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James Brolin, Barbra Streisand.
Barbra Streisand and James Brolin: A Relationship Timeline
For veteran entertainers Barbra Streisand and James Brolin, the path to lasting love involved navigating previous relationships before they ultimately found their way to each other. Their enduring romance is a Hollywood success story.
Prior to meeting Brolin, Streisand was married to Elliot Gould in 1963. They welcomed a son, Jason, before their eventual separation in 1971. Brolin, before crossing paths with the acclaimed singer, had been married twice. His first marriage was to Jane Cameron Agee from 1966 to 1984, followed by a marriage to Jan Smithers from 1986 to 1995. James has children from his previous unions: son Josh and daughter Jess with Agee, and daughter Molly with Smithers.
Fate intervened when Streisand and Brolin were arranged on a blind date by mutual acquaintances, and they immediately connected. After a courtship of two years, the couple exchanged vows in September 1998 and have remained devoted partners ever since. While they do not share children biologically, they embrace their roles as parents and grandparents to their respective families.
Explore the timeline of Brolin and Streisand’s remarkable relationship:
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Barbra Streisand was honored with a Life Achievement Award at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper presented Streisand, 81, with the accolade during the Saturday, February 24, ceremony, which was held at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles. James Brolin looked on at his […]
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1996: The Blind Date
Streisand recounted that she and Brolin’s initial encounter occurred at a dinner hosted by friends. She admitted that the actor’s appearance was unexpected.
“We were set up on a blind date,” Streisand explained. “I was feeling quite shy, so when I arrived at the house, I initially went downstairs to spend time with the children, playing with them until dinner was served,” she shared during a 2021 appearance on The Tonight Show, recalling her first meeting with Brolin at a mutual friend’s dinner gathering. “I had envisioned someone with a brown beard and wavy brown hair—a mountain man type. Instead, I was met with a man who had a closely cropped haircut and no beard. I walked right past him! I then touched his hair and playfully asked, ‘Who messed up your hair?’”
Later that year, the newly formed couple made their first official public appearance together on the red carpet at the premiere of The Mirror Has Two Faces in November 1996.
1998: Wedding Bells
After two years of dating, Brolin and Streisand celebrated their marriage in a lavish, star-studded ceremony in July 1998. Among the celebrity guests present at their nuptials were John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Quincy Jones, and Sydney Pollack.
The following month, in August 1998, Brolin was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with Streisand present to support him at the celebratory event.
2000: White House Honor
Streisand received the prestigious National Medal of Arts from then-President Bill Clinton, and she was accompanied by Brolin at the White House ceremony.
2003-2004: Premiere Appearances
The couple attended the premiere of Brolin’s motion picture, A Guy Thing in 2003. The subsequent year, Streisand and Brolin were photographed together on the red carpet for the premiere of her film, Meet the Fockers.
2007-2008: International Accolades
When Streisand was awarded the Légion d’Honneur, the highest French decoration, by then-President Nicolas Sarkozy, Brolin was present at the Elysee Palace in Paris for the investiture. The following year, the celebrated EGOT recipient was recognized by the Kennedy Center Honors, and Brolin again accompanied her to the prestigious gala.
2015: Separate Finances, United Marriage
Approaching their 17th wedding anniversary, Brolin disclosed that their successful relationship was partly attributed to maintaining separate financial accounts.
“We have bifurcated finances, and I find it to be ideal,” the actor shared during a November 2015 interview with HuffPost Live. “Given that this is my third marriage, I am aware of potential marital pitfalls. I aimed to eliminate any financial discord that could lead to future marital issues.”
2018: Two Decades of Love
The couple commemorated their 20th wedding anniversary, with Streisand expressing a heartfelt message to Brolin on this milestone.
“Has it truly been 22 years since our blind date? And 20 years of marriage. Happy anniversary, my love,” she posted via Instagram in July 2018.
2021: Pandemic Bonding
During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, Brolin revealed that quarantining with Streisand had deepened their connection.
“For a considerable period, we were significantly affected by COVID. Numerous relationships have faced challenges during these fifteen months,” he commented during a June 2021 interview on The Talk. “However, we have genuinely rediscovered our love for each other during this time of constant togetherness, making our relationship thrive.”
2023: Priorities in Life
As they marked 25 years together, Streisand conveyed that her primary desire for the future was to cherish quality moments with Brolin and their family.
“I want to fully experience life,” she stated in a BBC interview published in November 2023. “My ideal is to travel in my husband’s truck, simply exploring, hopefully with our children nearby. Life is most enjoyable for me when they come to visit. They enjoy playing with our dogs, and we have wonderful times together.”
2023: Memoir Revelations
Streisand offered insights into her relationship with Brolin in her November 2023 memoir, My Name Is Barbra. “It was unprecedented for me to develop such closeness with someone so rapidly. However, Jim was not intimidated by me,” she reflected on their initial meeting in 1996. “In fact, he was remarkably supportive and expressed his desire to empower me.”
Coinciding with the memoir’s release, Brolin disclosed that he had practiced celibacy for three years prior to marrying Streisand. “I had no inclination to enter into a superficial or unsatisfactory relationship,” he told Gayle King during a November 2023 interview on CBS Mornings.
King then inquired, “After three years of celibacy, the wedding night must have been quite something?” to which Brolin responded by describing his and Streisand’s wedding night as “wild.”
April 2025: Marital Advice
During a recent appearance on the Today show, Brolin was prompted to reveal the secret to his enduring 26-year marriage to Streisand.
“The key is learning to step away and take a breather,” he quipped to Dylan Dreyer. “Both of us practice this, not just myself. I believe it’s essential to acknowledge when to pause, take a deep breath, and go for a walk.’”
The Ransom Canyon actor also attributed marital harmony to a comfortable sleeping arrangement.
“The most valuable investment we’ve made is undoubtedly our mattress,” he elaborated. “And please, don’t misunderstand me. We both appreciate leisure and love to sleep in. We conduct much of our work—phone calls, paperwork, reading—right next to each other in bed.”