From Sitcoms to the Senate: Cheryl Hines on Love, Politics, and Life “Unscripted”
Best known for trading barbs with Larry David on HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, Cheryl Hines now finds herself navigating an entirely different kind of script—one written in Washington D.C., as the spouse of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In her new memoir Unscripted, Hines chronicles the unexpected journey from Hollywood actress to Cabinet spouse, confronting political chaos, personal loss, and a fractured family legacy head-on.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to being a political spouse,” Hines told CBS News. And who could blame her? Her husband’s ascent to a top post in the Trump administration—following a controversial 2024 presidential bid—has thrust her into a maelstrom of media attention and public scrutiny.
Kennedy’s campaign was marred by tension over his anti-vaccine stance, drawing criticism from public health officials—and even his own family. While Hines doesn’t firmly plant herself on either side of the vaccine debate, she calls for compassion and dialogue: “Let’s listen to people. Let’s listen to parents. Let’s listen to doctors, to science.”
That ethos extends to her marriage. “Sometimes we have heated discussions,” she admits, “but we always come back around to, ‘I hear what you’re saying.’”
Still, not everyone’s hearing her out. Hines confesses that some Hollywood friends drifted away as her husband became a lightning rod. Even Kennedy’s cousin Caroline publicly rebuked his views. Yet Hines clings to humor and humanity, recalling how Kennedy once floated the idea of a fake separation to shield her from criticism—a proposal she found bizarre but touching.
Their blended family, including her daughter and his six children, have stood as a source of strength amid a highly polarized environment. And after attending the memorial for slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Hines is more aware than ever of the dangerous political temperature.
So, what’s the solution? “It’s good to surround yourself with people who don’t think exactly like you,” she says. “Instead of hating somebody for that, maybe take a minute to understand why they think like that.”
Wise words from someone who knows a thing or two about comedy—and compromise.
Unscripted hits shelves November 11.