I was married to a man who became a household name, admired by millions for his quick wit and warm charm. His comedy lit up stages and screens everywhere, but behind that public persona was a more private story—a story that included me, the woman who stood by him for nearly two decades. I gave him everything, even part of myself, only to face a betrayal that shattered my world.
We met in the entertainment industry, and it felt like fate. In 1993, we exchanged vows, believing our marriage was destined for great things. By 1996, we brought our daughter into the world, a beautiful gift who brightened our lives from the start. But despite appearances, our marriage was far from a fairy tale.
From the beginning, he struggled with alcoholism. He’d admit with disarming honesty, “I’m not perfect in my private life. I never have been.” He tried therapy, determined to avoid hurting the people he loved. Yet time and again, his own demons tested him—and tested our marriage.
That alone was challenging, but the stakes soared when doctors discovered he had a congenital kidney defect. He’d dismissed his fatigue and pain as a side effect of working too hard, but it turned out he was facing a life-threatening condition. He needed a kidney transplant, and without a donor, his time was running out.
When no one else came forward, I did. I offered him one of my kidneys, because I couldn’t imagine losing him. “It’s an incredible gift to help someone this way,” I remember thinking. “You’re literally giving the gift of life.” After the successful surgery, his relief and gratitude were overwhelming. “It’s a miracle my wife’s kidney was a match,” he said at the time. “I appreciate every single day now.”
Continue reading on next page…