Melissa Fumero has been living her own real-life love story with her husband, actor David Fumero.
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine actress, best known for playing Amy Santiago on the NBC comedy, has been married to the former One Life to Live star since December 2007. The couple first met while costarring on the iconic soap opera. Melissa and David’s on-screen connection eventually turned into a real-life romance, leading to their engagement and eventual wedding.
Before their marriage, David had already established himself in the entertainment world as both an actor and model. In addition to his work on One Life to Live, he’s appeared in notable roles, including as Mike Sandoval in Power, episodes of CSI and Law and Order and of course, in his Brooklyn Nine-Nine cameo.
Since tying the knot, Melissa and David have welcomed two sons. Their first child, Enzo, was born in March 2016, and their second son, Axel, in February 2020.
After Enzo’s birth, Melissa told PEOPLE about how David was adjusting to life as a father: “He’s amazing. He’s super hands-on … He’s just an amazing, amazing partner.”
So, who is Melissa Fumero’s husband? Here’s everything to know about David Fumero and his relationship with the actress.
He is from Cuba and is proud of his roots
David was born on Dec. 29, 1972, in Havana, Cuba.
He has maintained a deep connection to his heritage, as shown on his Instagram. David frequently shares photos of him enjoying Cuban cigars, which he affectionately calls “stogies.”
“Nothing like some Cuban coffee and a stogie to polish off a great dinner…many blessings and love to all!” David captioned a photo of himself sipping coffee and enjoying a cigar.
In another photo, the actor celebrated his heritage by taking a photo next to his meal. “Doesn’t get more Cuban the this…casually having dinner next to an open pig carcass marinating in mojo on the table,” he wrote.
He is an actor
Prior to transitioning into acting, David served in the United States Marine Corps and established a successful career as a model, working with renowned designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Dior.
David often shares moments from his past modeling gigs on Instagram.
These jobs eventually paved the way for his acting debut in 1998, when he was cast in One Life to Live — a role he portrayed for over a decade. David has also acted in Power and L.A.’s Finest.
He was Melissa’s childhood crush before they married in 2007
David and Melissa’s love story has a pretty sweet beginning.
As a teenager, Melissa developed a crush on a model she saw in Mariah Carey’s 1997 “Honey” music video, unaware that he was her future husband. The actress shared the cute anecdote on the Steve Harvey Show in 2017, saying, “This video played all the time on MTV when I was like 13 or 14, and I was obsessed with the hot guy at the end of the video.”
Years later, their paths crossed on the set of One Life to Live — Melissa starred as Adriana Cramer and David as Cristian Vega. Unbeknownst to Melissa at the time, her costar was the same person she had admired years earlier. The actress also admitted to Harvey that she had a rule about not dating actors, so was hesitant to go out with David.
However, Melissa eventually realized this sweet connection and their on-screen relationship turned real, leading to their engagement in 2006 and their New Jersey wedding in 2007.
He shares two children with Melissa
Melissa and David welcomed their first son, Enzo, on March 24, 2016, followed by their second son, Axel, on Feb. 14, 2020.
When Axel was born, David shared a sweet photo on Instagram to celebrate his birth. “I got the best #valentines #day Present!!” he wrote. “Mama is a master at baking these! I’m a lucky dude! Welcome to the world Axel! 2/14/20.”
Melissa has since talked about her parenting methods. “I thought my husband and I would be really strict parents — super-regimented, very scheduled, no screens. But Enzo did a big F-you to all of those plans,” she told Parents Latina in 2020. “What I learned is that there are just so many parenting techniques out there. Some work, some don’t.”
He’s a “baby-whisperer,” according to Melissa
Melissa has praised her husband for his exceptional parenting skills, affectionately referring to David as a “baby whisperer.” She told Parents Latina in 2020 that she admires his boundless energy and patience, especially in his interactions with their children.
“I marvel at how long he can play with our 4-year-old. And he’s a baby whisperer too,” she said. “Axel will be crying, and David will swoop in, and the baby immediately starts laughing.”
David was featured on an episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine
In April 2018, David made a memorable guest appearance on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, sharing the screen with his wife. In season 5, episode 15, titled “The Puzzle Master,” David portrayed Melvin “Vin” Stermley, a charming and attractive crossword puzzle author who becomes involved in an arson investigation led by Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg) and Amy.
In the episode, Jake surprises Amy by involving her idol, Vin Stermley, in their case. However, his plan backfires as he becomes increasingly jealous of Amy and Vin’s rapport.
Melissa posted a still from the episode on Instagram to celebrate their collaboration. “Happy #Brooklyn99 day!!! Check out tonight’s episode guest starring my husband @davidfumero!!!” she wrote in the caption.
David then re-posted the photo, adding his own comment: “I had to study in depth the art of puzzle mastery for tonight’s B99 episode…I hope I make #willshortz proud! 😜 .“
He likes to exercise with Melissa
David seems dedicated to staying physically active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, frequently sharing glimpses of his fitness routines and outdoor adventures on social media. In 2021, he celebrated earning his blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, captioning the accomplishment on Instagram with, “Never too late to start BJJ! #bluebelt #getit.”
His love for outdoor sports is also evident. David captioned a series of photos showing him hitting the slopes in one photo and then enjoying the beach in another just days apart with, “Sunday and Tuesday…gotta love Cali! 💪🏽❤️.” He’s also shared photos of fishing, boxing and more.
David enjoys sharing workouts with Melissa, too. Under a post featuring the duo mid-workout, he wrote, “When couples train together!! #getit 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽❤️❤️❤️.”
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