James Brolin Reflects on the Blind Date That Sparked His 27-Year Marriage to Barbra Streisand (Exclusive)

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James Brolin and Barbra Streisand celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary on July 1, 2025
Speaking with PEOPLE just after the milestone, the actor reveals how they spent the special day
Brolin also reflects on the blind date that kicked off a love story that's lasted nearly three decadesJames Brolin is looking back on the moment he fell in love with Barbra Streisand.
In a recent catch-up with PEOPLE, the actor opened up about their romance, which began with a blind date on July 1, 1996.
"That night was something. It was like somebody called and said, 'Would you be interested in a date with her?' And what I said was, 'I like what she says between songs,' and I was a real nut for women singers — especially jazz and bar singers and romantic singers at the time. So that got my interest," Brolin, 84, shares.
"I had been out of a marriage for three years and really saying, 'Who needs that again?' But we both agreed to go. We're on our way and halfway there, we both picked up the phone to cancel and something told us, 'No. Let's just do it.'"
Before meeting in the '90s, Streisand, 83, had previously been married to Elliott Gould between 1963 and 1971. Brolin was previously married to Jan Smithers from 1986 to 19995, and before that, Jane Cameron Agee.
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By saying no to their doubts, neither knew they were saying yes to a deep and genuine love.
"We met there. I didn't look at all like she had thought I would because I'd been, for seven years all bearded and curly-haired in Hotel. She saw me and went, 'That's not the guy I came to see.' I had cut off all my hair. She finally came up to sit with all the people at the table and came behind me and said, 'Who f----- up your hair?'" he laughs.
"Well, that's when I fell in love. I thought, 'This girl tells the truth right from the beginning. I'm crazy about her,'" Brolin continues. "And then we've really been pretty much together ever since then."
To mark their anniversary this year, the two enjoyed the day "in the pool and sitting in the sun and in the shade."
"We look out at almost 180 degrees of water, but we're 90 feet up, so it's pretty nice and relaxing. Then we went off to dinner at the invite of some friends and did a fusion Japanese dinner, and they brought flowers. They must have carried stuff. They brought two cakes," he shares.
"It was just overkill for six people, but that's good friends," he continued, noting they finished the night at home with a movie.
Brolin appreciates that his wife has been "very giving," respecting the time it takes to explore creative endeavors like acting and filmmaking.
"One thing that she does that some women have a terrible time with is, 'Where were you? Oh, that only takes 20 minutes. You've been two hours.' Those kind of questions just destroy things. She never asked me anything," he shares.
"And I just feel this incredible loyalty, because of it, and so that it brings you together. With her, I love everything she does. I love her choices. People argue with her about her choices and then in the end, when given enough time, they find out she was right in the first sentence."
The actor also says that their differences bring out the best in each other.
"She's very much a perfectionist and takes her time working things out and being sure. And me, I make very quick decisions. I'm a great problem solver when trouble comes up at the last minute," he explains.
He concludes, "We don't work the same way and yet, we love the way the other one works."
Read the original article on People