It’s a fairytale romance for the ages – Scooby Doo stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. have been loved up for more than 20 years.
The Hollywood couple met on the set of teen horror flick I Know What You Did Last Summer back in 1997, but didn’t start dating until three years later.
Two years later they were tying the knot at a very sweet wedding – and despite the trolls and doubters over the years, the pair have remained hopelessly devoted to each other.
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The Buffy the Vampire Slayer icon has continued to work alongside her beau, and the pair took on the roles of Fred and Daphne in the live action Scooby Doo movies in 2002 and 2004.
In a sweet coincidence, Sarah ended up playing an extra on Freddie’s 1999 flick She’s All That – alongside their future Scooby Doo co-star Matthew Lillard.
Daily Star takes a peek inside their adorable romance.
Bitter ex feud
(Image: Startraks/REX/Shutterstock)
Over the years, Sarah had a few short relationships before finally meeting The One.
In 1999, rumours abounded that she was dating her Buffy co-star David Boreanaz. She was also romantically linked to TV host Jerry O’Connell – and the pair attended the same high school.
But Jerry didn’t even speak to Sarah until after they’d both graduated, with Jerry explaining in 2021: “Listen, I was a senior. I didn’t want to come off as, like, too much of a predator. I respected age difference and everything.”
As for Freddie, the star dated his General Hospital co-star Kimberly McCullough in the early nineties – with Freddie describing her as an “angel”.
However, it wasn’t to last, and soon she had her own say – to thank the universe for splitting them up.
(Image: Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock)
It came amid a feud between Freddie and 24 star Kiefer Sutherland, during which Kimberly tweeted: “This is when you say, ‘Thank you universe for not letting me marry this one!’ What a douche.”
Freddie and Kiefer’s feud “made him want to quit acting” after the pair starred in 24 together, with Freddie claiming to ABC News in 2014: “I did 24. It was terrible. I hated every moment of it.
“Kiefer was the most unprofessional dude in the world. That’s not me talking trash. I’d say it to his face.
“I think everyone who’s worked with him has said that… I just wanted to quit the business after that. So I just sort of stopped.”
First meeting
(Image: FilmMagic, Inc)
Though it might not seem like something straight out of a fairytale, Freddie and Sarah’s first date was certainly a meet-cute.
The pair had plans for dinner alongside one of their mutual friends, who cancelled, leaving them both in the lurch.
She told People Magazine: “We decided to have dinner anyway and never looked back.”
Elaborating on their meeting on their 20th wedding anniversary, Gellar explained: “20 years ago this week, my friend Freddie Prinze Jr. and I were supposed to have dinner with a mutual friend from out of town.
“That friend missed her flight, but we decided to still meet and catch up. Now 20 years together, 17 plus married and two kids, we still go to that restaurant for dinner.”
Adorable wedding
(Image: AP)
Freddie has confessed that “everything clicked” when he fell for Sarah, and the couple announced their engagement at a party in 2001, before tying the knot a year later.
He said: “One day, I just knew we were gonna get married, and I knew I was gonna propose. I didn’t know when or how, and so I did, and fortunately she was on the same page.”
The pair headed to Mexico for an intimate wedding – and Freddie has a secret to success for his decades-long marriage.
He joked: “My mom was a chef, and I learned how to cook, and I married someone who couldn’t cook, so I’m necessary. She needs me to live and sustain herself.
(Image: sarahmgellar/Instagram)
“Number two is laughter. I still make her laugh.”
In adorable snaps from their big day, Freddie looked dapper in a white suit, while Sarah opted for a fringed strapless bridal gown.
Freddie took off his shoes for an adorable dance under the stars in Mexico, and Sarah used this adorable quote to tell her hubby just how much she loves him: “I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
“I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me.”
The pair went on to welcome two children together – Charlotte and Rocky.
Split fears
(Image: sarahmgellar/Instagram)
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It wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows for the pair, and plenty of their Hollywood peers thought their romance wouldn’t last.
Presenter Howard Stern was at the forefront of the cruel bets, and asked Freddie back in 2001 on The Howard Stern Show: “So you will marry Sarah Michelle Gellar even though you know it won’t last?”
Freddie hit back: “Oh, absolutely it will last!” but Stern wasn’t having it, telling him: “You think you’re gonna know how you feel at 35 [but] you’re gonna be a completely different man.”
The Scooby Doo actor said: “And she will be a completely different woman, but that’s all right.”
Howard eventually quipped: “I wanna make a written bet with you. In about 10 years, you’re gonna hunt me down and go, ‘Howard, I owe you money’.”
But the pair sure showed him – and aren’t letting him forget about the bet, either.
On their 20th anniversary, Sarah hit out at Howard, telling him: “I think you owe us.”
Her hubby giggled: “She will not forget!”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
