Warren Beatty and Annette Bening’s relationship began while they worked on Bugsy in 1991, according to Bening. They married privately on March 3, 1992, and went on to have four children. The precise point when their romance began is less settled: later accounts describe a 1990 casting lunch, a relationship that started during filming, and a decision to get together near the end of production.
November 1990: A casting lunch for Bugsy
Beatty was considering Bening for the role of Virginia Hill in Bugsy when he called her and took her to lunch to discuss the part, according to ELLE’s 2024 timeline. ELLE recounts that Beatty later said he returned to his office and told director Barry Levinson, “I love her, and I’m going to marry her.” That is a retrospective anecdote, not a contemporaneous record of when the couple began dating. ELLE’s timeline places the lunch in November 1990.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Reds Blu-ray | Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson | Region Free | $15.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Heaven Can Wait Blu-ray + Digital + Limited Collectible Slipcover - 1978 Warren Beatty Classic | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Reds | $3.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Lilith (1964) (Blu-Ray) | $25.14 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Heaven Can Wait | $4.99 | Buy on Amazon |
1991: Their relationship begins around Bugsy
Bugsy, released in 1991, starred both actors; Sony Pictures’ film page identifies Beatty and Bening among its stars. Bening later told The Guardian that their relationship began on the set in 1991. She also disputed the familiar story that Beatty waited until filming ended to ask her out: “That’s not true at all!” she said. “We were both single and it wasn’t like we were doing anything wrong. Though we did hide it.”
Beatty’s recollection, reported by CBS in 2016, was that they worked together on the film and decided to get together at the end of it. The accounts establish that their romance developed in connection with Bugsy, but do not establish one agreed, exact start date.
#1 Best Overall
- Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson
January 8, 1992: Their first child is born
ELLE dates the birth of their first child, Stephen Ira Beatty, to January 8, 1992. A Los Angeles Times report published in March described the couple’s infant daughter as about two months old and said the baby would be present at their wedding. The newspaper used a different name at the time; this timeline uses Stephen Ira’s current name.
March 3, 1992: A private wedding
ELLE gives March 3, 1992, as the wedding date. In a report published March 13, the Los Angeles Times said Beatty and Bening had married privately and wanted the details kept private. The paper reported that only the couple and their infant daughter attended. Its account also described the marriage as Bening’s second and Beatty’s first. The contemporaneous report supports the privacy and attendance details; ELLE supplies the specific date.
Rank #2
- Adapted from the 1941 film, HERE COMES MR. JORDAN
- Directed By Warren Beatty with co-director Buck Henry – marking the feature film directing debuts for both.
1994: They work together again in Love Affair
Beatty and Bening later co-starred in Love Affair. ELLE’s timeline notes that Beatty discussed marriage and the couple’s decision-making in a 1994 interview, and that Bening later said they did not plan to work together again soon after the film’s reception. Their professional collaboration continued, but public comments about the film do not provide a more exact account of the relationship’s beginnings.
April 8, 2000: Their fourth child is born
ELLE reports that their fourth child, Ella Beatty, was born on April 8, 2000. The couple have four children in total. The individual birth dates of their second and third children are not established in the cited timeline.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Rank #3
2016–2017: They reflect on marriage and privacy
In a 2016 conversation with Ellen DeGeneres, Beatty said, “I was not afraid of marriage. I was afraid of divorce.” CBS reported that he also recalled their decision to get together at the end of Bugsy. In a separate 2016 appearance, quoted by ELLE, he said, “I had no doubt when I met Annette that it was time to get married.” These are Beatty’s later recollections, rather than a precise dating chronology.
Asked about what has mattered in their marriage, Bening emphasized respect and family: “I like ‘respect.’ But also, we have four children, and they’re incredible human beings. Having that shared purpose also is part of it.” These remarks describe how the couple have characterized their marriage; they do not independently establish why it has lasted. In a 2017 Guardian interview, Bening also described the couple as private and said she would not speak on behalf of their children.
Rank #4
- Lilith (1964) (Blu-Ray)
2018–2024: Later comments on staying together
In comments recorded in ELLE’s 2024 timeline, Bening said in 2018 that she and Beatty wanted many of the same things despite approaching life differently. In 2019, she spoke about adjusting to a quieter home as their children left. In 2024, she described marriage as both a great thing and a challenge, adding that staying together was something she was proud of. These are her public reflections, not a complete account of the couple’s private life.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
