Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam's Relationship Timeline

Mar. 15, 2025

Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam attend the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California.Photo:Jon Kopaloff/WireImage

Jon Kopaloff/WireImage

As a star ofHow I Met Your Mother,Cobie Smuldersknows a thing or two about fictional long-winded romance stories — but her relationship with husbandTaran Killamhas a sweet story of its own.

After meeting at a birthday party in 2005, the couple got married seven years later in 2012.

The actress and theSaturday Night Livealum’s relationship dates back to their early 20s. During a 2019 appearance onLive with Kelly and Ryan, Smulders toldKelly RipaandRyan Seacrestthat the “magic [with Killam] happened 14 years ago. We’ve been together since we were 22 years young.”

“We were babies and we survived our 20s together,” she added. “I don’t know how that’s possible, but we did. It’s crazy.”

Smulders and Killam are now parents to daughters Shaelyn Cado and Janita Mae. TheStumptownstar spoke toSheKnowsin 2017 about how parenthood changed the pair’s priorities and work-life balance.

“It’s really about putting the girls first and having to be a bit choosy about work now and doing jobs that you only really want to do … But always, in every decision I make, my daughters come first, whether that’s a work decision or a life decision, and that’s the same with my husband too," Smulders said at the time.

One role in particular that Smulders has taken on since becoming a mom is playing Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “In terms of being in these movies, I will say that my husband, I think,finds me more attractivethan ever,” she said at a screening ofAvengers: Age of Ultronin 2020. “He’s a comic fan. That’s his world — he loves it.”

From how they met to their Marvel date nights, here is everything to know about Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam’s relationship.

2005: Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam meet at a party

Taran Killam and Cobie Smulders attend the 2010 Entertainment Weekly on August 27, 2010 in West Hollywood, California.John Shearer/Getty

John Shearer/Getty

The Hollywood couple met at a friend’s birthday party in 2005. “We were 22, the friend was turning 30, so we were like, ‘This chick is super old. Whoa,’ ” Smulders recalled during an appearance onLive with Kelly and Ryanin 2019. “We met and got along and he thought that I was also 30. So it was a really funny meeting of like, ‘When were you born?' ”

2007: Cobie Smulders is diagnosed with cancer

While Smulders was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was 25, she did not reveal her diagnosis until a 2015issue ofWomen’s Health.

“For me at the time, I just wanted to deal with it on my own and with my family,” she laterexplained to PEOPLEin 2018. “I wasn’t interested in sharing it with anybody. It doesn’t really benefit the world until now, when I can say, ‘This is what I went through and I survived it. These are the things I did and these are the things I learned and these are the things I can show you.’ Before it just felt like something I want to deal with myself.”

After being diagnosed, Smulders was fearful she would not be able to have children and went on a deep-dive Google search on what she could do to help herself. Her search led her to “very bleak” results, underscoring that there were not enough resources to help at the time. Regardless, she tried everything from cutting out cheese and carbohydrates to yoga and crystal healers. Thankfully, the actress’ oncologist helped her get into remission and save enough of her ovaries for her to have two kids.

November 2008: Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam announce they’re expecting their first child

Smulders’ rep confirmed exclusively to PEOPLE that the actress and her then-boyfriend Killam were expecting their first child together, due the following spring.

January 2009: Cobie Smulders confirms she is engaged to Taran Killam

Taran Killam and Cobie Smulders in 2016.Jim Spellman/WireImage

Jim Spellman/WireImage

Smulders confirmed to PEOPLE in early 2009 that she and Killam were engaged. When asked if the sparkler on her left hand was an engagement ring, she said, “Yes, it is.” TheHIMYMstar revealed that Killam had popped the question over the holidays. While she didn’t divulge specifics about the proposal since “that’s personal,” Smulders did share that “it was very romantic.”

May 16, 2009: Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam welcome their first child

Smulders and Killam became parents with the arrival of their daughter Shaelyn Cado Killam on May 16, 2009.

During an appearance onThe Bonnie Hunt Showin 2010, Smulders discussed her daughter’s unique name. “My full name is Jacoba Francisca Maria Smulders, that’s a mouthful!” Smulders laughed. “Hopefully she won’t be teased too much. I went with it because I liked Shay and I had never really heard it before.”

September 8, 2012: Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam get married

Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam attend the “Marvel’s The Avengers” premiere during the closing night of the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival on April 28, 2012 in New York City.Jim Spellman/WireImage

The longtime coupletied the knotat the Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort in Solvang, Calif. Prior to their nuptials, Smulders toldET Canadathat their daughter Shaelyn was looking forward to the wedding — and the sweets involved. The Marvel star also shared, “She really wants a dress and she wants white shoes.”

October 21, 2014: Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam announce they’re expecting their second child

PEOPLE confirmed in October 2014 that Smulders was pregnant with the couple’s second child, a month after she and Killam celebrated their second wedding anniversary.

January 2015: Cobie Smulders reveals she and Taran Killam welcomed their second child

Andrew H. Walker/Getty

Her second daughter even made a brief cameo in the movie, as the actress used her real sonogram during her on-screen ultrasound.

August 11, 2016: Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam work together on a project

On Aug. 11, 2016, Killam shared aphoto of himself and his wife— who was snapped laughing — at work. “The happy couple. Nepotism at work. #WWKG,” he wrote alongside the snapshot. The filmKilling Gunther, which was previously titledWhy Were Killing Gunther, marked Killam’s directorial debut.

Killam and Smulders starred as the movie’s leads, alongsideArnold Schwarzenegger, who played the title role.

April 5, 2017: Taran Killam praises Cobie Smulders prior to her Broadway debut

Taran Killam and Colbie Smulders.Taran Killam/Instagram

Taran Killam/Instagram

TheSingle Parentsstar was a proud husband as he wrotea heartfelt tributeto his wife ahead of her Broadway debut inPresent Laughterin 2017.“I don’t normally like to get very personal on social media but tonight is the opening of this woman’s Broadway debut. This woman, the kindest, most selfless, most stunning individual with the most educated heart I’ve ever encountered. She followed me to New York for my work and set a goal for herself,” he wrote alongside a photo of Smulders on Instagram.

Killam continued: “The only specific creative goal I’ve ever witnessed her commit to: perform in a play on Broadway. In these three years, she has jumped through many hoops; put herself out willingly and vulnerably, while still keeping a priority of being a superb mother and phenomenal partner.” He went on to share how proud he was of her, and thank her for the “honor” of being her husband.

July 2, 2017: Taran Killam calls Cobie Smulders “my hero”

Taran Killam and Cobie Smulders attend the ‘Killing Gunther’ premiere on October 14, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.Phillip Faraone/Getty

Phillip Faraone/Getty

March 2019: Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam guest star onArrested Development

Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam attend the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 09, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic

Entertainment Weeklyreported in March 2019 that the real-life couple would be guest-starring in multiple episodes ofArrested Development.The pair played a younger version of Lucille and George Sr., the show’s matriarch and patriarch, in the second half of season 5.

June 18, 2019: Cobie Smulders jokes about how she keeps Taran Killam faithful

Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam arrive for the World premiere of Marvel Studios' ‘Avengers: Endgame’ on April 22, 2019 in Los Angeles.VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty

VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty

“Well, like, he’s only allowed to have sex with one woman, which is me,” Smulders told hostSeth Meyers. “So I feel like it’s only fair, that’s the only way I can repay him. I don’t know what I get in return, but I feel like Marvel’s cool with that.”

April 1, 2022: Cobie Smulders marks Taran Killam’s 40th birthday

Taran Killam and Colbie Smulders.Colbie Smulders/Instagram

Colbie Smulders/Instagram

The actress dubbed Killam “the greatest” as shecelebrated his 40th birthdayon April 1, 2022. Smulders posteda throwback photoof her husband on Instagram, writing: “This guy is now 40. He is the greatest. Happy Birthday @tarzannoz ❤️.” Smulders also wroteon Instagramdays earlier that Killam is “the only one” with whom she would want to share a birthday week.

On April 3 that year, Killam sweetly marked his wife’s own milestone 40th birthday. “I love her more than anything,” theStuck in the Suburbsactorcaptioned a photo of Smulders. “Happiest Birthday my love. 40 never looked so good.”

November 2023: Cobie Smulders celebrates Taran Killam’s new Broadway role

Smulders gave Killama shout-out on Instagramon Nov. 17, 2023, in honor of the opening night of his Broadway showSpamalot. The actor took on the role of Lancelot in the show’s revival at the St. James Theatre. “So proud watching my beloved@tarzannozand the rest of the phenomenal cast of@spamalotbwayin their opening night performance,” Smulders wrote alongside a photo of her husband in costume. “It was a magical night. Bravo.”

source: people.com