The ‘Strange’ Love Story of Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone
Comedy icon Melissa McCarthy first stole America's heart when she played Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls in the early 2000s, but her husband Ben Falcone stole hers all the way back in 1998.
More than 20 years later, Melissa was nominated in the "Best Actress" category at the 2019 Oscars for her performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, and Melissa's husband Ben (who's also in the film) stood by her side all night.
ICYMI, this isn't the first time the couple has acted together-not by a long shot. They've been making each other laugh on- and off-screen basically since the first day they met. Here's everything you need to know about Hollywood's funniest couple:
1998: Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone meet in a comedy writing class.
A literal match made in comedy heaven, Melissa and Ben first crossed paths in a comedy writing class at the Groundlings comedy school in Los Angeles. The first day, she was smitten with his quiet humor as he performed a skit about "an inmate that really liked his new roommate," she recalled on The Ellen Show. "I immediately was like, 'Oh, he's strange. I like him,'" Melissa continued. "And we were friends from, like, day one."
They got to know each other better while writing their first skit, titled All Seger's Eve, about a Bob Seger-themed holiday, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "From the very first time we spoke, we were on the same page," Ben told Us Weekly in 2013. "We love each other, respect each other and try not to sweat the small stuff. And we really make each other laugh." (Especially, as you can see, around the holidays.)
May 6, 2003: Melissa and Ben act together for the first time.
While you probably associate this dynamic comedy duo with their hilarious airplane scene in Bridesmaids (more on that in a sec), they actually first acted together in an episode of the hit dramedy Gilmore Girls. Melissa played Sookie St. James (her breakout role, btw) all seven seasons, while Falcone made a one-episode ("Say Goodnight, Gracie") appearance in season three. He and Melissa shared a scene, which you'll def want to rewatch ASAP.
October 8, 2005: Melissa and Falcone get married.
After dating for seven years, the funny couple tied the knot in fall 2005. In a 2013 interview with More magazine, Melissa said, "I got hit with the lucky stick with Ben."
"We got hit with the same lucky stick," Ben added. "From the very first time we spoke, we were on the same page. We love each other, respect each other, and try not to sweat the small stuff. And we really make each other laugh."
May 5, 2007: Melissa and Ben have their first child.
In January 2007, Melissa confirmed to People that she and her husband were expecting their first child in May. "We are so excited about the baby," she told the publication. "I’m hoping the baby has a lot of Ben’s calm traits and less of my spazzy ones."
On May 5, Vivian Falcone was born. Now 11, she might not have inherited Melissa's "spazzy" traits, but def shares her passion for interior design. "Ben walked in and Viv and I were trying out a new bedspread I got, and Viv's like (thoughtfully), 'I just think it might compete with the headboard," she told Today in 2018. "...Ben just turned around and went, 'Oh my God, I can't have two of you.'"
(Fun fact: Melissa's character Sookie St. James' pregnancy was reportedly written into the last season of Gilmore Girls, according to Biography.com.)
March 22, 2010: Melissa and Ben have their second daughter.
Georgette Falcone was born on March 22, 2010. By this time, Melissa was set to star in the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly. Four months after giving birth, she began filming the show's first season.
Now 8 years old, Georgette is already a little diva, says Melissa. "Full face of makeup, shirt in, like, a ponytail holder, and, like, a heeled boot," she said on The Ellen Show in 2018. "...She tries to go right down the stairs and out the door, and I'm like, wait, what?"
April 28, 2011: Melissa and Ben act in their first blockbuster film together.
You probably don't need to be reminded of Melissa and Falcone's #iconic airplane scene in the 2011 hit comedy Bridesmaids, but just in case... Melissa played Megan, the bride's future sister-in-law, and Ben played undercover air marshall Jon. Not only could Megan tell he was an air marshall, but she was totally into him.
Art really does imitate life, I guess?
February 8, 2013: Melissa and Ben act together in 'Identity Thief.'
After Melissa's breakthrough performance in Bridesmaids, she went on to star in multiple big-screen comedies. The first of which was Identity Thief, in which she played Diana, a-you guessed it-identity thief. Her hubby Ben made a cameo as Tony / Motel Desk Clerk.
July 2, 2014: Melissa and Ben write and act in 'Tammy' together.
2014 was a big year for the couple, who took the plunge into comedy production with their new company, On the Day. Not only did they write the film Tammy together, but Ben directed his leading lady Melissa in it. He also made a cameo as Keith Morgan, the manager of Topper Jack's fast food restaurant who fires Tammy.
March 28, 2016: Melissa and Ben write and act in their second movie together.
The comedy dream team collaborated on their second film, The Boss, in 2016. Again, they co-wrote the zany comeback comedy about a businesswoman who gets caught doing insider trading, and Ben directed Melissa in the starring role. But this time around, it wasn't just Ben who made a cameo, their two daughters, Vivian and Georgette, did as well.
May 16, 2017: Ben publishes a book about raising his and Melissa's daughters.
Somehow in between writing movie after movie, Ben found time to author a book, Being A Dad Is Weird, about his experiences with his own "larger-than-life" dad and as a father to his two daughters with Melissa. Not only did she promote the book on her Instagram (and with a celebratory perm, of course), but Melissa also wrote the book's foreword. Um, serious question-is there anything this adorable couple can't do?!
July 3, 2017: Melissa and Ben have a Roman holiday.
Okay, so it seems like the couple finally found time to go on vacation in summer 2017. They hit Rome for some rest, relaxation, and ancient ruins. "Ciao from Roma!!!" Melissa simply captioned an Instagram post from their getaway.
2017 - 2018: Melissa and Ben play themselves on TV.
Returning to the small screen together (as if there was another option), Melissa and Ben are cast to play themselves on comedic TV series Nobodies. Melissa is in eight episodes and Ben is in nine of the show about a group of friends working together on a children's show.
February 14, 2018: Melissa gets Ben deviled eggs for Valentine's Day.
"Love is knowing I want deviled eggs more than chocolate," Ben wrote on Instagram, before thanking his wife for the, um, creative gift.
May 11, 2018: The couple makes their third (!!) film together.
Apparently, the couple who makes movie magic together, stays together. (Sorry, I don't make the rules.) In 2018, Melissa and Ben worked together on their third movie, Life of the Party.
"It's ridiculous. It's like you get to go to work with your best friend," Melissa told E! News at the movie's premiere. "It's exactly how we met and we became such good friends because we loved doing this together. To get to do it on this kind of scale and still keep telling stories…it's a dream."
October 8, 2018: Melissa and Falcone celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary.
A few days after her and Ben's 13th wedding anniversary, Melissa spilled all the "juicy" details on The Ellen Show. "We had a very romantic evening at our house…with Richard E. Grant [Melissa's costar in CYEFM], which I thought was kind of lovely," she said with a laugh. "He found out on the way home."
Melissa also revealed she got Ben a Jitterbug phone-the, in her words, "phone for senior citizens"-for their anniversary, while he got her "two beautiful rings," including one that said "love" (awww). "I have to work on my romance skills, I think," Melissa added. Well, there's always next year...
October 21, 2018: Melissa and Ben act together in 'Can You Ever Forgive Me?'
The couple's latest film together is their first drama. In Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Melissa plays Lee Israel, an out-of-work biographer who (spoiler alert!!) turns to literary letter forging, and Ben plays Alan Schmidt, a collector recruited by the FBI to expose her.
Melissa was nominated for a 2019 Golden Globe in the "Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama" category, but lost to Glenn Close. She also snagged a 2019 Oscar nom in the "Best Actress" category for her performance. (Fingers crossed!!)
February 24, 2019: Melissa and Ben wear matching tracksuits to the Vanity Fair Oscars after party.
Um, if showing up to the Vanity Fair Oscar after party in matching Adidas tracksuits doesn't automatically make you #relationshipgoals, then I don't know what does.
Despite losing the Best Actress Oscar to Olivia Colman (The Favourite), Melissa and Ben proved they were literal good sports about the whole thing in their comfy-cute athleisure.
And now I want one.