Leslie Bibb Reveals Why She and Sam Rockwell Are Happy Without Getting Married
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Some stars arenât interested in following the traditional script â they write their own love stories. Whether itâs skipping marriage, redefining relationships, or choosing a path thatâs right for them, these celebrities prove that happiness doesnât come with a rulebook. Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell are the kind of couple that makes you believe in lasting love â no wedding ring required.
Together for 18 years and still going strong, the duo recently stole hearts as co-stars in The “White Lotus” season 3.
NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Actors Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell attend the after party for “Moon” during the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival at 675 Bar on April 30, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Loud/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
Offscreen, theyâve built a beautiful life together â one filled with laughter, deep connection, and no pressure to âmake it official.â
Leslie Bibb Says Marriage Isnât a Must for a Fulfilling Life
During a recent appearance as guest co-host on TODAY with Jenna & Friends, Bibb opened up about her long relationship with Rockwell â and why marriage was never part of their plan. When Jenna Bush Hager mentioned a report about women embracing life without marriage, Bibb smiled: âListen, youâre speaking to the choir.â
HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 04: Sam Rockwell (L) and Leslie Bibb attend the 90th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
She added lovingly, âI love Sam Rockwell. I would put him in my pocket and carry him with me all the time. I love him â I do not want to get married.â
Why Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell Say âIf It Ainât Broke, Donât Fix Itâ
Bush Hager asked if marriage came up early in their relationship. Bibb recalled that it did â and that Rockwell teased her about it.
SANTA MONICA, CA – MARCH 03: Leslie Bibb (L) and Sam Rockwell attend the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 3, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
âHe kept saying, âReally, you donât want to get married?ââ Bibb laughed. ââStop asking me as if Iâm gonna pull a sneak on you.â But he didnât want it either.â
As for why? Bibb offered a simple, heartfelt truth: âMaybe itâs probably something about the way we grew up, but I feel like â if it ainât broke, donât fix it.â
Leslie Bibb on How She and Sam Rockwell Keep It Strong After 18 Years
Bibb also reflected on the ups and downs that come with any relationship, married or not. âI think this ideal has been ingrained in us â the fairytale that someoneâs gonna come in and everything will be okay,â she said. â[But] itâs not gonna be okay â stuff happens. There will be highs and lows.â
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb arrive at the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
She also shared that becoming a mom wasnât something she ever wanted for herself. âI just donât have that chip in me,â she said.
Even after 18 Years, Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwellâs Love Is Stronger Without Marriage
Despite nearly two decades together, Bibb and Rockwell remain strong and continue to find ways to keep their connection fresh.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 27: (L-R) Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell attend the closing night gala premiere of “Juror #2” during the 2024 AFI Fest at TCL Chinese Theatre on October 27, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
âI do think it gets better,â Bibb said. âThe intimacy of a relationship is sexy to me. You can have all the hot sex in the beginning, but you gotta reinvent.â
Take a peek at their sweet love story through these candid moments over the years.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 12: (EDITOR’S NOTE: This image was shot in black and white) (L-R) Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell attend the 75th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jenny Anderson/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions )BEVERLY HILLS, CA – MARCH 04: Leslie Bibb (L) and Sam Rockwell attend the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 4, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)US actor Sam Rockwell and his wife Leslie Bibb arrive for the 90th Annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018, in Hollywood, California. / AFP PHOTO / ANGELA WEISS (Photo credit should read ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 12: Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb attend the 75th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 16: (L-R) Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb attend Netflix’s “The Piano Lesson” Los Angeles Tastemaker Screening at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills on November 16, 2024 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix)Hollywood, CA – March 10: Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb arriving on the red carpet at the 96th Annual Academy Awards in Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, CA, Sunday, March 10, 2024. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 22: (L-R) Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb attend the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 19: (L-R) Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell attend the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 19, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. 721384 (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Turner)HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 04: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) Actor Sam Rockwell (L) wins Best Suppoorting Actor for ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ with Leslie Bibb at the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 21: Actors Leslie Bibb (L) and Sam Rockwell attend the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 21, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 27522_011 (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Turner)LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 03: Actress Leslie Bibb (L) and actor Sam Rockwell arrive at Fox Searchlight Pictures’ “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” at NeueHouse on November 3, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 02: (L-R) Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb speak onstage during The Gotham TV Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on June 02, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Gotham Film & Media Institute)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 10: Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb attend the HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’ FYC Screening & Panel at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on June 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images for HBO)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 10: Sam Rockwell and Leslie Bibb attend the HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’ FYC Screening & Panel at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on June 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Araya Doheny/Getty Images for HBO)HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 24: Sam Rockwell (L) and Leslie Bibb attend the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Leslie-Sam’s Adorable First Date Memories
Later on TODAY, Rockwell joined Bibb on the couch and reflected on the early days of their romance.
âWe had that kind of thunderbolt, like Dream Weaver moment in Wayneâs World when we saw each other,â Rockwell said.
NEW YORK – APRIL 30: Actors Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell attend the after party for “Moon” during the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival at 675 Bar on April 30, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Rob Loud/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
He was also delighted to learn theyâd both studied at the same acting school. âThat was really handy,â he smiled. Bibb laughed as she remembered her first impression: âI thought you were really cute â and I pretended I didnât know who you were.â
Their first date turned into an all-day affair. Rockwell recalled: âWe ended up having dinner after our day date went so well.â
âYou were single, you were ready to mingle,â Bibb teased him. âAnd I just put my little talons in and said, âNo, youâre mine.ââ
âAnd theyâre still in,â Rockwell replied with a grin.
For Bibb and Rockwell, happiness looks just like this: perfectly imperfect and wonderfully theirs.