Dave Franco has shared the simple piece of advice he believes keeps his marriage to Alison Brie strong as the couple approach their ninth wedding anniversary.
The Now You See Me and Neighbors actor opened up about his relationship while speaking at the premiere of his new animated film Hoppers at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, explaining that friendship and humour are at the centre of their relationship.
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“Honestly, I think it's about being friends above anything else.”
The 40-year-old actor said the key to making a long-term relationship work is genuinely enjoying spending time with your partner.
“You gotta want to hang out with this person, and you gotta be able to laugh with them.”
Franco also stressed that humour between partners matters far more than what anyone else thinks.
“Like, I don't care if someone doesn't think they're funny. Like, you can be funny to the right person. Find that person who you laugh with, and that's so, so important.”
The couple tied the knot in March 2017, meaning they are now celebrating nine years of marriage. Despite nearly a decade together as husband and wife, Franco and Brie are still known for their playful dynamic and close friendship, often appearing together at premieres and collaborating on creative projects.
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Their wedding was deliberately low-key. According to Franco, neither he nor Brie had much interest in an elaborate ceremony. Instead, they opted for a private celebration with family.
After saying their vows during an intimate ceremony on the balcony of their home in Los Angeles, the pair kept the celebration relaxed, later hosting a pizza party with around 60 friends at Pizzeria Mozza, the well-known restaurant run by celebrity chef Nancy Silverton.
Franco later reflected on the day fondly.
“Neither of us was ever big into weddings. Like, this was not a super important thing to us.”
“At the end of the day, we did it exactly how we wanted. In a cheesy way, that ended up being one of the best days of our lives.”
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The actors’ relationship stretches back even further.
Franco and Brie first met in 2011 during a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, beginning a relationship that would eventually lead to an engagement in August 2015.
Over the years they have frequently spoken about the importance of humour and friendship in their relationship, a theme Franco reiterated while discussing their upcoming anniversary.
The couple even have an unusual anniversary tradition.
Franco revealed that he keeps a video of the moment he proposed to Brie saved on his phone — but she is only allowed to watch it once a year.
According to the actor, there is a reason for the strict rule.
Brie does not have a copy of the video herself because, as Franco joked, she would immediately send it to everyone she knows.
Instead, each year on their anniversary, the pair sit down together to rewatch the proposal — a moment Franco admits he finds slightly embarrassing but still meaningful.
The tradition has become part of their yearly celebrations and serves as a reminder of how their relationship began.
Professionally, both actors have remained busy while maintaining their relationship. Brie, known to many audiences for her roles in Community and GLOW, has also worked with Franco on multiple projects, including films they have written and produced together.
Franco, meanwhile, continues to expand his career beyond acting. In addition to appearing on screen in films like Now You See Me and Neighbors, he has moved into directing and voice acting.
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His latest project, the animated film Hoppers, sees him lending his voice alongside Jon Hamm. The film recently premiered in Los Angeles, where Franco and Brie appeared together on the red carpet.
Nearly a decade into their marriage, Franco says the formula for happiness remains straightforward: genuine friendship and shared laughter.
