Jerry O’Connell says his mother once offered to help him back out of marrying Rebecca Romijn on the day of their wedding, if he had any doubts.
During a joint appearance on “Live with Kelly and Mark” on Friday, the 52-year-old actor and his mother, Linda O’Connell, looked back on the wedding day.
Jerry explained that the couple stayed apart before the ceremony, spending the night separately with their families and not seeing each other until they met at the altar. However, during the car ride to the wedding, his mother allegedly gave him an unexpected “out.”
“Listen, if you feel uncomfortable about this…” Jerry recalled her saying in a joking, mobster-style voice. Linda then interjected to complete the thought: “You don’t have to do this.
Jerry O’Connell says his mother once jokingly offered to help him “escape” his wedding to Rebecca Romijn if he got cold feet on the big day.
During a joint appearance on “Live with Kelly and Mark” on Friday, the 52-year-old Stand by Me actor and his mother, Linda O’Connell, revisited memories from his 2007 wedding day.
O’Connell explained that he and Romijn spent the night before the ceremony separately with their respective families and didn’t see each other until meeting at the altar. But during the drive to the wedding, he recalled his mother stepping into full “protective mode.”
“Listen, if you feel uncomfortable about this… you don’t have to do this,” Jerry said, mimicking her tone. He continued the impression, adding that she even suggested a potential getaway plan: “You can go to the airport—no questions asked. We’ll cover for you. It’s okay. You sure about this? She’s a beautiful girl, she’s very nice, but you sure about this?”
Hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos joked that Linda sounded like a “mobster” encouraging him to run, prompting laughter in the studio.
Jerry also clarified that his mother adores Romijn, saying she loves “everything” about her—something Linda quickly confirmed with a heartfelt, “I do.”
O’Connell and the X-Men star, 53, married in 2007 and later welcomed twin daughters, Charlie and Dolly, in 2008.
Jerry O’Connell says his mother once jokingly told him, “You don’t gotta do this!” on the day he married Rebecca Romijn, as she allegedly offered him a last-minute “escape plan.”
The actor, seen alongside his mother and Romijn with his daughters, shared the story during a recent appearance on “Live with Kelly and Mark.” O’Connell, 52, recalled that his mom, Linda, playfully encouraged him to reconsider while driving to the wedding—suggesting he could still leave if he felt unsure. The moment, he said, was said in a humorous, over-the-top tone rather than a serious warning.
Romijn, 53, was previously married to actor John Stamos before tying the knot with O’Connell in 2007. The couple has since built a family together, welcoming twin daughters, Charlie and Dolly, in 2008.
In a separate recent interview on SiriusXM’s “Andy Cohen Live,” Romijn opened up about what she says helps keep their marriage strong. She revealed that she and O’Connell keep their finances largely separate, explaining, “We keep our money completely separate,” while noting they do contribute to a shared “community pot” for family expenses on a quarterly basis.
O’Connell quickly clarified that his mother now loves “everything” about Romijn, emphasizing that the story was told in good humor. (The couple is seen here in 2024.)
“The one who’s not working gets a little bit of a break and the one who is working puts in a little more,” she explained at the time, noting that they also “really tag-team with work.”
The couple additionally agreed early on to share parenting responsibilities, deciding that one of them would always be home with their twin daughters, Charlie and Dolly.
“No one else is ever going to raise them besides us,” Romijn said, emphasizing their hands-on approach to family life.
