Though widely recognized for his television roles, Josh Holloway prefers to maintain a level of privacy regarding his marriage to Yessica Kumala. The couple first crossed paths in 1999 at a bar, and they exchanged vows five years later, on October 1, 2004. Beyond his acting endeavors, Holloway focuses on parenting their daughter Java and son Hunter alongside his wife.
Typically keeping a low profile, Holloway occasionally shares insights about his family life, expressing how he and Kumala have cultivated a best-friend relationship over the years. In a 2017 interview with Women’s Health, he emphasized, “You need someone you don’t always have to be romantic with.
Holloway and Kumala exchanged vows on October 1, 2004, after five years of dating
My wife and I have been together for 18 years, so sometimes we’re like, ‘Let’s just be friends right now.’ It takes the pressure off.” He proudly stated that he’s a “really good dad,” adding, “I’m completely in love with my children, and I participate in their lives on every level.”
Curious about Holloway’s spouse? Here’s a closer look at Yessica Kumala and her bond with the actor. Holloway’s initial encounter with Kumala occurred at the Sunset Room in Los Angeles in 1999. Recalling that night during a 2017 appearance on the daytime show Harry, he shared, “We met at a bar, and I was going over to hit on her friends — they were hot.
I didn’t see her; she was turned around.” He described how Kumala first approached him: “I got right to them, and then I got slapped on the shoulder. She looked me up and down and said, ‘Give me your number before you leave,’ and left with her martini. And I was like, ‘Well, who was that?’”
Holloway continued to socialize with his friends that evening, but Kumala soon approached him again, asking for his number. “Somebody slapped me on the shoulder again, and she had her cellphone and said, ‘What’s your number?’ and ‘What’s your name?’ I replied, ‘What’s your number?’ and she said, ‘I don’t give it out,’ and left again.”
He later discovered that during their first meeting, Kumala hadn’t even learned his name; instead, she saved it as “Sunset 4” because he was the fourth number she collected that night.
Just two weeks following the premiere of Lost, Holloway and Kumala tied the knot on October 1, 2004. In celebration of their 20th wedding anniversary in October 2024, Holloway shared a heartfelt message on Instagram: “Twenty years married. Wow. Happy anniversary, baby, I love you.”
The couple welcomed their first child together when Holloway announced in December 2008 that they were expecting a baby. Their daughter, Java Kumala, was born on April 9, 2009, in Oahu, Hawaii. A close source shared that “Dad and mom are absolutely thrilled. Everyone’s happy and healthy” following Java’s arrival.
Reflecting on fatherhood, Holloway expressed how much joy it has brought him. He stated in an interview with PEOPLE, “It’s made me hungry and so joyous about life in general. I feel a responsibility to be a better human being. To be her hero. I mean, I gotta be. I will be.” He also mentioned changing diapers frequently and described himself as “super fast” at it, adding, “I bathe her; I do everything.”
In November 2013, Holloway confirmed that he and Kumala were expecting their second child. When asked about being viewed as a sex symbol by Entertainment Tonight, he humorously responded, “That’s funny because I’m a family man.
I’ve got a 4½-year-old daughter and another one on the way — pretty excited about that.” Though he knew the baby’s gender during Kumala’s pregnancy, they opted to keep it private. He joked with PEOPLE, saying, “Yes, we know. It’s going to be a human!”
Their son, Hunter Lee, arrived on January 27, 2014, but Holloway didn’t publicly confirm his birth until March of that year. He told E! News, “Yes, we have! Six-week-old boy, Hunter Lee Holloway.”
The couple values their privacy, and not much is publicly known about Kumala, as she does not maintain social media profiles. She has made limited appearances at red-carpet events alongside her husband, such as the Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol premiere in 2011 and the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2006.
Despite their infrequent public appearances together, Holloway frequently acknowledges his wife on Instagram for occasions like Mother’s Day and her birthday. In a birthday tribute in September 2022, he recalled gifting her a gym membership early in their relationship.
“You laughed and said, ‘Why would I waste my time?’ I think you went in for a smoothie once that year, so my feelings didn’t get hurt,” he humorously noted. He continued, “Now you love it and crush it every day. Proud of you, lil beast. You look amazing… lucky me. Happy birthday, my love. @yessicaholloway.”
