In a world where celebrity marriages often end as quickly as they begin, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar stand out as refreshing exceptions. The beloved Hollywood couple, who met on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer nearly three decades ago, have now been married for 23 years — and Prinze Jr. says the key to their lasting love is something deeper than romance.

In a recent interview with Variety, the 49-year-old actor opened up about the real secret to their enduring bond. “Marriage is hard no matter what business you’re in,” he said. “What works for us might not work for everyone else… We work at it. I’m not perfect. She’s not perfect. We piss each other off, but we respect one another. We were friends first.”

That foundation of friendship, he suggested, made all the difference. “Maybe that’s the secret? It wasn’t just ‘Oh, she’s hot, he’s hot — let’s hook up,'” Prinze Jr. added. “But I know people who’ve done it the other way, and their relationships are just as strong as mine.”

The couple’s relationship didn’t start picture-perfect. Prinze Jr. has previously admitted that he and Gellar “really didn’t dig each other” when they first met in 1997. But a simple ride to the gym turned into a meaningful conversation, which led to a close friendship — and eventually, love.

By 2001, they were engaged, and a year later, they were married in a romantic ceremony in Mexico. Over the years, they’ve co-starred in films like Scooby-Doo and built a beautiful family together. They now share two children: Charlotte Grace, born in 2009, and Rocky James, born in 2012.

But what keeps their love going strong after all these years? For Gellar, it comes down to intentional effort. In a 2024 interview with Fox News Digital, she said, “Everything takes work in you, whether it’s a friendship or a work relationship or a marriage. You have to put the work in.”

She also criticized modern culture’s impact on relationships: “We live in an extremely disposable society now. Your phone breaks, you don’t fix it. You get a new one. And I think that’s a lot of the attitude toward relationships.”

With a blend of humility, humor, and honesty, Gellar even joked that their secret might also include “separate bathrooms.”

Despite their Hollywood careers and fame, the couple prioritizes their home life. “I just love my kids,” Prinze Jr. said. “I love my wife, man. I married her for a reason.”

In a culture that often glamorizes fleeting romance, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar offer a refreshing reminder of what true commitment looks like. Their story is one of grace, intentionality, and a shared journey grounded in love — a model that mirrors the enduring love described in 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient, love is kind… it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”