Since meeting on the set of Soul Food in the early 2000s, Nicole Ari Parker and Boris Kodjoe have built one of Hollywood’s most enduring romances. The couple officially said “I do” on May 21, 2005, in Gudelfingen, Germany, where Kodjoe grew up. He’s revealed that he knew Parker would be his wife immediately after meeting her.
More than two decades later, they’re still giving butterfly vibes like the day they met.
The couple, who have two children, Sophie and Nicolas, shared with EBONY the numerous ways they keep their love intact. In a candid 2015 cover story, the couple spoke honestly about navigating life with a child with special needs and how the difficult moments in their marriage strengthened their bond and deepened their partnership.
Committed to still choosing each other and continuously evolving their relationship, they keep those fires fanning by doing things together and with their family. “Boris is from the Black Forest region of Germany, and it’s beautiful here,” Parker gushed in this 2023 interview about their summer in the country. “We’ve been coming here for a while …In Germany, you eat the best food you’ve ever had in your life.”
The two consistently emphasize that Black love can be glamorous and grounded, sexy and playful, and deeply intentional, all at once. Whether finishing each other’s sentences on red carpets or praising each other’s accomplishments, as Kodjoe did at a recent New York City dinner at Tatiana celebrating Parker’s feature in A Few Good WMN, their love for one another has become the blueprint we’d all like to experience.
Today, as they celebrate 21 years of marriage, here are seven shots of Parker and Kodjoe that continue to remind us that a love story can last.
‘Soul Food’ Premiere, 1997
At the premiere of Soul Food at the Directors Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles, the chemistry between Parker and Kodjoe was already undeniable.
‘King’s Ransom’ Los Angeles Premiere, 2005
Just a few weeks before their wedding ceremony, Parker and Kodjoe hit the carpet for the King’s Ransom Los Angeles Premiere at Arrivals at ArcLight Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, California. Parker stars in the film, and Kodjoe was there to show his support.
Segantini Museum, 2009
A renewal celebration? No, but Parker and Kodjoe were definitely wedding-attire-ready for the nuptials of tennis great Boris Becker and Sharlely Kerssenberg at the Segantini Museum on June 12, 2009, in St Moritz, Switzerland.
BET Awards, 2015
Ten years in, and the love is strong! During their tenth anniversary year, Parker and Kodjoe celebrated their love at the BET & Make-A-Wish Foundation Recipients BET Experience on June 28, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage)
‘And Just Like That’ Series Premiere, 2021
Kodjoe was right by his wife’s side for the New York premiere of her new series, And Just Like That… A New Chapter of Sex and the City” at MOMA on December 8, 2021.
Boris Kodjoe’s 50th Birthday, 2023
It was a family affair for Kodjoe’s 50th birthday celebration at Hotel Bel-Air on March 11, 2023, in Los Angeles. With their children, Sophie and Nicolas, in attendance, it was a radiant night.
Turks And Caicos, 2026
The family that vacations together… The couple and daughter Sophie attended the regatta-inspired welcome party for the opening of Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages & Spa on May 14 in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. Sun and sand keep love alive.