James Brolin has shared the secret to his long and happy marriage with singer and actress Barbra Streisand—and it’s surprisingly simple.
According to the 84-year-old actor, the best thing they ever did for their relationship was invest in a really good mattress.
Speaking on the TODAY show on April 15, Brolin joked, “It’s just great. The best investment we ever made is our mattress.” But he wasn’t talking about anything romantic—he meant sleep.
“Don’t misunderstand me,” he added. “We’re both lazy. We love to sleep late. We also do a lot of our work—on the phone, on paper, reading—right next to each other.”
While promoting his new Netflix series Ransom Canyon, Brolin couldn’t quite remember how long he’s been married to Streisand. “It’s 27—I better know this. It’s 27, 28?” he said with a smile. (For the record, it’s been 27 years.)
But one thing he was clear about: how long they’ve been together. “It will be 30 years on July 1,” he said. “We met on July 1. We got married on July 1, two years later.”
When asked how they manage disagreements after so many years together, Brolin kept it simple: “You learn to take a walk. Both of us. No, not just me. I think you’ve got to say, ‘OK, take a deep breath. Take a walk.’”
Brolin and Streisand’s love story started back in 1996 when they were both in their 50s. They were set up on a blind date and tied the knot in 1998. Their relationship has become a symbol of finding love later in life.
In a 2021 interview on The Tonight Show, Streisand shared how their first meeting went. They were introduced at a dinner party at the home of her ex, Jon Peters. Streisand, feeling shy, said she first went to spend time with the kids before sitting down at the table.
She had certain expectations about what Brolin would look like. “I expected a guy with a brown beard and brown, wavy hair, like a mountain man,” she said. “And I saw a guy that had all his hair cut off, no beard. And I walked by him. I put my hand through his hair and said, ‘Who messed up your hair?’”
But despite the blunt first impression, Brolin was instantly taken by her. Streisand said she made up her mind about him just “a few days” later.
In another interview in 2021 with Variety, Streisand spoke about what keeps a marriage strong. “The secret is to listen carefully,” she said. “I think to be a good actor, you have to listen. To be a good person, you have to listen. To be a good marriage partner, you have to listen. Hear the other person. Agree to disagree.”
Brolin shared his advice the following year in a 2022 interview with People magazine. “I think everybody needs to be a negotiator,” he said. “Everybody needs to have patience and know when to take a walk.”
Together, their advice is down-to-earth, practical, and honest. Whether it’s buying a good mattress, learning to take a break during arguments, or simply listening to one another, James Brolin and Barbra Streisand have shown that a lasting relationship doesn’t need to be complicated—it just needs care, respect, and a little bit of humour.