Franni Bryson and Al Franken Marriage Profile

Although they have talked openly about having rough times in their long lasting marriage, Franni and Al Franken are described as a couple devoted to one another. Here is information on how they met, their marriage, and more.

Alan Stuart Franken: May 21, 1951 in New York, New York. Al was raised in Minnesota.

Franni Bryston: Maine.

Franni and Al met during Al's first week at Harvard. Franni was 17 and Al was 18 when they met at a mixer at Simmons College.

Franni and Al were married on October 2, 1975.

Al and Franni have two children.

• Joe Franken: Mechanical engineer.
• Thomasin Franken Davis: Born in 1981, Thomasin is a school teacher.

Al and Franni have a townhouse in downtown Minneapolis.

Al: U.S. Senator, author, comedian, actor, stand-up comic, screenwriter, radio host, entertainer, producer, political commentator.

Al: "Franni Franken is not just my wife, not just the mother of my children, not just the mother of my children, not just the woman who cleans my house -- she's also my best friend. By that I mean we have sex together. But after the sex, we often have a conversation. That's what makes us not just friends but best friends."
Source: Al Franken. Why Not Me? 1999. pg. 15.

Franni: "We're stay-at-home types. Even back when S.N.L. was in its heyday and there were invitations to go to Hugh Hefner's and Studio 54, we were never on the celebrity circuit ... I manage Al's life."
Source: Russell Shorto. "Al Franken, Seriously." NYTimes.com 3/21/2004.

Franni: "I first met Al at a freshman dance in college and it was love at first sight. We've been married now for almost 33 years and we've been so blessed in so many ways. But we also had some bad times, and at one point in our life, I struggled with alcohol dependency. How could a mother of two fabulous, healthy children be an alcoholic? When I was struggling with my recovery, Al stood right by my side and he stood up for me. After what we went through, Al wrote two beautiful movies. And he wrote them because he wanted to help people and they're used in rehabs all over the country. The Al Franken I know stood by me through thick and thin, so I know he'll always come through for Minnesotans."
Source: Rachel E. Stassen-Berger. "Franken Ad." TwinCities.com. 8/2/2008.

Russell Shorto: "... friends say they are deeply devoted to each other. ''Al is truly unusual for an entertainer and celebrity in that he is a functional person with a functional family,'' said Norman Ornstein, whose family vacations with the Frankens."
Source: Russell Shorto. "Al Franken, Seriously." NYTimes.com 3/21/2004.

Al: "A great marriage is a partnership. And every partnership involves a mutually agreed upon division of labor."
Source: Al Franken. Oh, The Things I Know! 2002. pg. 69.

Al: "But if it [marriage] is broke, and you have kids, do everything you can to stay together ... So, stick it out. Stay married. When the kids leave home, you just may be surprised to discover that this stranger you're married to is about to become your best friend."
Source: Al Franken. Oh, The Things I Know! 2002. pgs. 71-72.