Virgin River has gifted us with some of our favorite on-screen couples, including McCrea and Doc Mullins, played by the inimitable Annette O’Toole and Tim Matheson. But when she’s not on set as Virgin River’s resident mayor and nosy neighbor; actress Annette resides with her equally famous husband – actor Michael McKean – in west Los Angeles. Keep reading for all the details on Annette and Michael’s sweet love story, which all started on set 25 years ago.
Who is Annette O’Toole’s famous husband Michael McKean?
Michael McKean, 75, is an American actor, screenwriter, composer, singer, and musician. Throughout his decade-spanning career, the A-lister has starred in Laverne & Shirley (1976–1983), This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Saturday Night Live (1994-1995) Better Call Saul (2015-2022) and The Diplomat (2023).
A man of many talents, Michael bagged a Grammy Award for Best Original Song after co-writing ‘A Mighty Wind’ for the 2003 mockumentary film of the same name. Among his other achievements, Michael received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2019, following his portrayal of Chuck McGill on Better Call Saul.
How did Annette O’Toole meet Michael McKean?
During a 2022 interview with Soundtrack.Net, Annettee explained: “Michael and I actually met many years ago when he was doing Laverne and Shirley. I was this actress, and we could bump into each other at various screenings; we had friends in common , but we didn’t really know each other very well. We had very different lives. In 1997, we re-met on a Lifetime movie called Final Justice.”
She added: “Michael was in a relationship at the time; we were both divorced, but he was ‘spoken for’ – so we didn’t get together then. But we did become friends. I was living in Oregon, and we became email buddies, and kept in contact that way.” Sounds like the plot of You’ve Got Mail!
Annette and Michael eventually had their first date at a UCLA show, where Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Van Morrison performed.
Annette O’Toole and Michael McKean’s wedding
Annette and Michael tied the knot in March 1999, and in 2024, they’ll celebrate 25 years of marriage. Back in 2022, Michael penned the sweetest message to his wife, as they marked their 23rd wedding anniversary. Taking to Twitter, now known as X, the TV star wrote: “23 years ago, I married my best friend and it is working out beautifully. Thanks for saying yes, @creamofwool.”
