It’s become something of a cliche for Hollywood’s leading men to parade a slew of beautiful young women around.
These men – affectionately dubbed bachelors while their female counterparts are ‘spinsters’ – are revered in their social circles as they choose to remain unmarried.
Now, however, there seems to be a trend in which male midlife celebrities are choosing to settle down and escape the ‘golden bachelor’ phase, which describes unmarried men over 60.
This week, it emerged James Martin is the latest quinquagenarian to give up his single days – despite having vowed to never to get married.
The TV chef, 53, is going back on his word to make things official with Kim Johnson, 39, two years after they started dating.
While it’s not clear what exactly prompted this U-turn, James is far from the only midlife celebrity who has chosen to settle down with a younger woman – as Daily Mail reveals.
James Martin, 53, is the latest quinquagenarian to give up his single days – getting engaged to Kim Johnson, 39 – despite having vowed to never to get married (pictured in September)
George Clooney
It appears 53 is the magic number when it turns to turning one’s back on bachelorhood.
In 2014, Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor George Clooney officially removed himself from the dating pool when he tied the knot with human rights barrister Amal Alamuddin, who was then 36.
The pair first met in July 2013 after being introduced by a mutual friend, with sparks flying instantly as the pair ‘stayed up all night talking’.
After a whirlwind romance, George popped the question nine months later – despite having vowed to never marry again after his short-lived marriage to Talia Balsam fell apart in the Nineties.
Explaining that Amal simply ‘swept him off his feet’, he said on the Smartless podcast: ‘We got engaged after a few months and got married within the first year that we met.
‘It surprised me more than probably anybody else in the world — and everybody else was pretty surprised!’
George, 64, went on to surprise himself again when he unearthed a paternal instict and started a family with Amal, 47. The couple are parents to eight-year-old twins Ella and Alexander.
In 2014, Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor George Clooney officially removed himself from the dating pool at the age of 53 when he tied the knot with human rights barrister Amal Alamuddin, who was then 36 (pictured in 2016)
George was first married to Talia Balsam but their union was short-lived, with George confessing he ‘definitely wasn’t someone who should have been married at that point’ (pictured in 1990)
Speaking about his decision U-turn, George told GQ: ‘I was like, “I’m never getting married. I’m not gonna have kids. Im gonna work, I’ve got great friends, my life is full, I’m doing well.”
‘And I didn’t know how un-full it was until I met Amal. And then everything changed.
I was like, “Oh, actually, this has been a huge empty space”. I’d never been in the position where someone else’s life was infinitely more important to me than my own. You know? And then tack on two more individuals, who are small and have to be fed.’
Prior to marrying Amal, George had earned himself bachelor status after being linked to a string of women, including Lisa Snowdon, Krista Allen, Sarah Larson, Elisabetta Canalis, and Stacy Keibler.
He married actress Talia, 66, in 1989 but their union was short-lived, with George filing for divorce three years later.
Reflecting on the union years later, he confessed: ‘I probably — definitely — wasn’t someone who should have been married at that point.
‘I just don’t feel like I gave Talia a fair shot. I was responsible for the failure of that marriage.’
Justin Theroux
Last year, at the age of 53, Justin Theroux secretly tied the knot with actress Nicole Brydon Bloom, then 30, and the couple are now expecting their first child (pictured in December)
He famously dated Jennifer Aniston for four years before they wed in 2015, but their marriage was short-lasting, with the couple separating two years later (pictured in 2015)
Another celebrity who decided to settle down and start a family at 53 is Justin Theroux.
Last year he secretly tied the knot with actress Nicole Brydon Bloom, then 30, during an intimate beach ceremony in Tulum, Mexico.
Nine months later, it was revealed they were expecting their first child.
Not much is known about Justin’s dating history as he famously likes to keep his personal life to himself.
However, he famously dated Jennifer Aniston for four years before they wed in 2015.
Their marriage was short-lasting, with the couple separating two years later.
Jennifer, 56, has since spoken about her secret 20-year struggle to conceive, admitting she tried IVF and herbal remedies in a mission to get pregnant.
She said of her struggles, ‘I would’ve given anything if someone had said to me, “Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favour.” You just don’t think it. So here I am today.’
On accepting that she won’t conceive, she concluded: ‘The ship has sailed.’
Responding to Jennifer’s candid claims, Justin showed his support at the time by commenting on her Instagram with a fist bump and heart emoji.
Hugh Grant
King of British rom-coms Hugh Grant was 58 when he tied the knot with Anna Eberstein, who was then 39. The couple have three children together (pictured in January 2025)
Prior to marrying Anna, Hugh enjoyed a 13-year romance with actress and model Elizabeth Hurley as well as relationships with Jemima Khan (pictured in 2007) and Tinglan Hong
King of British rom-coms Hugh Grant was 58 when he tied the knot with Anna Eberstein, who was then 39.
While the couple had been dating for six years and had three children together at this point, many believed that Hugh wouldn’t tie the knot.
A source told The Sun on his wedding day: ‘This is a day none of Hugh’s friends ever thought would come. He will soon be a pensioner and has finally become a family man.’
Even Hugh, who met Anna in 2012 was surprised, having told People magazine in 2015: ‘I’m not really a believer in marriage.
‘I’ve seen very few good examples, maybe five, in my life, but I think otherwise it’s a recipe for mutual misery.’
Prior to marrying Anna, Hugh enjoyed a 13-year romance with actress and model Elizabeth Hurley, as well as relationships with Jemima Khan and Tinglan Hong – with whom he shares two children.
Speaking after he tied the knot with Anna, Hugh admitted he was ‘wrong’ with his previous views on marriage and children.
‘Well, I was just plain wrong. I was wrong,’ he admitted. ‘And children, you know. I used to roll my eyes. People would say, “Oh Hugh you don’t understand it”, but they were right.’
Hugh added: ‘It was very nice getting married. It was another thing I put off too many decades. Very nice. Very nice being married.’
Chris Noth
He famously played a bachelor in Sex And The City. And in a case of life imitating art, Chris Noth waited until he was 57 until he married his longtime girlfriend, Tara Wilson, then 30, in 2012 (pictured in 2021)
Chris’ character Mr Big was reluctant to settle down on Sex And The City before finally being won over by Carrie Bradshaw (pictured with Sarah Jessica Parker in the series)
He famously played the bachelor Mr Big who was reluctant to settle down on Sex And The City before finally being won over by Carrie Bradshaw.
And in a case of life imitating art, Chris Noth waited until he was 57 until he married his longtime girlfriend, Tara Wilson, then 30, in 2012.
The couple had been together for 10 years and this point, welcoming son Orion in 2008.
They welcomed second son, Keats, in February 2020.
Chris and Tara’s marriage hasn’t always been smooth sailing, however, with Chris admitting in 2023 that he had cheated on Tara.
Addressing allegations from multiple women that her had sexually assaulted them – claims he strongly denied – Chris confessed: ‘I strayed on my wife, and it’s devastating to her and not a very pretty picture. What it isn’t is a crime.’
Chris was dropped from And Just Like That… after the allegations but previously commented on his years-long relationship arc on the show.
He said the Sex And The City movie – where Big and Carrie tie the knot – was ‘a great look into Carrie and Big’s relationship and what marriage means to them.’
Chris added: ‘No matter how long you’ve know someone, marriage changes some things in unexpected ways. And it’s a learning process for Carrie and Big.’
Will Forte
Funnyman Will Forte was 51 years old when he married Olivia Modling, then 30, in 2021 during a surprise wedding ceremony. The couple have two children (pictured in 2021)
Little is known about Will’s prior dating history but the SNL star was linked to Mad Men star January Jones in 2015 (pictured)
Funnyman Will Forte was 51 years old when he married Olivia Modling, then 30, in 2021.
The couple tied the knot three years after meeting but Will admitted he was ‘in no rush’ to get married.
They welcomed daughter Zoe in February 2021 and ultimately decided to make things official between them 10 weeks later during a surprise wedding ceremony.
Reflecting on their decision to wed, Will explained: ‘COVID goes by and we’re quarantining for a long time. And then the baby is this wonderful news. We find out we’re having a kid.
‘And so we were in no rush, but every once in a while we would think about, “Let’s just do it.”‘
On the ceremony itself, Will added: ‘My parents were totally surprised. It was so stressful, the two weeks where we were planning. I can’t imagine having a year or more to stew over wedding plans.
‘It already felt like we were married before. It doesn’t feel a lot different, but it’s still fun and exciting to say, “Wife.” She’s great.
‘I needed to find somebody who was a very patient person and she’s the most patient, understanding woman in the world. I’m feeling very happy and very lucky these days.’
Will and Olivia welcomed second daughter Cecilia in 2022 and admitted in a chat with People that he’s ‘kind of an old man dad.’
He revealed that Olivia pokes fun at his age, having bought him a sweatshirt emblazoned with ‘Dad or Grandpa?’
Little is known about Will’s prior dating history but the SNL star was linked to Mad Men star January Jones in 2015.
Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty surprised his fans when he decided to tie the knot with Annette Bening in 1992. He was 54 at the time, while Annette was 33 (pictured in 2019)
He was once one of Hollywood’s most famous bachelors, enjoying flings with the likes of Madonna (pictured together in 1990’s Dick Tracy) Cher, and Diane Keaton
He was once one of Hollywood’s most famous bachelors, enjoying flings with the likes of Madonna, Cher, and Diane Keaton.
So Warren Beatty surprised his fans when he decided to tie the knot with Annette Bening in 1992.
Aged 54 at the time, while Annette was 33, Warren said he knew he’d found ‘The One’ when they met on the set of the 1991 crime thriller, Bugsy.
So sure he was of his decision, that he called director Barry Levinson moments after their first meeting to declare: ‘I love her, and I’m going to marry her.’
Yet while he was sure of his feelings, he admitted he did feel a pang of sadness thinking about passing up his playboy lifestyle.
He recalled: ‘It took about 10 minutes [to fall in love with her]. Maybe five. I was so elated to meet her, and yet at the same time, I began to mourn the passing of a way of life.’
Warren, 88, added in a chat with Today: ‘I had no doubt when I met Annette that it was time to get married,’ noting that he ‘wasn’t trying to avoid marriage’ but divorce.
He continued: ‘When you’re older and you meet somebody, the decision-making process is a lot shorter… And that happened here and I listened to it.
‘And by listening to it, it enabled me not to question it too much… and I never did.’
Warren and Annette, 67, went on to welcome four children and are now considered to be one of Hollywood’s greatest success stories owing to their three-decade marriage.
James Martin
Saturday Kitchen star James rounds off the list of stars who have settled down at 53, who last month the chef was said to have popped the question to Kim (pictured in April 2025)
His engagement to Kim came exactly two years after he split from long-term girlfriend Louise Davies, 48, after 12 years together (pictured in 2015)
Saturday Kitchen star James rounds off the list of stars who have settled down at 53.
Last month the chef was said to have popped the question to Kim before gifting his bride-to-be a £150,000 Land Rover, which was said to have been an engagement present.
While reports of an engagement swirled last month, but the claims were cemented this week when personal trainer Kim commented on one of his Instagram snaps: ‘So proud of my fiancé’.
The proposal marks a sharp U-turn for James, after he previously insisted that he had no desire to ever tie the knot.
Speaking to the Sunday People in 2019, he said: ‘Marriage doesn’t interest me in the slightest, mainly because I’ve catered for so many weddings, really.
‘I admire people who do it, that’s fine, but I’m quite happy. I don’t need to spend 60 grand on a day, no, I’m more than happy thanks.’
His engagement to Kim came exactly two years after he split from long-term girlfriend Louise Davies, 48, after 12 years together.
The chef and the TV producer first began dating in 2011 after they met on the set of Celebrity Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and lived together at his Hampshire pad.
In December 2023, a spokesperson for James confirmed that he and Louise had parted ways, but that they remain good friends.
James and Kim’s romance was first revealed when they were spotted shopping for jewellery at Tiffany’s in Mayfair back in April last year.
The couple appeared to take the next step in their relationship in October, when she moved into his country home in Hampshire.
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