Who Is John McCook’s Wife? All About Laurette Spang and Her Marriage toThe Bold and the BeautifulStar

Mar. 15, 2025

Laurette Spang-McCook and John McCook at the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in June 2024 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:Scott Kirkland/Shutterstock

Scott Kirkland/Shutterstock

John McCook’s character onThe Bold and the Beautiful,Eric Forrester, has walked down the aisle 10 times — but in real life, the actor has been married to wife Laurette Spang for over four decades.

“We’re very proud and very happy people,” McCook toldSoap Opera Digestin 2007. “We’ve been very lucky, but we’ve worked hard at it. It’s taken a lot of effort.”

He’s a soap opera star who’s one of the two longest-running stars onThe Bold and the Beautiful.She was in the originalBattlestar Galactica,one of the seminal sci-fi series of all-time. The couple married on Feb. 16, 1980, and have three children together: Jake, Rebecca and Molly.

“I know how hard it is for people to be together for years and years,” McCook explained to the outlet.“It’s a challenge, so I respect anybody who’s in a relationship and works at it and makes it a priority.”

Forty-four years later, the couple are still going strong. In November 2023, Spang posted a photo of the family onInstagram, captioning it, “Grateful for so much. My cup runneth over.🙏♥️.”

So who is John McCook’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Laurette Spang and her relationship with the actor.

She had early aspirations of being an actress

John McCook and Laurette Spang-McCook at the 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on April 30, 2017 in Pasadena, California.Greg Doherty/Getty Images

Greg Doherty/Getty Images

Laurette Spang was born on May 16, 1951, in Buffalo, N.Y., but grew up in Ann Arbor, Mich. She briefly attended college but was more interested in acting and was accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

Spang had a role onBattlestar Galactica

Laurette Spang in ‘Battlestar Galatica’ in 1978.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

From 1978 to 1979, Spang played Cassiopeia onBattlestar Galactica,a sci-fi show set in outer space.

Although the show only lasted for a season (and a mini-series), it has a fervent fandom to this day and inspired a 2004 reboot that ran for four seasons.

Laurette Spang-McCook on ‘Three’s Company’ in 1980.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Spang’s most famous role was onBattlestar Galactica,but she also appeared on some of the most memorable shows from the 1970s and 1980s.

Her résumé includes guest spots onThe Love Boat, Magnum P.I.andThree’s Company.The actress also had a recurring role onHappy Days.

In September 2015, Spang posted a photo of her on the latter show onInstagram, captioning it, “Happy Days. I was Richie’s girl Arlene on the prom episode.”

McCook and Spang knew early on they wanted to get married

John McCook and Laurette Spang-McCook, circa 1980s.Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch via Getty Images

Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch via Getty Images

In 2007,Soap Opera Digestasked McCook whether it was love at first sight for the couple.

“Yeah, pretty much,” he said. “I had been through a marriage before. Laurette had not, but we were both really ready to commit to this thing."

McCook continued, “We came to a place where we thought we would be terrific together. We decided to fall in love.”

In 2024, McCook was nominated for a Daytime Emmy forThe Bold and the Beautifuland Spang attended the ceremony with him, where she received a heartfelt shout-out.

“My sweet Laurette, my wonderful wife [is] with me everywhere and for everything,” he said.

They have three children together

John McCook and wife Laurette Spang-McCook with their kids.Eric Robert/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images

Eric Robert/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images

The couple married in 1980, and quickly started their family: Jake McCook was born in 1981, Rebecca McCook was born in 1983 andMolly McCookwas born in 1990.

McCook had previously been married twice and had a son, Seth McCook, in 1972.

The family is close and often spends time together. On Mother’s Day, Spang posted a photo of McCook at the grillon Instagram.

She chose to step back from acting to raise their kids

John McCook and wife Laurette Spang-McCook with their family.John T Cook/Instagram

John T Cook/Instagram

After appearing in a 1984 episode ofMagnum P.I.,Spang decided to stop acting to stay home with their infant daughter and pre-school-aged son.

Talking toSoap Opera Digestin 2007, McCook explained her decision.

McCook continued, “She has taken great pride in her skill as a mom and as a wife and as a homemaker. At the time, she knows that she did do what she did, which is leave high school and go to the American Academy in New York and come out here and do a lot of television. She accomplished a great deal.”

He has also expressed admiration for her choice to step away from the spotlight.

“I found that to be an amazing decision,” McCook toldThe Sun-Sentinelin 1991. “It is one that she has never tossed back at my face. Also, her having guested on almost every episodic show, she truly felt there was more that she wanted.”

She’s an audiobook narrator

John McCook and Laurette Spang-McCook attend the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards on December 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Although she has largely stepped away from acting, Spang lent her voice to a series of audiobooks in 2021.

source: people.com