Martel Thompson Is Tony Hale’s Wife and Also an Emmy Award Winner

"Arrested Development" star Tony Hale is married to Emmy Award winner Martel Thompson, but he only learned that his marriage proposal was dark years after marrying her.

Actor and comedian Tony Hale has been working in the entertainment industry since the late 1990s, but he shot to stardom in the 2000s and 2010s with outstanding performances in "Arrested Development" and "Veep."

While Hale's acting career has been impressive, keeping a healthy marriage with Emmy Award winner Martel Thompson for nearly two decades has also been an outstanding accomplishment, especially for a Hollywood star.

WHO IS MARTEL THOMPSON?

Thompson is a makeup artist born in Alabama who prefers to keep most details of her life away from the spotlight. Even her Instagram account is private.

She has a great sense of humor, though, as she described herself as a "trophy wife" on her Instagram bio. While Hale is the most famous of the two, Thompson has been in showbiz for as long as he.

Hale's wife landed her first job as a makeup artist in the entertainment industry in 1996 when she joined the "Saturday Night Live" crew. The highlight of her career was winning a Daytime Emmy Award for "All My Children" in 2003.

MARTEL THOMPSON AND TONY HALE MET AT CHURCH

Although Hale and Thompson work in the same field, they didn't meet on a film set but at Hale's bible study group for artists in New York, The Haven. The couple hit it off immediately, and their faith has been crucial in their relationship.

One year after their first meeting, Hale proposed in a very unusual way that he eventually discovered was quite "dark." Hale took Thompson to the play "Stones In His Pockets" for their first date, but he was so nervous that he didn't pay enough attention to it.

Hale joked that Thompson was not too fond of him.

Eventually, Hale created a romantic plan to pop the question. He took Thompson to Ireland (where the play took place) and put the engagement ring in his pocket – a nod to the play's title. She said yes, and they tied the knot on May 24, 2003.

In the early 2010s, Hale saw "Stones In His Pockets" again and noticed that the show was about suicide, and the title referred to what the main character used to die. Hale asked his wife if she thought his proposal was odd, and she replied:

"'Yeah, but I didn't want to ruin your buzz.' And then she goes, 'am I the stone that's going to drag you to your death and suffocate your life?'"

MARTEL THOMPSON AND TONY HALE'S DAUGHTER

Thompson and Hale spent years in Los Feliz, California, before moving to Studio City, California, where they live with their daughter Loy. The couple welcomed their only child on February 24, 2006.

Hale revealed that when Loy was 13, she was embarrassed by everything he did. He added that she loved to perform, so it wouldn't be too shocking to see her pursue an acting career.

THE SECRET TO MARTEL THOMPSON AND TONY HALE'S LONG MARRIAGE

Being married for nearly 20 years is no easy feat, and Hale, who described Thompson as his "lifeline," confessed that the secret to doing it was being present for each other and experiencing life together.

However, Hale joked that Thompson was not too fond of him because she once told him he could not expect her to watch all his movies. Jokes aside, Tony Hale and Martel Thompson's romance is unique. Way to go!

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.