However, in an interview with People on October 13, Woodard talked about her 40-year marriage to film producer and writer Roderick Spencer.
Before becoming an executive producer for the movie Juanita in 2019, where his wife played the lead role, Roderick Spencer had small acting roles in shows like Malcolm in the Middle, Rituals, St. Elsewhere, L.A. Law, and It’s a Living.
As the couple gets ready to celebrate their 41st anniversary on October 21, Woodard shared that laughter has been a key part of their marriage and is especially important during tough times.
“You can cry about things and argue about them, but sometimes, in the middle of it all, something will suddenly make you laugh,” she explained. “If you can make each other laugh or find humor in something together, it helps. No matter what, everything will be okay. Sharing laughter and humor is really important in our relationship, and it’s always there for us.”
When talking about how she and Spencer keep their love strong, she said, “You just know your partner. They might be great in bed, but your partner is also your safe place. It’s like family, but it doesn’t depend on DNA. It’s about discovering each other again and again and continuing to fall in love.”
News about Woodard’s marriage surprised many fans, especially since some were hearing about it for the first time and were also surprised to find out that Spencer is a white man.
One person commented on Lipstick Alley, “I didn’t know she was married to a white man,” while another celebrated the couple by saying, “Alfre got herself a white KANG. 40 years is a long time, especially for a Hollywood marriage.”
When asked if she celebrates their 40 years together, Woodard responded by saying that they are happy just being together without needing special celebrations.
She said, “You know what? When it’s real love, you don’t need to celebrate special dates. We just do what we normally do.” She added, “We don’t renew our vows. I still wear my original wedding band. If I want another ring, I just wear it on a different hand.”
During their time together, Woodard and Spencer have adopted two children: their 33-year-old daughter, Mavis, and their 30-year-old son, Duncan.
Mavis Spencer grew up riding horses and training to be a skilled equestrian. She competed for Team USA at the FEI Jumping Nations Cup, which is known as the oldest and most prestigious team competition in the world for this Olympic sport. She is also a Grand Prix level show jumper, which is the highest level in show jumping.
Not much is known about Duncan because he prefers to keep his life private and has his social media accounts set to private.