a 36-year-old lawyer specializing in human rights.

I remember when they first met – it was July 2013, and a friend of ours introduced them. It was instant chemistry! They apparently talked all night, just completely lost in conversation. I knew right then something special was happening.

George proposed to his partner after a fast-moving, nine-month romance. This came as a surprise, considering he’d previously said he’d never get married again following his divorce from Talia Balsam in the 1990s.

He described falling for Amal quickly, saying on the Smartless podcast that she ‘swept him off his feet.’ They got engaged after just a few months and were married within a year of first meeting.

Honestly, I was as shocked as anyone – maybe even more so! It really took me by surprise, and judging by the reactions, a lot of other people felt the same way.

At 64, George surprised many – including himself – when he became a father with Amal, 47. They are now parents to eight-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander.

George explained to GQ that he used to be firmly against marriage and having children. He felt content with his career, friends, and full life, believing he had everything he needed.

‘And I didn’t know how un-full it was until I met Amal. And then everything changed.

I realized this created a significant gap in my life. I’d never prioritized someone else’s well-being over my own before. And then, with the addition of two little ones who needed constant care, it became even more apparent.

Before he married Amal, George Clooney had dated several women, including Lisa Snowdon, Krista Allen, Sarah Larson, Elisabetta Canalis, and Stacy Keibler.

I was so thrilled when George married Talia back in 1989 – they seemed perfect together! Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be, and he filed for divorce just three years later. It was really disappointing for all of us fans.

Looking back on his marriage years later, he admitted he wasn’t ready to be married at the time, and likely shouldn’t have been.

I regret not giving Talia a real chance, and I take responsibility for our divorce. I feel like I let things fall apart.

Justin Theroux

Another celebrity who decided to settle down and start a family at 53 is Justin Theroux.

He and actress Nicole Brydon Bloom got married last year in a small, private ceremony on a beach in Tulum, Mexico. She was 30 years old at the time.

Nine months later, it was revealed they were expecting their first child.

Okay, so getting details about who Justin’s dated is impossible. The guy is seriously private, and honestly, I respect it, but it also drives me crazy! He just doesn’t share anything about his personal life, which means we fans are left to obsessively speculate about everything!

However, he famously dated Jennifer Aniston for four years before they wed in 2015.

Their marriage was short-lasting, with the couple separating two years later.

Jennifer, 56, recently revealed she secretly struggled to get pregnant for 20 years, trying methods like IVF and herbal remedies in hopes of having a child.

Looking back on her difficulties, she wished someone had simply told her to consider freezing her eggs. It hadn’t even crossed her mind at the time, and now, here she is dealing with the consequences.

On accepting that she won’t conceive, she concluded: ‘The ship has sailed.’

Okay, so when Jennifer finally opened up about everything, Justin immediately showed her he was on her side! I was screenshotting everything, of course, but he left the cutest comment on her Instagram – a little fist bump and a heart! It was everything. Honestly, it just proved what I always knew – they’re soulmates!

Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant, known for his roles in British romantic comedies, married Anna Eberstein when he was 58 and she was 39.

Even though Hugh and his partner had been together for six years and already had three children, a lot of people didn’t think he would ever get married.

A friend of Hugh’s shared with The Sun on his wedding day that everyone was surprised and delighted to see him settle down. They joked that with retirement approaching, he’d finally embraced family life.

Even Hugh, who had known Anna since 2012, was surprised. He’d previously told People magazine in 2015 that he wasn’t a fan of marriage.

I’ve only encountered a handful of truly successful instances – perhaps five – and everything else seems destined to end badly for everyone involved.

Before marrying Anna, Hugh Grant had a long-term relationship with Elizabeth Hurley for 13 years. He also dated Jemima Khan and Tinglan Hong, with whom he has two children.

After marrying Anna, Hugh said he used to be mistaken in his beliefs about marriage and having children.

I completely misjudged the situation, I was wrong, plain and simple. I used to dismiss what people said about understanding children, even rolling my eyes at them, but they were right all along.

Hugh said he was very happy to finally be married, admitting he’d put it off for far too long. He repeated how nice it was to be married.

Chris Noth

He was well-known for his role as Mr. Big on Sex and the City, a commitment-shy bachelor who eventually fell in love with Carrie Bradshaw.

Interestingly, much like a plot from one of his shows, Chris Noth didn’t marry his partner, Tara Wilson, until later in life. They wed in 2012 when he was 57 and she was 30, after being together for a long time.

The couple had been together for 10 years and this point, welcoming son Orion in 2008.

They welcomed second son, Keats, in February 2020.

Chris and Tara have faced challenges in their marriage. In 2023, Chris revealed that he had been unfaithful to Tara.

Following accusations of sexual assault from several women – accusations he firmly denied – Chris admitted to infidelity, saying it caused his wife immense pain and was a regrettable situation. However, he maintained that his actions did not constitute a crime.

Following the accusations against him, Chris was removed from the show ‘And Just Like That…’. He had previously spoken about his character’s long-running storyline.

He felt the Sex and the City movie, featuring Big and Carrie’s wedding, offered a good portrayal of their relationship and explored the meaning of marriage for them.

Chris explained that even after knowing someone for a long time, marriage can bring unexpected changes. He said Carrie and Big are still figuring things out as they navigate this new chapter together.

Will Forte

Funnyman Will Forte was 51 years old when he married Olivia Modling, then 30, in 2021.

Will and his partner got married three years after they first met, but Will said he hadn’t been eager to rush into marriage.

They had a daughter, Zoe, in February 2021, and ten weeks later, surprised everyone by getting married!

Looking back on their wedding, Will shared that the COVID-19 pandemic and a long quarantine period were followed by the wonderful surprise of expecting a baby.

‘And so we were in no rush, but every once in a while we would think about, “Let’s just do it.”‘

Regarding the ceremony, Will shared that his parents were completely surprised. He admitted the two weeks of planning were really stressful, and he couldn’t imagine dealing with that stress for a year or more.

We felt like a married couple already, so things don’t feel drastically different. But it’s still really fun and special to finally call her my wife – she’s amazing.

I was looking for someone incredibly patient, and she truly is the most understanding and patient woman I know. I’m feeling really happy and fortunate right now.

Will and Olivia had their second daughter, Cecilia, in 2022. Will jokingly told People magazine he feels like an ‘old man dad.’

You know, my daughter Olivia definitely keeps me young – or at least reminds me I’m not getting any younger! She’s got a playful sense of humor and recently gifted me a sweatshirt that jokingly asks, ‘Dad or Grandpa?’ It’s all in good fun, of course, and a sweet way to show she’s thinking of me. It’s a reminder to embrace the aging process with a smile!

Not much is publicly known about Will’s past relationships, although he was rumored to have dated actress January Jones in 2015.

Warren Beatty

He used to be a highly sought-after bachelor in Hollywood, known for dating celebrities like Madonna, Cher, and Diane Keaton.

So Warren Beatty surprised his fans when he decided to tie the knot with Annette Bening in 1992.

Warren, who was 54, felt he’d met his soulmate when he encountered 33-year-old Annette on the set of the 1991 movie, Bugsy.

He was so certain about his feelings that, immediately after meeting her, he called director Barry Levinson and announced his intention to marry her.

Look, I get it. This guy was really confident about his new feelings, but he also admitted to feeling a little sad about leaving his old life behind – you know, the fun, carefree days. It’s tough to give up a lifestyle you’ve become accustomed to, even when you’re ready for something more meaningful.

He remembered falling in love with her almost instantly—perhaps in just five or ten minutes. Meeting her filled him with joy, but also made him strangely aware that things would never be quite the same again.

In a recent conversation with Today, 88-year-old Warren shared that he knew he wanted to marry Annette the moment they met. He clarified that he wasn’t against marriage itself, but was trying to avoid divorce.

He explained that as people get older, they tend to make decisions about relationships more quickly. He said that was the case in this situation, and he took that into consideration.

‘And by listening to it, it enabled me not to question it too much… and I never did.’

Warren and Annette, both 67, raised four children together and have enjoyed a remarkably successful thirty-year marriage, making them a celebrated couple in Hollywood.

James Martin

Saturday Kitchen star James rounds off the list of stars who have settled down at 53.

The chef reportedly proposed to Kim last month and then gave her a £150,000 Land Rover as an engagement gift.

Rumors about an engagement circulated last month, but they were confirmed this week when Kim, his personal trainer, commented on his Instagram post, writing, ‘So proud of my fiancé!’

This proposal is a surprising change of heart for James, who had previously said he never wanted to get married.

In a 2019 interview with the Sunday People, he explained that he had no interest in getting married, largely because he’d worked at so many weddings and seen everything that goes into them.

I respect those who enjoy extravagant experiences, but I’m perfectly content with my own life. I don’t feel the need to spend a fortune on a single day, and I’m very happy as things are.

He proposed to Kim exactly two years after ending his 12-year relationship with Louise Davies, 48.

The chef and the TV producer started dating in 2011 after meeting while working on the set of Celebrity Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? They then moved in together at the chef’s home in Hampshire.

James and Louise ended their romantic relationship in December 2023, but they continue to be friends, according to a representative for James.

People first noticed James and Kim were dating when they were seen shopping for jewelry at the Tiffany’s store in Mayfair last April.

In October, the couple seemed to become more serious when she moved in with him at his house in the countryside of Hampshire.

2026-01-20 04:37