Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn's journey from a former couple to encounters with Jerry O'Connell A timeline spanning 1994 to 2023, showcasing their relationships, divorce, subsequent marriages, and significant moments in their lives

John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn's separation occurred over ten years ago, yet the ex-couple has consistently been questioned about their present circumstances. Stamos expressed his feelings to People in 2009, admitting, "We were in a relationship for a decade, and it was a devastating experience. In my ideal scenario, I would still be wedded to Rebecca and have three children. Therefore, it was primarily the disruption of that plan that caused the most sorrow."

Romijn married Jerry O'Connell in 2007, and the couple had twins named Dolly and Charlie in 2008. The girls quickly became fans of Stamos. Stamos, on the other hand, married Caitlin McHugh in 2018 and they welcomed their son Billy that same year.

During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in 2013, O'Connell revealed, "Full House is always playing in our house. My kids have genuine feelings for the character of Uncle Jesse. They often ask why their mom isn't still with him and consider it a mistake."

Scroll through for a timeline of Stamos and Romijn’s relationship:

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

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John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn's Timeline: From Former Couple to Run-Ins with Jerry O'Connell

John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn ended their marriage over a decade ago, but their current relationship status has been a topic of inquiry over the years. Stamos shared with People in 2009 the heartbreak he experienced from their 10-year union coming to an end. He expressed that, according to his personal aspirations, he would still be happily married with three children, making their split a disappointment in regards to his future plans.

Romijn married Jerry O'Connell in 2007 and they had twins, Dolly and Charlie, in 2008. The girls quickly became fans of Stamos, who had exchanged vows with Caitlin McHugh in 2018 and welcomed their son Billy during the same year. "Full House" was constantly playing, and because the girls had real feelings for Uncle Jesse's character, O'Connell had a difficult time explaining to them why their mom wasn't still with him. The kids believed it was a mistake.

Scroll through for a timeline of Stamos and Romijn's relationship:

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

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1994

The twosome met backstage at a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

1997

Stamos popped the question on Christmas Eve.

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

1998

The duo exchanged vows on September 19, 1998.

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

Credit: Stewart Cook/Shutterstock

2003

Stamos accompanied Romijn to the premiere of X-Men 2, however, he later disclosed that they had covertly ended their relationship prior to the movie's release in theaters.

"We attended that event together, but we had actually separated six months before," he divulged on Howard Stern in 2006. "I simply couldn't disclose it at the time."

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

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2004

The spouses announced their separation in 2004 and Stamos filed for divorce months later. A rep for the pair denied that cheating played a role in the split at the time.

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

Credit: Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

2005

A judge signed off on their divorce paperwork, which cited irreconcilable differences, in 2005.

"Divorce is a truly distressing experience," Romijn shared candidly on The Talk in 2022. "It's a painful and heart-wrenching situation after being together for a decade. Divorce can often be perceived as a personal failure, and the process involved letting go of many sorrowful aspects."

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

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2007

Romijn and O’Connell tied the knot on July 14, 2007. On a later episode of The Talk, they reminisced about an incident involving a friend of Romijn's who urged O’Connell to ask her out, even though she was already on a date with someone else.

"My friend told him, ‘Take her number.' And he responded, ‘But she's on a date,'" Romijn recounted. "And she said, 'I can't stand that guy. Take her number.'"

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

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2009

Five years after they called it quits, Stamos gave a rare revealing interview about the divorce.

In 2009, he explained to People that the reason everyone believed she ended the relationship was because her career was thriving while his was not. However, that was not the truth. The reality was that both of them had simply realized one day that their relationship had come to its natural end.

When questioned about speculations that his partying had played a role in the breakup, he responded, "I don't believe it had any influence. I was going through a period of feeling lost. I think I needed to spend time by myself to rediscover who I truly am."

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

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2013

Romijn expressed her lack of knowledge regarding Stamos' current situation, stating, "I have no idea what is going on with him these days," during a conversation with Us in November 2013. Additionally, she disclosed to Redbook magazine that people frequently refer to her as "Rebecca Romijn-Stamos" even in that year.

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

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2018

Stamos married McHugh in February 2018. She gave birth to son Billy later that year.

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

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2021

When Justin Long had Stamos as a guest on his podcast "Life Is Short," he playfully admitted to enjoying "teasing [O'Connell] about how attractive you are."

After laughing, Stamos mentioned, "Well, we moved closer to them, although I haven't seen or spoken to [Rebecca]. However, [Jerry] has an interesting reaction to it. I've witnessed some occurrences - he mentioned that his children watched Full House and claimed I was their father. But he's an amusing person, someone who puts in a lot of effort. I am genuinely happy for them. That's all. Just accepting and saying, 'God bless you guys, good for you. I'm here, you're there.' But it took me a considerable amount of time to reach that point."

Long eventually contacted O'Connell to update him.

"He appears to be an incredible individual," O'Connell revealed during the show following the conversation with Stamos. "He recently relocated remarkably close to my family and myself. Hence, whenever we are driving, my kids playfully exclaim, 'There he is, there he is' eagerly waiting for a chance to meet him. Due to the tremendous influence of his role in Full House, my children are enchanted by him...they are head over heels for him, as is everyone else."

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

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2022

During a 2021 appearance on WWHL, O'Connell made a joke about how he prepares to bump into Stamos in their neighborhood. Recently, Romijn revealed that she saw her ex from a distance. She shared on The Talk that it was the first time they had seen each other since their breakup. Romijn explained that they were stuck in after-school traffic at a strip mall when she spotted him walking in front of their car. Despite his attempts to disguise himself with a cap and sunglasses, she immediately recognized him. Having been together for 10 years, she was familiar with his distinct gait and the way his body moves.

In the final moments, she refrained from making a move, playfully remarking, "Is it too demanding to request a fabulous hairdo prior to the gathering? Definitely not something you would want to experience – it would surely be his ultimate nightmare."

Revisiting John Stamos and Rebecca Romijn’s Iconic Love Story: From Former Flames to Unexpected Encounters with Jerry O’Connell

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2023

Stamos pondered over the intense hostility he experienced towards Romijn throughout their divorce.

"I simply despised her," he disclosed to People in October. "I was astounded by the magnitude of my hatred towards her, and it utterly devastated my life."

After enduring the emotional turmoil of the breakup for an extended period, the actor acknowledged that he gradually gained insights into the matter. Reflecting on his shattered state that persisted for years, he came to the realization that he might share equal responsibility with his former partner, transcending the notion of her being solely at fault. Stamos highlighted the profound humiliation he experienced throughout the divorce process.

"It was widely believed that she ended our relationship due to the disparity in our respective career paths. I hold no resentment towards her for this decision. It was simply the perception that others held," he elaborated. "Perhaps their assessment was accurate. At that time, she was flourishing professionally while I was not."