Julianne Moore, the renowned actress from the hit TV series May December, has been married to her husband, director Bart Freundlich, for nearly three decades. Their long and stable relationship is an inspiration to people inside and outside of Hollywood, and Moore has shared plenty of advice on how to maintain such a compelling connection.
Who Is Bart Freundlich?
Bart Freundlich was born and raised in Manhattan by parents Debbie and Larry Freundlich. His mother was a marketing consultant, while his dad was a publisher. Freundlich’s passion for filmmaking led him to study at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned a dual degree in cinema studies and film and television production.
He made his directorial debut in 1997 with The Myth of Fingerprints, which starred none other than his future wife, Julianne Moore.
Freundlich’s career has been marked by his versatility, having directed films like Trust the Man (2005) and Wolves (2016), as well as television episodes of Californication and Mozart in the Jungle. He has collaborated with Moore on several projects, including World Traveler (2001), Trust the Man (2005), and After the Wedding (2019).
In an interview with True 212, Freundlich expressed his gratitude for the positive feedback on his film, saying, “It’s a great feeling to see something you’ve spent months working on finally reach completion. The directing process can be a long and difficult one, but getting positive feedback from people who have enjoyed the film certainly makes it all worthwhile.”
He also praised his wife, stating, “She’s just the best at what she does…I haven’t worked with her for about 10 years. She is very specific about the roles she takes. They either speak to her or they don’t speak to her.”
How Long Have Moore and Freundlich Been Together?
Before meeting Freundlich, Moore was married to actor John Gould Rubin from 1986 until their divorce in 1995. A few years later, she met Freundlich while still going through the logistics of her divorce. At the time, she was dating someone new but was still dealing with the aftermath of her previous marriage. Moore jokingly recalled that she was “super grumpy” when they first met at a Q&A at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in 2019.
Her boyfriend at the time had just crashed her car, and she was a bit sharp with Freundlich upon arriving at their meeting. In turn, he was “so patient” when discussing the part. Moore was impressed by Freundlich’s insightful comment about her physicality, which made her decide to work with him on his film.
Sparks flew soon afterwards, and they welcomed their first child, Caleb, in 1997. However, they didn’t get married until 2003, which Moore attributed to her desire to provide a stable family environment for her children.
Do They Have Kids?
Moore and Freundlich have two children together: Caleb, born on December 4, 1997, and Liv, born on April 11, 2002. Caleb is a musician and composer of music for films and video games, according to his website. He attended New York University and earned a master’s in music, just like his father. Both his parents have been supportive of his artistic projects.
Liv, on the other hand, studied at Northwestern University and has modeled with her mother for the Bulgari’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide in 2022. Moore has expressed her admiration for her daughter’s maturity and ability to navigate the world.
What Else Has Moore Said About Freundlich?
In various interviews, Moore has shared her insights on what makes their marriage thrive. In 2020, she told Drew Barrymore on The Drew Barrymore Show that she and Freundlich make each other laugh, which is essential for their relationship. “The only thing that I can say is, I think that you both have to really want to be married,” she admitted. “I do feel like I’ve seen situations where things aren’t working out for people, one of the members of the couple doesn’t want to be there.”
Moore also emphasized the importance of investing time and effort in their relationship. “When you find a person, you have to invest in them and that relationship. And that’s what love is,” she said in a 2019 interview with People.
In 2023, she reiterated the significance of laughter in their relationship, saying, “Bart has always made me laugh so hard that my eyelids start to flip up. My god, does he make me laugh…I feel happy that my marriage is thriving and intact. That’s a really great thing. I think you both have to want to be together. Find somebody who’s as interested in you as you are in them.”
FAQs
How long have Julianne Moore and Bart Freundlich been together?
They have been together for almost three decades, having met in 1997.
What is Bart Freundlich’s profession?
He is a director and has worked on films and television episodes.
How many children do Moore and Freundlich have?
They have two children, Caleb and Liv.
