Colman Domingo: The ‘Madness’ star’s romance will make you believe in love

Colman Domingo’s love story is like something out of a romantic comedy. The actor, who tied the knot with Raúl Aktanov in 2014, had a meet-cute worthy of a Nora Ephron film after fate intervened.

Published on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert In 2022, Colman revealed how he and Raúl – a former assistant costume designer – came under each other’s spell. “Ok, you have to imagine me walking down the street 17 years ago and walking into a Walgreens in Berkeley, California,” he began. “We passed each other. We never spoke.

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“A few days later I’m on Craigslist trying to buy a used computer to help me write. “I am a romantic. I turn to the second page of Missed Connections and it says, ‘Saw you outside Walgreens, Berkeley.’

A story he was also asked about on The Graham Norton Show in 2024. Colman added that Raúl looked “beautiful” when he first saw him and that he had thought about putting up his own Missed Connection ad before realizing that it was only two hours before Raúl was him anticipated.

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“We met three days later, we had our first date,” Colman explained, before noting that he ended up staying at Raúl’s that night. “We were cuddling and I thought he was sleeping,” he continued, “then at four in the morning I couldn’t sleep and I said, ‘I think I love you and you’re about to change my life’.” . We have been together for almost 19 years.

Nearly a decade after their paths crossed outside of Walgreens, Colman and Raúl tied the knot in 2014. They opted for an intimate ceremony in California disguised as a house party. As 25 guests arrived, the couple greeted them with the words “Welcome to our wedding” and after saying “I do,” they danced the night away.

While Raúl prefers to keep a low profile, he has accompanied Colman at several high-profile events. This year alone, he and his husband have been spotted at the Critics’ Choice Awards, the Sundance Film Festival, the amfAR Gala in Cannes, and the Golden Globe Awards.

Closer than ever, the couple founded a production company together – Edith Productions – and the two worked on various films including Singing SingingAnd It’s what’s inside.

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In a recent interview with InStyleColman explained that despite his busy schedule, he misses his home in Southeast Los Angeles. He and Raúl also purchased a property in Malibu. When asked about his morning routine, Colman said that Raúl makes him coffee every day. “He knows I can make coffee myself, but there’s something special about the gesture of him waking up, putting a bottle of water next to me and giving me my coffee,” the celebrity gushed.

Colman added that the last thing he does before bed is kiss Raúl goodnight, and just like that, these two have become our favorite couple.