Marlee Matlin's Husband Is Kevin Grandalski: A Look into Their Relationship (2024)

Marlee Matlin's husband, Kevin Grandalski, monitored traffic on the "Reasonable Doubts" set when the couple met and fell in love. After the actress left an abusive relationship, Matlin and Grandalski welcomed four children and celebrated over 30 years of marriage.

Matlin has appeared in various movies and television series since the 1980s. In 1986, she made her acting debut when she played Sarah Norman in "Children of a Lesser God." The role won Matlin an Oscar nomination and a win for Best Actress. Matlin was the first deaf actor and youngest actor to win the award.

And while her professional life was on the rise, Matlin chose to document her private life in her book "I'll Scream Later." In the 2009 autobiography, Matlin revealed that she had been in an abusive relationship with her partner and co-star, William Hurt. The actors had dated for two years, and after turning her life around, Matlin decided to end the relationship.

After ending her relationship with Hurt, Matlin found love again with Grandalski, a law enforcement officer. They started a family, and Matlin said about her previous relationship:

Marlee Matlin's Husband Is Kevin Grandalski

When Matlin first saw Grandalski on the set of "Reasonable Doubts," the actress admitted to being "hooked" and joked that it might have been his uniform. They dated for a few years before tying the knot on August 29, 1993.

People reported that Matlin and Grandalski exchanged their vows in sign language and were married by both a rabbi and a priest. Their wedding occurred at Henry Winkler's house, and Matlin and Grandalski later welcomed their children Sarah, Brandon, Tyler, and Isabelle.

The couple reportedly allowed their children to make their own religious choices, as Matlin is Jewish, but Grandalski is not. Although they did not follow the same faith, it did not pose a problem in their marriage as Matlin said they found a way to compromise in their family:

In 2017, on January 10, Matlin took to social media to celebrate 30 years of her sobriety. She posted a gray picture of herself biting on a chip and wrote, "I thank my husband, children, family, friends, and ME. I cannot imagine my life without it."

Matlin also reportedly thanked Betty Ford for helping her with her battle with addiction. 2017 proved to be a year of further celebration as Matlin honored Grandalski and his nearly thirty-year service as a law enforcement officer.

The couple stood side by side, holding Grandalski's shadow box from the Burbank Police Officers Association, and she wrote in her caption that she was "very proud" of her husband. In 2020, Grandalski had a reported net worth of $1 million from his time as a law enforcement officer working outside of Los Angeles.

Marlee Matlin's Reaction to Her Ex's Death

On March 13, 2022, Matlin's former partner, William Hurt, died after a battle with cancer. The late actor's son shared the news that Hurt died of natural causes "peacefully" in his sleep and surrounded by his family a week before his 72nd birthday. Hurt and Matlin met on the set of "Children of a Lesser God" and began dating when she was 19, and he was 35.

Matlin was on the Critics' Choice Awards red carpet when she signed that a reporter was the first to ask her about her ex's death. Despite their tumultuous relationship, Matlin said Hurt was a "one-of-a-kind" who taught her a lot. She added:

Hurt never denied Matlin's abuse allegations but said he had "already apologized." Hurt starred in films such as "The Big Chill" and "Broadcast News" and said he and Matlin had "a great deal to heal." The late actor said he and Matlin had grown since their relationship and wished her and her family well.

Marlee Matlin's Relationship before Kevin

William Hurt and Marlee Matlin at the 41st Annual Tony Awards at Hellinger Theater in New York City | Source: Getty Images

In her book, "I'll Scream Later," Matlin detailed arguments that led to violence and the physical and emotional abuse she endured during her relationship with Hurt. The relationship left her with bruises and wounds and fearing for her life.

When asked if she found it difficult to talk about her story, Matlin said no and added that she "could not wait" to share what she had gone through.

She did not give the potential damage her book could have caused her career a second thought. After releasing her book, Matlin received letters from other women who could relate to her experience. Following the #MeToo movement, Matlin said:

After publicly addressing the abuse she experienced during her relationship with William Hurt, Matlin shared that there were actresses who were blacklisted for speaking up about abuse. Matlin also used her platform to advocate for other deaf actors in Hollywood.

While filming for "Coda," Matlin learned financial backers wanted to hire non-deaf actors to play deaf roles and threatened to quit. She said it was "not authentic" and was "not going to work." Matlin said she believed deaf actors could play deaf characters more accurately as they "lived it" and "know it."