The Timeline of Eric Winter and Roselyn Sanchez’s Relationship from The Rookie
The Rookie stars Eric Winter and Roselyn Sánchez demonstrate that enduring marriages can thrive in Hollywood.
Prior to their meeting, Winter was married to actress Allison Ford from 2001 until 2005, while Sánchez was married to Gary Stretch from 1998 until 2001. Their paths crossed in 2005, leading to what would become a beautiful love story. After their marriage in 2008, they welcomed children Sebella and Dylan into their family.
The couple also experienced growth in their careers, yet they took their time before sharing the screen together.
“It needed to be the right project—something enjoyable and suitable for the family,” Winter told MediaVillage in 2019, discussing their Hallmark movie A Taste of Summer. “Our son and daughter could be present, allowing them to partake in the experience.”
Winter shared that working together revealed new facets of their relationship.
“We had a great time, but our methods differ quite a bit. This was a light-hearted romantic comedy, so being overly serious wasn’t necessary,” he told Us Weekly at that time. “I like to have fun and joke around on set.”
He added, “Roselyn was so serious. I kept thinking, ‘Why do you look like you’re ready to kill me? We’re supposed to be falling in love on screen!’”
Sánchez enjoyed participating in a movie that revolved around competition evolving into love, as it felt relatable.
“In reality, it reflects our personalities. We host game nights with friends, where Eric tends to be far more competitive than I am,” she shared with MediaVillage. “We engage in playful banter and debates, purely for fun.”
Through the years, Sánchez and Winter have consistently looked for opportunities to work together on new projects while supporting each other’s career paths. Continue reading to revisit their love story:
2005
The couple first met at a party, although Winter took three months to ask Sánchez out. In an interview with InStyle, they recalled their sushi date followed by a weekend getaway for their second date.
2007
After dating for two years, Winter proposed to Sánchez during a midnight kayak excursion in Puerto Rico, her birthplace.
“I was terrified she would drop the ring,” Winter told InStyle regarding the proposal. “It stayed in the box. She accepted, and I closed the box, telling her she could see it again once we were on land.”
2008
Sánchez and Winter exchanged vows in a stunning ceremony at Castillo de San Cristóbal in Puerto Rico.
2012
Sánchez welcomed their first child, daughter Sebella, into the world.
“Welcome to the world, beautiful Sebella Rose Winter! Your Mommy and Daddy adore you! This joy is overwhelming. Thank you for all the well wishes!” she shared on X at the time.
2017
The following year, their son Dylan was born. Sánchez expressed her joy to People en Español, stating, “After years of dreaming about you, you arrived in perfect condition! We couldn’t be happier with your arrival. Your sister Sebella Rose gazes at you with indescribable love. Thank you for choosing our family to begin your life. We love you.”
Both Sánchez and Winter have discussed their journey of conceiving their children through IVF.
“We are grateful for the dedicated fertility doctors who create miracles for women like me who yearn to be mothers,” the actress explained. “It’s an incredible thing.”
Sánchez described the IVF process as “intense and brutal” and revealed that she lost a twin early in her pregnancy with Sebella. After enduring over six rounds of treatment, she successfully became pregnant with Dylan.
2018
Once they became parents, Sánchez and Winter worked together on a children’s book titled Sebi and the Land of Cha Cha Cha. This bilingual project was inspired by their desire to teach their daughter about her Puerto Rican roots.
2019
During a feature on Hallmark’s Home & Family, Sánchez praised Winter’s parenting skills, stating, “He’s an incredible father. As a woman contemplating motherhood, it’s a true blessing to find someone who is such a wonderful dad.”
Winter reciprocated the admiration for Sánchez, saying, “I respect her passion and determination for everything she pursues. She often tells me, ‘I want to do this, and I have no clue how, but I’m going to make it happen.’ She inspires me.”
2019
“We have completely different perspectives on nearly everything, which is quite ironic,” Sánchez joked in a joint interview with Us. “We’re always searching for ways to collaborate on projects, as it allows us to stay connected as a family.”
Sánchez even humorously mentioned pitching a reality TV show. “For a moment, I thought, ‘Oh.’ But then he said, ‘Absolutely not. No reality TV for us.’ So that idea was off the table,” she recalls, adding that Winter was worried they’d end up divorcing if they exposed their lives publicly, to which he added, “I can’t imagine airing all our life details weekly. We argue enough over what she shares on Instagram!”
He continued, “People closest to us have remarked on this for ages. They say, ‘You two are hilarious! You bicker about everything, but in a fun way. You laugh it off together.’”
2020
Beyond starring in A Taste of Summer, Sánchez and Winter took their creativity further with their podcast, “He Said, Ella Dijo.”
“Roselyn Sánchez brings her quirky, fiery, and sassy personality. She met her match in the meticulous and perfectionist actor Eric Winter,” the podcast description noted. “With opposing zodiac signs of Aries and Cancer, they defy odds, having been together for 15 years.”
2022
Sánchez made a guest appearance on Winter’s successful ABC show The Rookie, which tracks police officers in a Los Angeles precinct. Winter’s character, Tim Bradford, made a significant mark, especially as the show developed his chemistry with Melissa O’Neil, who plays Lucy Chen.
2023
Deadline reported on the development of a comedy series titled El Patio, set to star both Winter and Sánchez, coming soon to Fox.
2024
This year, Winter celebrated his and Sánchez’s anniversary by posting on Instagram, “16 years ago, I asked you to marry me, and I can confidently say, these have been the best years of my life! Nineteen years together and counting, I look forward to making more memories. Te amo mucho and 🥂 to our life ahead. Happy Anniversary @roselyn_sanchez ❤️.”
