Who is Sterling K Brown's wife Ryan Michelle Bathe? How love blossomed in college and led to over 10-year marriage

He met his wife while studying at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where they lived in the same college dorm and starred in a university play
PUBLISHED JAN 5, 2021
Ryan Michelle Bathe and Sterling K Brown (Getty Images)
Ryan Michelle Bathe and Sterling K Brown (Getty Images)

You may know him as Randall Pearson in ‘This Is Us’ but that's not the only thing Sterling K Brown has won hearts in. Born in 1976 in St. Louis, Missouri, he was one of five children and he lost his father when he was barely ten years old.

Did you know he was named Kelby at first and adopted the name Sterling when he turned 16? Shedding light on the fascinating tale, the actor fondly remembers, "I went by Kelby. My mom tells me this story – she was reiterating it the other day – in kindergarten, I came home one day and said, 'Mom, Sterling is eight letters and Kelby is five. I'll just do Kelby and then when I turn 16, I will go by Sterling.' And I don't remember that. The impetus for me is that he had been gone for some time, and I was like, 'Kelby was a little boy's name.' I felt like I was ready to become Sterling."

Sterling K. Brown (R) and his wife, Ryan Michelle Bathe (Getty Images)

After growing up in Olivette, Missouri, he graduated from Stanford University in 1998 with an acting degree. Kicking off his initial plan to start a business, he decided to pursue his passion for acting and got a Master of Fine Arts degree from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. 

While studying there, he met his future wife Ryan Michelle Bathe. Interestingly, the two lived in the same college dorm and starred in a university play. As their conversations grew, romance blossomed and the two decided to tie the knot in 2007. 

Amaré Michael Ryan Christian Brown, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Andrew Jason Sterling Brown, and Actor Sterling K. Brown (Getty Images)

“There were a lot of ups and downs,” the actor once confessed in an interview. If reports are to be believed, the pair battled multiple breakups and a three-year period where they didn’t even talk but came stronger towards the end of it all. Their struggle began after Ryan moved to Los Angeles and they were in a long-distance relationship.

In the end, everything came together and the couple is now blessed with two children, Amaré Michael Ryan Christian Brown and Andrew Jason Sterling Brown. The two also starred together on the Lifetime series 'Army Wives'. After a 10-year-long marriage, the two often share adorable pictures together! 

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

The final season will be trimmed down to eight episodes after having 10 for seasons 1 to 4
2 hours ago
The series follows international supermodels dying mysteriously with Kutcher at the center of it all
2 hours ago
A latest rumor doing the rounds now promises a big year for the live-action Netflix series
4 hours ago
Daniel Ezra recently shared a sneak peek from the upcoming eighth and final season of the sports drama show
6 hours ago
'Jeopardy! Champions Wildcard' is produced by Sony and will air new episodes exclusively on Hulu and Peacock
7 hours ago
As fans form their own theories about how 'Outlander' will end, Heughan made a surprising revelation about the series
8 hours ago
Fans believe that 'Stranger Things' Season 5 includes a secret Episode 9 set to release on Wednesday, January 7
9 hours ago
Anthony Geary, who remained a part of 'General Hospital' for almost four decades, passed away on December 15, 2025
9 hours ago
The eighth episode of 'Landman' Season 2 finally gave Tommy some respite as he found his perfect replacement
10 hours ago
Despite strong praise, Harlan Coben's 'Run Away' will not be getting a sequel and the reason makes total sense
10 hours ago