Let’s talk about Lea Thompson, the iconic actress who stole our hearts as Lorraine Baines-McFly in the legendary "Back to the Future" trilogy alongside the one and only Michael J. Fox. But today, we’re diving deeper into her personal life. Lea has a lot to be grateful for as she celebrates another incredible year of marriage to filmmaker Howard Deutch, a man she met back in the '80s while working on a movie set. It’s one of those love stories that reminds us of the magic that can happen when two talented people come together.
Here at Closer, we’re taking a closer look at their relationship, from how they met to the sweet moments that have kept them together for all these years. This isn’t just a Hollywood love story—it’s a real-life fairy tale that keeps getting better with time.
How Did Lea Thompson and Howard Deutch Meet? A Story Worth Telling
Now, let’s rewind to 1987 when Lea and Howard first crossed paths. They were working on the teen rom-com "Some Kind of Wonderful," where Lea starred alongside Eric Stoltz and Mary Stuart Masterson. Here's the twist: Howard, who was directing the film, had his heart set on Lea for the role—but she actually turned him down at first! Can you believe it?
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At the time, Lea was reeling from the less-than-stellar reception of "Howard the Duck," a movie that didn’t quite live up to expectations. She told Salon.com, “I was 26 when I made 'Some Kind of Wonderful.' Right before that, I had made 'Howard the Duck,' which got terrible reviews. I thought my career was over.” But fate had other plans. Eric Stoltz, a mutual friend from their days working on "Back to the Future" and "The Wild Life," came to the rescue, delivering the script directly to Lea’s house. Howard saw something special in her and believed she was perfect for the role of Amanda, even though she initially thought Mary’s character, Watts, was the better part.
Howard later revealed, “Of course, how sexy Lea is was part of why I wanted her in the movie; I had a crush on her that all of my friends teased me about. But there’s also something grounded and relatable about her on screen.” Howard’s instincts paid off. Lea’s casting not only transformed the film but also changed his life forever. “She had a lot to do, as far as I’m concerned, with the tone changing of that movie as well as some of the other casting,” Howard explained. “It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
And the rest, as they say, is history. “We met that way and we eventually married,” Howard added, referring to their 1989 wedding. A love story born on a movie set? Now that’s Hollywood magic at its finest.
Lea Thompson Was Once Engaged to Dennis Quaid: A Twist in the Tale
Before Lea found her happily-ever-after with Howard, she was once engaged to actor Dennis Quaid from 1984 to 1987. When she and Howard met, she was still in a relationship with Dennis, best known for his role in "Far From Heaven." In an episode of Justin Long’s "Life Is Short" podcast, Lea shared, “Howard had a crush on me, but at that point, I was still engaged to Dennis Quaid. So, I had to kind of get out of that before … but it was a crazy time. I mean, I did like 900 movies in a row.”
Do Lea Thompson and Howard Deutch Have Children? Meet the Next Generation
Fast forward to today, and Lea and Howard are proud parents to two talented daughters, both of whom have followed in their parents’ footsteps by pursuing careers in acting. Their eldest, Madelyn, was born in 1991, followed by Zoey in 1994. Howard once said that he believes their daughters take after their mom. “Lea has always been the artist in this family,” he told Salon.com. “Our kids got that from her. Just as she did from her parents and how they valued creativity and her gift.”
Lea has been nothing short of supportive when it comes to her daughters’ careers. She told Parade, “I think that in a lot of ways we just feel as if they’re going into the family business, and that is lovely. It’s kind of sickening sometimes at the dinner table because all we talk about is work, but I have a wonderful, collaborative relationship with both of my daughters.”
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However, she did offer one piece of advice to her daughters when it comes to navigating the entertainment industry. “It’s really not okay to hook up with your director,” she joked to Entertainment Weekly, “even though I did.”
