The internet was ablaze with interest when Fran Drescher and her ex-husband Peter Marc Jacobson walked into the SAG Awards in early 2025, arm in arm. It went beyond admiration for The Nanny’s beautiful appearance at age 67 or nostalgia for her. It was the remarkably unusual quality of their relationship, which had changed, grown, and persevered in contrast to the typical divorces in Hollywood.
Their journey started when they were fifteen years old in Queens, New York, where adolescent friendship gradually developed into adolescent love. At the age of 21, Drescher wed Jacobson, starting a creative collaboration that would have a long-lasting cultural impact in addition to a personal one. Co-created by the couple who starred and produced it, The Nanny is a famous sitcom that ran from 1993 to 1999 and became a cultural staple. It was unapologetically New York and playfully glam.
Their storyline, however, took an unexpected turn, as do many long-running plots. The pair split up in 1999 after Jacobson came out as gay. For Fran and Peter, it was just a comma, but for many others, it might have been a complete stop. Their emotional bond, which was formed over decades of shared trauma, laughter, and vision, was remarkably intact even after their marriage ended.
They acknowledge that it was never solely about the romance. Drescher has called Jacobson her “soulmate” in recent interviews, and he has agreed. They often refer to their relationship as “closer than when we were married,” go on trips together, and go to events hand in hand. Social presumptions regarding divorce and romantic finality are challenged by this dynamic, which is at once friendship and family.
Peter Marc Jacobson – Personal and Career Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Peter Marc Jacobson |
| Date of Birth | October 27, 1957 |
| Nationality | American |
| Known For | Co-creating The Nanny, producing Happily Divorced |
| Relationship with Fran Drescher | Married 1978–1999 |
| Sexual Orientation | Came out as gay after divorce |
| Occupation | Writer, producer, director, actor |
| Children | None |
| Notable Works | The Nanny, The Beautician and the Beast, Happily Divorced |
| Public Image | Fran Drescher’s closest friend and creative partner |
| Reference | www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Marc_Jacobson |
Unusual relationships are nothing new in Hollywood. Consider Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, who are still contentedly single after many years. Or David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris, who defy expectations with joy and candor. However, the story of Fran and Peter adds another dimension, one that encompasses post-divorce creative collaboration, queerness, and reinvention. Their 2011–2013 sitcom, Happily Divorced, further blended professional chemistry with personal development by being loosely based on their real-life relationship.
Their transparency has been especially creative in a field where image is frequently crucial. Fran has been open about her own healing process, which includes surviving a violent assault early in life, and Peter’s coming out. Even though these times were extremely painful, they have only made their relationship stronger. When viewed in the larger context of LGBTQ+ representation in the media, particularly from celebrities whose platforms provide visibility and hope, their story takes on even greater significance.
Fascinatingly, Peter and Fran have publicly concurred on one thing: neither intends to get married again. According to Jacobson, “It’s only a license.” It’s not a signed document; it’s the heart. Always the straight shooter, Fran now proudly, humorously, and lovingly calls Peter her “gay ex-husband.” Although such language may seem unconventional to some, it is precisely this honesty that has enabled them to rewrite their story according to their own terms.
Fran’s present dating style reflects her honesty. Her “rotation” of friends with benefits, which she finds especially helpful given her hectic schedule and need for emotional stability, has been refreshingly transparent. “My name is Fran Drescher. At a recent red carpet event, she asked, “What do you think?” in a line that seemed confident and cheeky. It’s not surprising that she now has a very distinct sense of who she is after navigating fame, trauma, divorce, and reinvention.
As for Peter, he still works behind the scenes and most recently joined Fran once more in pre-production for a Broadway version of The Nanny. Despite being put on hold because of the writers’ strike and personal tragedies, such as Fran’s father’s passing and the devastating wildfires in California, the project is still in the works. Ex-spouses rarely collaborate in this way, which makes their creative relationship both enduring and creatively stimulating.
Changing social norms are also reflected in their relationship. Estrangement no longer has to be indicated by divorce. It’s not necessary to break with one’s past in order to come out. Rather, Fran and Peter serve as role models for something fundamentally human: the capacity to change, forgive, and develop—whether in tandem or separately. Younger generations, who are increasingly accepting of flexible relationships and emotional transparency, will find particular resonance in this message.
Their story highlights a more general truth about longevity, not only in love but also in identity, which is even more remarkable. Peter is quieter but just as important to their shared story as Fran, who is still well-known for her activism and unique voice. In a society that is frequently dominated by short-lived celebrity and tumultuous breakups, their support of one another, which is apparent during public appearances and in sincere interviews, feels like an anchor.
Fran, who splits her time between New York City and Beverly Hills, is still embracing the fast-paced nature of both her life and her career. Even though her house is currently unlivable due to recent fires, her spirit is unwavering. As a subliminal reminder that roots, like relationships, can flourish across time zones, she remarks of New York, “I’m very happy because this is my home, too.”
