Hollywood golden couple who played husband and wife on sitcom are seen for first time in years… who are these screen icons?

A Hollywood golden couple who haven’t been pictured in six years looked as loved-up as ever during a very rare public outing to a Pilates class.

This duo are not only lovebirds but colleagues, having co-starred together in multiple projects, including the 60s sitcom He & She – which earned her an Emmy nomination. 

This pair played a married couple living in New York City in He & She followed by the 1970 satirical war comedy Catch-22. 

They even took their relationship to Broadway, starring in 1998’s The Norman Conquests and even an off-Broadway production.

They’ve now been married for 64 years and have two children who also followed their parents acting footsteps. 

Can you guess who this showbiz couple is?

It’s Richard Benjamin and Paula Prentiss!

This couple were spotted heading to a Pilates class in Beverly Hills on Wednesday.

Paula, who has been with her husband since 1961, emerged from the studio with the assistance of a walker and an assistant who guided towards an open chair.

The Hollywood icon kept it casual in a grey zip-down sweatshirt, black trousers, sneakers, and a tortoise hair clip maintaining her short hairstyle.

Richard, meanwhile, stepped out of his car wearing a light denim jacket thrown over a T-shirt and joggers.

The couple’s career and relationship dates back to an era in which actors were signed to studios.

Richard and Paula met studying at Northwestern University’s drama school, before they auditioned for an MGM talent scout who ended up signing only Paula, according to People. 

The actress inked a seven year contract with the studio in 1960, embarking on a journey which she described as ‘terrifying.’ 

‘It was a life I hadn’t picked,’ she told People during a joint 1976 interview with her husband. ‘It was terrifying. I just allowed myself to be driven along.’

‘I was such an idiot,’ her husband groaned. ‘I accepted it all to be with the girl I wanted to be with.’

The couple even wed to comply with the wishes of the studio, with People describing their marriage as ‘arranged’ by MGM.

At the time, eyebrows were raised at the prospect of Paula traveling with her boyfriend (as they were unmarried), prompting them to say ‘I do.’ 

Whilst under contract with the studio, she did an array of films with Jim Hutton, and even starred opposite Hollywood legend Rock Hudson in the 1964 film Man’s Favorite Sport?, playing his girlfriend. 

Other notable works include 1975’s The Stepford Wives along with role opposite Peter O’Toole in What’s New Pussycat. 

However Paula suffered a mental breakdown on the Paris set of What’s New Pussycat, which she told People was what ‘woke’ them up. 

‘One day during shooting,’ she told People, ‘I just climbed up the ropes to the catwalk and started walking the beams. Very loudly and clearly I called down to everyone on the set, “I’m going to jump.” A French technician grabbed me, and there I was, hanging by one arm.’

During treatment, her husband said she was under so much medication that she wasn’t herself. 

The couple overcame the ordeal and several years later welcomed children who also pursued acting – son Ross Benjamin, 51, and daughter Prentiss Benjamin, 46 (who is also a dancer). 

‘When Paula was sick, people wondered why I didn’t leave her,’ her husband said elsewhere in the interview.  ‘And when I wasn’t working they wondered why she didn’t leave me. People all along have tried to come between us. It took a long time to figure out that it was their problem, not ours.’ 

As for her spouse, he too worked with Peter O’Toole in the 1984 film Racing in the Moon.

His resume includes The Last of Sheila, Mermaids, The Money Pit, and the 1973 film Westworld, which later inspired the HBO show of the same name. 

His illustrious career has also received critical acclaim – he received a Golden Globe nod in 1971 before actually winning one in 1976.