Black Love Goals: How Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance Keep It Solid

The Breakdown: Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance have been riding for each other since their Yale days. From award-winning performances to raising twins, they’ve mastered the art of balancing Hollywood hustle with real life.

Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance have been serving couple goals for decades, and they’re still going strong. The award-winning actress and her Emmy-winning husband are one of Hollywood’s most solid, stylish, and inspiring pairs — and they’ve been riding for each other since the 90s.

Here is a look at their love, which has been the pinnacle of Black excellence since it began.

Angela and Courtney first crossed paths at Yale School of Drama in the 80s, but it wasn't love at first sight. Bassett recalled on Live with Kelly and Mark that Vance had a girlfriend at the time, and said that she admired him for his commitment.

“We met at drama school, and he came with and left with a girlfriend. So, I was like, ‘Wow, the commitment of that guy. Oh, amazing!" she said. Years later, they reconnected in Los Angeles, and the spark was undeniable. After dating for a few years, they tied the knot in 1997 and welcomed twins, Bronwyn and Slater, in 2006.

Like his wife, Courtney has been acting for decades. He made his Broadway debut in August Wilson's Fences, playing the role of Cory opposite James Earl Jones. His performance earned him a Tony Award nomination and the Theatre World Award. He continued to shine on Broadway with roles in Six Degrees of Separation and Lucky Guy – the latter earned him a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play in 2013.

Courtney’s film credits include Hamburger Hill, The Hunt for Red October, The Preacher’s Wife, and Space Cowboys. But it was television that brought him into millions of homes. From 2001 to 2006, he played Assistant District Attorney Ron Carver on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Then came the role that changed everything: Johnnie Cochran in FX’s The People v. O.J. Simpson. His performance earned him an Emmy and a Critics Choice Award.

Angela and Courtney’s twins, Bronwyn Golden Vance and Slater Josiah Vance, are all grown up. Born via surrogate after seven years of IVF, the fraternal twins are now carving their own paths. At 19, Bronwyn and Slater are officially college students. And while most parents might shed a tear or two, Angela was all smiles.

"You know what, no tears. Just lots of joy," she said during an appearance on Today. "You think you're going to cry, and because you think you are going to do that, it doesn't happen. I remember when I went to college and how wonderful it was, so, of course, I wanted that for them too, so no cries, no guilt."

The journey to college was no small feat. Angela and Courtney took their twins on 26 college tours, ensuring they found the right fit. “They're ready,” Courtney told People. “It's another transition. We went down the baby aisle, now we've got to go down the empty nest aisle and get used to them not being here.”