Mark Consuelos recently opened up about the lessons from his late father that he credits for his enduring 30-year marriage to Kelly Ripa. The couple celebrated their milestone anniversary on May 1, 2026, reflecting on decades of love, challenges, and growth.
During an appearance on iHeartRadio’s podcast, I’ve Never Said This Before with Tommy DiDario, the 55-year-old LIVE with Kelly and Mark star shared wisdom passed down from his father, Saul Consuelos. “One of the great things my dad taught me was — and I’m not sure how we got on this conversation, maybe I was going through a breakup early on in college — he’s like, ‘You know, you gotta find somebody that’s better than you, Mark,’” he revealed. “He didn’t say marry above your station, but he said, ‘Find somebody who’s gonna pull you up, that’s gonna make you better.’ And I did. I was lucky enough to find somebody like that.”
Mark’s father passed away peacefully in March after a long illness, a loss that deeply touched both Mark and Kelly. Reflecting on Saul, Mark called him “such a fascinating man,” while Kelly, choking up, described how loving and intellectual her father-in-law was, saying her husband was lucky to have him for all his life.
Mark and Kelly met on the set of All My Children, where they played on-screen love interests Hayley Vaughan and Mateo Santos. Their real-life romance led to a secret wedding in Las Vegas in 1996, just one year after meeting. Over the decades, the couple has raised their children in New York City while maintaining a high-profile television presence.
Mark acknowledged that fans are heavily invested in their marriage, having witnessed their chemistry and love develop on-screen. “They watched us fall in love on a soap, and they saw these two characters, like playing boyfriend and girlfriend, and they knew we were in love. And like, yeah, we really, really were,” he said. He emphasized that their viewers have come full circle with them, seeing them transition from soap stars to morning show hosts.
Kelly, previously expressing certainty about Mark being ‘the one,’ recalled seeing his photograph before they met and feeling her entire future flash before her eyes. She also candidly spoke about how their marriage requires effort, likening it to a marathon. “Relationships, marriages are not sprints,” she said. “There’s going to be like, mile 24 when you’re like, ‘I quit.’ But you just got to push through. Just push through.”
Their enduring partnership, rooted in mutual respect, shared values, and love, continues to captivate audiences, offering inspiration to couples navigating the complexities of long-term commitment.
