15 Sweet Throwback Photos of Longtime Loves Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in Honor of Their 37th Anniversary

Virginia ChamleeThu, May 28, 2026 at 10:07 AM UTC

0

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in 1987; in 2020
Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Albert L. Ortega/Getty

Gerald McRaney and Delta Burke first met in the mid-'80s, at a publicist's awards luncheon.

The actress and the Paradiseactor may have felt sparks, but it wasn't until later that they began dating, after McRaney was cast in a guest role on Burke's hit show Designing Women.

Speaking to PEOPLE in March 2025, McRaney chalked up the success of the marriage to his wife.

"Marrying Delta, that's the secret," he said of why the two have stayed together for so long. "That's it. She's the one for keeping it together. Honestly, I think one of the biggest components to a happy marriage is that you've got to marry the right person."

The Mississippi native said that he and the Florida-born Burke's common backgrounds contributed to their compatibility. "I think a lot of it was just both of us being southern," he said. "We had common ground there."

Of course, there were other factors at work, too.

"Also, I thought she was the most drop-dead beautiful woman I’d ever seen," he added.

Nearly four decades after the pair met, they celebrate their 37th anniversary on May 28, 2026. See glimpses of their relationship below.

01 of 15

Violet Nights

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney
Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Burke, in a stylish purple outfit that could have walked right off the Designing Women set, steps out with McRaney for the first time at the Publicist Guild of America Awards in March 1987.

02 of 15

Decking the Halls

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in 1987
Credit: Darlene Hammond/Getty

Delta Burke, in a red satin cape, and Gerald McRaney, in a wreath boutonniere to match, attend the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Los Angeles on Nov. 29, 1987. They were married two years later.

03 of 15

Sweet Embrace

Gerald McRaney and Delta Burke
Credit: Ron Galella Collection via Getty

They can't keep their hands off each other at the 1987 Golden Apple Awards!

04 of 15

Hollywood Nights

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in the 1980s
Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

The two attend a late '80s party for Burke's popular show, Designing Women, held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.

05 of 15

On Set

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney on 'Designing Women' in 1987
Credit: CBS via Getty

Burke, as Suzanne Sugarbaker and McRaney, as Dash Goff, kick back on the set of Designing Women in 1987. As McRaney told PEOPLE in an earlier interview, the couple's romance didn't begin until they were done filming together.

"I actually asked her out while we were doing the show, but I waited until after the show was over to have the date," he said. "So we had a date and we had a second date, at which point I proposed to her. And she accepted. And basically, we've been together every day for 38 years."

06 of 15

Advertisement

Staying Close

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in 1988
Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc

The actors share a sweet moment at the 1988 Women in Film lunch in Los Angeles.

07 of 15

Fashion Forward

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in 1990
Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Burke and McRaney are all dressed up for the 5th Annual American Cinematheque Award Honoring Ron Howard, held at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles in 1990.

08 of 15

On the Go

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney
Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

The couple zips into the Los Angeles International Airport in style in an undated photo.

09 of 15

Awards Season

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in 1990
Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Burke and McRaney are all dressed up for the 1990 Primetime Emmy Awards, where she received an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series nomination for Designing Women.

10 of 15

For the Troops

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in 1991
Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

The two arrive at the taping of Bob Hope's television special Bob Hope's Yellow Ribbon Party, held at the comedian's Palm Springs home in California in 1991.

11 of 15

Hello, Dolly

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in 1993
Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

McRaney and Burke are dressed the part at the 1993 opening weekend of Dollywood, Dolly Parton's theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

12 of 15

A Warm Embrace

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in 2000
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty

The couple gets cozy at an NBC party held in honor of the Television Critics Association at Jillians at Universal City Walk in Los Angeles in 2000.

13 of 15

Hail to the Chief

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in 2001
Credit: Greg Mathieson/Mai/Getty

Burke — who, at the time, was starring as the first lady in the television series DAG — arrives with McRaney (who would later act as a former president on Paradise) for the real-life inaugural parade held for George W. Bush in 2001 in Washington, D.C.

14 of 15

Pattern Makers

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney in 2010
Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty

The two arrive at the 2010 premiere of the film Get Low held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater inside the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills.

"There's something about being with the right person that makes you know that when you have a disagreement, that it is worth fighting for," McRaney told PEOPLE in an earlier interview of their marriage secret. "You may fight with the person, but you fight to keep the relationship going more than you fight with the person. That's the important thing. There is some work involved, but most of it has been an absolute joy."

15 of 15

30 Going on Forever

Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney
Credit: Chelsea Lauren/Variety/Penske Media via Getty

Thirty years after their first public appearance, the couple has a rare date night at the 2017 Creative Arts Emmys, looking just as in love as ever. At the ceremony, McRaney took home his first trophy, winning Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama for his role in This Is Us.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”