Larenz Tate & His Wife Have Maintained Their 14-Year Marriage By Putting Friendship First

From Love Jones to The Inkwell, Larenz Tate has held tenure as our man crush everyday since the '90s, but according to his recent interview with the ESSENCE Yes! Girl Podcast, the most important role that he's played in his life is husband. In a candid conversation about partnership, Larenz gave us the details on how he and his wife make love last despite all of the pitfalls of stardom.

The actor, who has been married to his wife, Tomasina Tate, since 2006, says that the key to his decade-long marriage has been putting their friendship first. He told the hosts:

"I like to believe I'm a really good friend to my wife. I think friendship is important. I see her as my queen. There's a level of respect. We've always built our relationship on the principles and standards that work for she and I. We take the best of things from other people we've seen, family and friends. But at the end of the day, it's what works for us."

The couple, who now share four children, say that they have been intentional about keeping the details about their relationship under wraps, simply because it isn't anyone else's business. According to Larenz, the ability to maintain boundaries within their relationship has been a "superpower":

"There's a sense of privacy that is important to us. It's kind of like a superpower in a way. When it comes to our family, that's so important. I just want to make sure I'm present for my wife and children."

Although Larenz has been in the public eye throughout his entire adult life, as well as the duration of his marriage, the 43-year-old actor says that he is extremely intentional about keeping his personal life, private. To him, his wife and kids shouldn't have to fight for his attention while he's home because they deserve all:

"Being completely present is not only a successful tactic, I want to make sure my four sons have all the best that they can have as young kings growing up. I want them to be loved, protected, educated and have a lot of support."

Although in the world he may be known as the man who swept Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Nia Long off their feet, in his household, it's more important that his family knows him as "dad".

"My wife and children have to share me with the world, and that's a big thing to ask. So when I'm with the family, I'm just a regular guy. My kids don't care about any of this [fame]."

To check out the full interview, click here!

Featured image by Getty Images.