A Complete Timeline of Hugh Jackman and Wife Deborra-Lee Furness’ Marriage and Split
Closer Weekly
1995
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Hugh and Deb first met on the set of the Australian TV show Correlli in 1995. This was years before the actor became known as an international movie star thanks to his role in the iconic X-Men franchise throughout the 2000s. At the time they crossed paths, Hugh had just landed his first professional gig, while Deb was already widely known as a star in Australia. Looking back, Hugh dished he was nervous about giving his first impression. "Deb, she was a big star. I get picked up, and Deb is in the front seat of the car. I’ll never forget," he once recalled to People. "She took off her seatbelt and she turned around and put out her hand and took off her sunglasses and said, ‘Hi, I’m Deborra-lee Furness, nice to meet you.’ I remember thinking, ‘I like this girl.'"
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1996
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It was practically love at first sight between Hugh and Deb, so it's no surprise they married after less than a year of dating. On April 11, 1996, the one-time lovebirds tied the knot.
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2000
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After repeated miscarriages and multiple failed attempts with in vitro fertilization, Hugh and Deb adopted their eldest son, Oscar, following his birth in 2000. "Deb and I always wanted to adopt. So that was always in our plan," the Les Misérables actor once candidly shared with Katie Couric. "We didn’t know where in the process that would happen, but biologically obviously, we tried and it was not happening for us and it is a difficult time."
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2005
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The former couple adopted their second child, daughter Ava, in 2005. Even though Hugh and Deb always yearned to have biological kids, they "don't think" of Oscar and Ava as anything but their "children." "We feel things happened the way they are meant to," he sweetly shared with the Herald Sun in 2011. "Obviously, biologically wasn’t the way we were meant to have children. Now, as we go through life together, sure there are challenges, but everyone’s in the right place with the right people. It sounds airy-fairy, but it’s something we feel very deeply."
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2006
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The duo celebrated 10 years of marriage in April 2006. Days after the special milestone, Hugh and Deb enjoyed a night out in New York City, which included a viewing of the Broadway play Salome.
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2016
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The dad of two honored his 20th anniversary with Deb by sharing an adorable throwback photo from their 1996 wedding day. "20 years ago on this day," he gushed in the caption.
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2020
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After 24 years of marriage, Deb couldn't feel more blessed to have Hugh by her side. While appearing on Anh’s Brush With Fame in September 2020, the Last of the Finest actress recalled the moment when she knew the Logan actor was "The One." “He said he knew two weeks," Deb sweetly shared, noting she first felt the mutual feeling during a “dinner party” in 1995. "I remember saying to him [as] he was cooking ... I sat in the kitchen and I said, ‘You haven’t been coming to my trailer,’ because we used to hang out,” she explained. "And he goes, ‘Yeah, yeah, I know, I haven’t.’ He [then] said, ‘I got a crush on you.’ And when he said that, I went, ‘I got a crush on you too.'"
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2021
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Hugh paid tribute to his 25th wedding anniversary with Deb by sharing a touching post on Instagram. The Prisoners actor penned a lovely message to his then-wife alongside a handful of throwback pics from their 1996 wedding day. "Being married to you, Deb, is as natural as breathing. From nearly the moment we met ... I knew our destiny was to be together," he gushed. "In our 25 years, our love has only grown deeper. The fun, excitement and adventure more exhilarating; the learning even greater. I’m forever grateful to share our love, our life and our family together. We’ve only just begun. Deb, I love you with all my heart!"
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September 2023
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Hugh and Deborra announced their split in a joint statement to People in September 2023. “We have been blessed to share almost three decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting, and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,” the statement read. They continued, “Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.”
Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film FestivalHugh Jackman and wife Deborra-Lee Furness' marriage was like something out of a romance novel. A timeline of the Wolverine actor's relationship with the Australian actress proves the two shared one of the strongest bonds in all of Hollywood, even after news of their split rocked fans in September 2023.
Scroll through the gallery below to see a complete timeline of Hugh and Deb's romance and breakup.