We've seen Danica McKellar fall in love countless times — first, as one of Hallmark's most bankable leading ladies, and now as a centerpiece of Great American Family's movie slate. But nothing beats the 48-year-old actress's real-life romance with husband Scott Sveslosky, 53. In an Oct. 2023 Instagram post celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their first date, McKellar wrote, "Thank you Scott, for being the best husband and partner I ever could have dreamed of."
McKellar has been open about the breakdown of her previous marriage, and how divorce has only heightened her appreciation for Sveslosky and the blended family they've built together. The "Wonder Years" alum was married to composer Mike Verta from 2009 to 2013. They share a 12-year-old son named Draco. After three years of marriage and 11 years together, the couple called it quits in 2012. Shortly after their split, McKellar met Scott Sveslosky the old-fashioned way, she explained to Country Living in 2018:
"I met Scott through friends, like people used to meet people — not online or anything. The parents of someone my son goes to school with were friends with him and said, 'We want him to meet somebody nice. He's a great dad to his son and just got out of a two-year relationship and we just want him to meet somebody nice. He's such a nice guy,'" she said. "I thought, 'Okay, well, a nice guy — that's really what I want. He doesn't have to be a model or anything.' But turns out, he did used to be a model. He's everything. He's the sweetest guy ever."
Prior to his legal career, Sveslosky was a model and actor who appeared in episodes of "Sweet Valley High" and "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" in the 1990s. After a few chats on the phone, the couple got together for coffee and it was love at first sight.
Danica McKellar via Instagram
"I sat down across from him for coffee and started giggling and couldn't stop. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't believe this is who I was sitting across [from]," she recalled. "We'd been talking on the phone for a little bit and my favorite book is 'The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success' by Deepak Chopra, and he'd brought it with him and underlined his favorite parts. I just already loved him and was smitten from the moment I sat down."
Read More: This Hallmark-Themed Monopoly Game Is Just As Magical As Their Holiday Films
The happy couple said "I do" in Kauai, Hawaii in 2014 in an intimate ceremony on the beach. Draco was there, as was Sveslosky's son, Hunter, from his previous marriage. The foursome completed a family vows ceremony in which they poured different-colored sand into vases to bring back home.
When asked about the secret to her happy marriage, McKellar said that it's all about perspective.
"Life is funny. Part of the reason why I'm so good at being able to appreciate [Scott] is because I have been divorced," she told Country Living. "I did go through that thing where you think it's forever, and you think you made the right choice and you think everything's great. And then it really isn't and you were really wrong. I don't want to be wrong again."
Jason Davis/Getty Images for Alzheimer's Association
Since their nuptials, McKellar and Sveslosky have seamlessly blended their families — and their careers. The actress regularly shares sweet snaps of her son and stepson on Instagram. And Sveslosky has even made a hobby of writing films for McKellar to star in. He has a story writing credit on Hallmark's "Campfire Kiss" (2017), and on McKellar's latest romantic dance film for Great American Family, "Swing Into Romance" (2023).
"It's not his day job, so the fact he will take time to do that is really cool," McKellar told People of her husband's involvement in her films. "He's so romantic. I hit the jackpot."
This story previously ran on Oct. 15, 2020.
