Oliver Hudson and his wife Erinn have found a way to keep their bond strong after nearly two decades together. During the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the MindUP Gala, organized by the Goldie Hawn Foundation in Los Angeles on September 27, the 48-year-old actor discussed the key to maintaining a healthy relationship with Erinn, 51, after 18 years of marriage.
“It’s important not to be away from each other for too long, but in this industry, that’s inevitable,” Oliver shared. “So, whenever possible, I make sure to return home.” In addition to spending time together, Oliver emphasized the importance of maintaining individuality in a marriage.
“Spending time apart helps keep our relationship strong,” Oliver explains, emphasizing the need for personal space within their marriage“There’s a tendency to fall into codependency, where if one person feels down, the other does too. Yes, we’re a unit, but we’re also individuals. It’s essential to allow space for each other to do our own thing.”
He elaborated on this point by adding, “Whether it’s me going out to play golf or fish, or her spending time with her friends, we need that freedom. That’s what really matters.”
Reflecting on the strength of their relationship, Oliver likened their marriage to balancing a marble slab. “One pillar alone won’t hold it—it’ll likely fall,” he told PEOPLE. “But with two, there’s more stability, and that’s how we handle things in our relationship.”
Oliver first met Erinn in Sandy Marshall’s acting class during the late ’90s. Despite having a girlfriend at the time, they formed a friendship that blossomed into something more after about a year and a half.
In February 2004, Oliver proposed, and by June 2006, they were married in Mexico. Since then, the couple has welcomed three children: sons Wilder Brooks and Bodhi Hawn, and daughter Rio Laura.