It only took three tries for actor William H Macy to get his wife Felicity Huffman to agree to marry him. It was 15 years coming for the celebrity couple who were recently involved in a major scandal.
Felicity Huffman's career
Felicity Huffman, 56, is best known for her role on the NBC comedy "Desperate Housewives." Making her film debut in 1988's "Things Change," Huffman's small screen start was in "Sports Night" as Dana Whitaker in 1998.
The role earned her a Golden Globe nomination. In 2005, she starred in "Transamerica." This time, she received the Golden Globe award as well as an Independent Spirit Award and an Academy Award nomination.
Felicity Huffman and William H Macy attend the 70th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on September 17, 2018 | Photo: Getty Images
Other notable appearances were in "Phoebe in Wonderland," "Path to War," "Georgian Rule," "The Spanish Prisoner," "Rudderless and Cake," and "Big Game."
The actress, who got her start in the Broadway play "Speed the Plow," has most recently starred in the films "Otherhood," "Tammy's Always Dying," and in the mini-series "When They See Us."
William H Macy's career
Most of Huffman's roles have not been as successful as her husband William H Macy, whose face is much more easily recognizable in the entertainment industry.
Macy, 69, is best known for his role on the hit series "Shameless." He really began his career in the 80s when he appeared in the film "Somewhere in Time."
William H Macy attends a screening of "Stealing Cars" in Seattle, Washington on March 7, 2019 | Photo: Getty Images
Some notable roles of his were in the 1994 sitcom "ER" and in the 1996 movie "Fargo." In 1997, he starred as Little Bill Thompson in "Boogie Nights."
In 1998, he was in the hit films "Pleasantville" and "Psycho," further solidifying his reputation in the industry. He appeared in at least six episodes of "Sports Night," where his wife was a regular.
The two also starred in "Magnolia" together among other projects. Macy has enjoyed his role as Frank Gallagher in Showtime's "Shameless" for nine years now; and received three Screen Actos Guild Awards and a Prism Award thanks to it.
Their love story
Huffman and Macy allegedly met back in the early 80s at the Atlantic Theater Company. They would go on to date for 15 years before they tied the knot.
Usually, it's the man who has cold feet about marriage, but Huffman admitted back in 2015 that she was "so scared of marriage [she] thought [she] would've preferred to step in front of a bus."
Felicity Huffman and William H Macy attend the 70th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on September 17, 2018 | Photo: Getty Images
Although they eventually got together, the pair did separate for "four or five" years during their relationship. Huffman said that after their time apart, she realized she could really lose "this guy."
Macy, who had asked Huffman to marry him at least twice before, finally received a "yes." Huffman spoke about it during an interview on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."
Finally saying yes
Huffman said that she rejected Macy the first couple times despite him being the "best fella." The reason was, she said, because "women disappear in marriage."
When Colbert asked how he took the rejections, Huffman said Macy was hurt at first but then he actually "got determined." Huffman herself didn't want to lose Macy.
Felicity Huffman and William H Macy attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on January 21, 2018 | Photo: Getty Images
So she said yes — but with conditions. They wouldn't tell anyone and she wouldn't wear the engagement or wedding ring. Naturally, Macy refused to allow Huffman to keep their marriage a secret in this way.
Finally, he told Huffman, "Here's the dress, here's the date, just show up." The pair tied the knot on September 6, 1997. In 2000, they welcomed their daughter Sophie.
In 2002, the pair welcomed a son, Georgia. Ten years later, the couple was honored together when they received a Hollywood Star on the Walk of Fame in March 2012.
The scandal
Up till then, things were going great for the rare longlasting Hollywood couple. However, the pair faced a challenge when Huffman and several other celebrities were shown to be involved in a college admissions scam.
The highly publicized event culminated in Huffman's arrest in March 2019 for paying $15,000 to get her daughter high SAT scores so she could get into college.
Supposedly, Macy was aware of the plans or at least the idea behind the scheme, but it was Huffman who put it into action and communicated with others about it.
It's no surprise then, that Macy stuck by his wife of 23 years' side when she got 14 days of jail time last month. He walked right next to her as she left the Boston courthouse where she'd also been ordered to pay a $30,000 fine.
Additionally, Huffman has to perform 250 hours of community service to atone for breaking the law. Inside the courtroom, the actress reportedly apologized to her daughter and welcomed her punishment from the judge.
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