This Star Celebrates 3 Decades of Happiness with Her Younger Husband – Her Inspiring Story & Photos
From meeting her husband on stage to leaving Hollywood and raising her family, this actress redefined success on her own terms. Take a look at her remarkable journey and what she's been up to in recent years.
Born in New York City on February 8, 1949, to Rosalind, an actress, and Robert Kaufmann Adams, a CBS executive, this Hollywood star's journey into showbiz seemed predestined.
Her childhood was steeped in the arts, with her father heavily involved in musicals. "My father had a tent in Michigan where he staged musicals, and we spent our summers there," she recalled.
"In Manhattan, we lived in a townhouse and Lynne [her sister] and I slept in what was the parlor in the house. The piano was in there and we'd often wake up in the morning to somebody auditioning in our bedroom and a line of actors out in the hall," the actress added.
The actress and her "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" co-stars circa 1975. | Source: Getty Images
Her love for acting was nurtured early, with performances alongside her sister and education at prestigious institutions like the High School for the Performing Arts and the School of the American Ballet.
"I loved acting. I never went to college. I just assumed I was gonna act," she said. Her passion for the craft eventually led her to Hollywood in 1974, armed with what she called "a burning desire to get into the movies."
She achieved that dream quickly, with roles in films like "Car Wash" in 1976 and "Shock Waves" in 1977. However, her big break came in 1978 when she starred opposite Richard Gere and Sam Shepard in "Days of Heaven."
Richard Gere and the Hollywood star filming "Days of Heaven" in 1978. | Source: Getty Images
She reflected on the experience, "I knew it was extraordinary when we were making it and that I'd never have another experience like it and I was right. I was offered lots of stuff after that — and looking back I have to say I didn't handle things so well."
The actress on the set of "Days of Heaven" in 1978. | Source: Getty Images
She landed roles in a few more films and television projects, including "Family" in 1976, "Moonlighting" in 1985, and "Thirtysomething" in 1987.
However, while her rise to fame was extraordinary, the glitz and glamour of Hollywood eventually wore thin. By the late 1980s, she had shifted her focus to the stage, where she found greater freedom.
The famous actress circa 1987. | Source: Getty Images
"When I think about doing a film — just being in the makeup chair can be an ordeal, and in front of a movie camera, you find yourself worrying about whether you're wrinkling your brow. Those things aren't an issue onstage," the star remarked.
But the transition wasn't entirely her choice. "I'm treated like an old discarded shoe," she once quipped, lamenting how the industry sidelines older actresses.
The 1980s star circa 1987. | Source: Getty Images
In the end, it wasn't just fulfillment that she found on stage — it was also love. While doing the play "The Heidi Chronicles" in 1990 in New York, the actress's castmate ended up being her future husband, actor Tony Shalhoub.
Although he was four years younger than her, their connection was undeniable. Shalhoub had first admired her from afar, watching her in "Days of Heaven."
The actress and Tony Shalhoub during The 8th Annual IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards in 1993 in Santa Monica, California. | Source: Getty Images
"Tony and I met doing a play. We were instantly drawn to each other, but he had a girlfriend, and he was a gentleman. However misguided I thought his loyalty was, I was very impressed," she shared.
"I really wanted to go out with him, but he was honorable, which I thought was a good sign," she added. Their romance only blossomed a year later when Shalhoub moved to Los Angeles.
The actress and Tony Shalhoub during the screening of "That Championship Season" on June 3, 1999, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
After just two months, he proposed, and they tied the knot in April 1992. "When I got married, it was the first time since I was 16 that I didn't have to support myself," she reflected.
However, while her personal life flourished, her professional one didn't as it became harder and harder to find work the older she got.
The actress and Tony Shalhoub at "Galaxy Quest" premiere on December 19, 1999, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
"I was going to award shows with him [Shalhoub], and they were pushing me out of the way to get a picture of him. It was horrible. That's when I said, 'I've got to just say I'm not an actor anymore' because at least that will feel like I'm taking charge," the actress revealed.
Tony Shalhoub and the actress at the 2001 American Film Institute's AFI Awards at the Beverly Hills Hotel on January 5, 2002. |Source: Getty Images
"Then there was a moment when I actually said, 'Damn it, I'm leaving.' Sort of hoping that everybody would say, 'You can't! You can't!' And nobody did. I think it's especially hard for someone who was really considered a beauty," she said.
The actress and Tony Shalhoub at the 60th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 19, 2003, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
The "Days of Heaven" star continued, "It's just very hard to suddenly become invisible when you walk on the street, not to get those looks from men — all of that stuff that you kind of take for granted and pretend you don't care about or don't like, but you rely on a lot."
Tony Shalhoub and the actress at the world premiere screening "Cars" on May 26, 2006, in Charlotte, North Carolina. | Source: Getty Images
Yet, she embraced this new chapter, prioritizing family. She adopted a daughter, Josie, in 1988 as a single mother. After her marriage, she and Shalhoub adopted another daughter, Sophie.
"It's such a weird thing to be a mother. Being a mother is more like being wallpaper. It's not being the center of attention. And so I think for a woman who's a mother, it is very hard to be an actress, to get all excited about yourself in the center seat," she explained.
When the actress officially bid farewell to show business in the 1990s, she was in her 40s. "I tried to bring her out of retirement," the actress's longtime friend, actor Caroline Aaron, said.
"I've sort of dedicated the last few years to my children and don't really go up for parts anymore," the star admitted. She further noted, "Of course, I'd love to do another film, but I'm trying to adjust to the idea of not doing that because it's too brutal a way to make a living."
Tony Shalhoub and the actress at the press reception for the Opening Night of "The Babylon Line" on December 5, 2016, in New York. | Source: Getty Images
In the end, Aaron's efforts were not entirely in vain. The "Days of Heaven" actress occasionally appeared in small roles over the years, including on her husband's hit show "Monk" as well as working with him on other projects.
She also made her way back to the stage. "[...] It's been fun to be on stage again. It gave me a new desire to do it," the actress said.
"This is the most competitive business in the world, and there are so many young, beautiful, talented actresses that it's a miracle I've worked at all," she noted.
As of 2024, she spent her days writing a memoir, painting and showing her work to the world, and even found herself an agent. The actress is also a grandmother, as her husband revealed in 2020 that their eldest daughter was expecting.
This actress is none other than Brooke Adams, who has gained admiration in recent years for her timeless beauty and enduring marriage. "You are so beautiful," one social media user commented.
Another typed, "This beautiful woman!" As for her marriage, one person shared, "One of the GREAT couples ❤️" while another wrote, "What a couple!!" "Looking great as always!" another person commented on a snap of the loving celebrity pair.
From her unforgettable performance in "Days of Heaven" to her choice to prioritize family over fame, Adams' story continues to inspire.
With 30 years of happiness alongside Shalhoub, a life filled with love, and a legacy of resilience, she reminds us that true success lies not in the spotlight, but in lasting fulfillment.
