Photo: Prince Williams/Wireimage
Michael Ealykeeps his relationship with his wife,Khatira Rafiqzada, relatively private.
TheGolden Globe-nominated actor — who’s starred in various blockbuster films and television shows, including2 Fast 2 Furious(2003),The Good Wife,Think Like A Man(2012) andBel-Air—married Rafiqzadain October 2012. They have since welcomed two children together: son Elijah and daughter Harlem.
Ealy spoke kindly of his wife whenposting a photo of her holding their daughter Harlemon Instagram in 2017.
“We can always find comfort in you,” Ealy wrote at the time. “We’re all blessed to have you. We celebrate you everyday! Thanks 4 holding us down. You are the core and the rock.”
So who is Michael Ealy’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Khatira Rafiqzada and her relationship with theBarbershopstar.
She was born in Afghanistan
Khatira Rafiqzada Instagram
Rafiqzada was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, but moved to India with her family when she was 8 years old,according to TEDxWaterStreet.
She moved again four years later, this time to Northern California. Rafiqzada hasshared on social media that she moved around oftenduring her childhood — a total of 26 times.
“I’m now married to an American and have kids that are half first-generation immigrants and half Black. My biggest achievement so far has been to raise these children as self-aware, conscious and thoughtful human beings,” she added. “I’m proud to have that opportunity and proud to be American. I would not have been able to add all of these experiences to the American fabric, but for my parents' will to offer us a better life.”
She and Ealy celebrate their first date every year
Khatira Rafigzada Instagram
On Instagram, Rafiqzada stated that it only took three days from when she gave Ealy her number for them to go on their first date. Sparks flew, and the date lasted all day from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. The two both knew within their first few dates they wanted to marry each other.
“I knew within an [hour] of our first date that I was going to marry you! I had never before felt safety in someone’s presence like I did 10 years ago today,” shecaptioned the anniversary postin February 2018.
She has been in the food industry for over a decade
Sharinga photo of workers at the Korean restaurant Le Comptoir in L.A., Rafiqzada wrote that she “started her career in the food industry as the prep girl.” She also had jobs as a dishwasher, bus girl, bar back and host, among others.
When she’s not professionally cooking, Rafiqzadaunveils her favorite food finds on social mediaandbakes her kids' birthday cakes. She also runs a cooking program called Break Bread — which she cofounded — at St. Anne’s Family Services in L.A.
“We teach young moms who are transitioning out of the foster care and probation systems how to make healthy, delicious meals for themselves and their kids,” the entrepreneur captioneda photo of a FoundRae necklaceon Instagram in December 2020. “We break bread with them after each cooking lesson and enjoy the meal they have just prepared.”
She married Ealy on Oct. 20, 2012
After four years of dating, the lovebirds tied the knot in a private ceremony in L.A. in October 2012. However, they didn’t share the news of their nuptials until two months later.
“Michael has always been a private guy, and he wanted to enjoy his time as a newlywed with his wife privately,” Ealy’s rep exclusively told PEOPLE at the time. “Now that some time has passed and the holidays are here, he wanted to share the news with his fans that he is married and very happy.”
The couple exchanged vows in front of six witnesses at their October ceremony, Rafiqzadashared on Instagram. They held a larger reception with friends and family that December.
She shares two children with Ealy
Michael Ealy Instagram
Rafiqzada and Ealy are parents to Elijah Rakim and Harlem Quest. After welcoming their son Elijah in September 2013, Rafiqzada gave birth to their daughter Harlem in April 2016.
Though the couple chose to keep the pregnancies and births of both of their children private, Ealy later opened up about being a father while speaking with PEOPLE in 2014.
“There are multiple milestones every day,” the actor shared at the time. “He said ‘Mama’ yesterday in the car and it really warmed my heart. It was a lot of babbling!”
She is an art collector
Presley Ann/Getty
Rafiqzada is an avid art collector, often visiting galleries andsharing her findings on social media. She started gathering pieces at a young age, and now art has become one of her great “loves” in life.
Rafiqzada’s passion for art has also rubbed off on her husband. Ealy began compiling artworks after meeting his wife and was even on theBoard of Trustees at the Baltimore Museum of Art.
“I started collecting because my wife was so passionate and persuasive about it,” the actor said toSugarcane Magazine. “Truly. I am still collecting because she was right. The passion is infectious, and the impact on our kids seeing themselves in the works is unparalleled.”
They are each other’s biggest supporters
Rafiqzada and Ealy mostly keep their family life out of the limelight, but they aren’t shy about sharing their support for one another on social media.
After Ealy gave the commencement speech at Dillard University in 2021, the food connoisseur praised her husband.
source: people.com
