Billy Crudup and Claire Danes reunite decades after cheating scandal

The stars, who were once embroiled in a cheating scandal that saw him allegedly leave his pregnant girlfriend, have been spotted catching up.

Talk about a reunion for the books!

Billy Crudup and his ex, Claire Danes, came together for the New York University Tisch School of the Arts Gala on Monday, more than 20 years after he allegedly left his 7-month pregnant girlfriend, Mary-Louise Parker, to pursue a relationship with the actress.

Both married stars arrived separately but were spotted hugging and giving each other a cordial greeting inside the event, reports the New York Post.

Their friendly interaction was captured on video by People, and can be watched below:

In the clip, Crudup, 56, is seen approaching Danes, 45, at her table from behind. She immediately throws down her napkin and jumps up to hug him, locking her ex in a warm embrace.

Danes at the NYU Tisch Gala 2025. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

Her ex was also there. Picture: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

The two chatted for a bit before Crudup eventually made his way back to his seat at a different table. While their reunion seemed brief based on the footage captured, each appeared tickled to catch up with the other and had huge smiles on their faces during the conversation.

Danes stunned at the event, wearing a silk, emerald green floor-length gown. She paired the sophisticated look with a black blazer, tights and heels.

The Almost Famous actor sported a navy blue suit with a white button-up and no tie.

Crudup and Danes met while filming Stage Beauty in 2003. At the time, he was dating Weeds actress Mary Louise Parker.

Danes and Crudup in Stage Beauty.

The star and Parker, 60, began dating in 1996, and he walked away from their relationship in 2003 while she was pregnant with their son and set to give birth in roughly two months. Parker welcomed their son, William, in January 2004. He’s now 21.

Months after their break-up, Crudup was seen getting cozy with Danes; however, their reps claimed they were just friends.

But by the summer of 2004, the stars were no longer hiding their romance, and they eventually moved into a Soho loft together.

Parker and Crudup in 2002.

Crudup and Danes ended their forbidden romance in 2007.

She spoke about their union to Howard Stern in 2015.

“I just was in love with him and needed to explore that and was 24. Didn’t quite know what those consequences might be,” Danes shared of her relationship with Crudup. “It’s okay. I went through it.”

She also said the negative attention surrounding them was “a scary thing. It was really hard. I didn’t know how to not do that,” adding, “It’s OK. I went through it. We’re friendly — we’re friends.”

Parker, who stayed quiet about the scandal for over a decade, hinted about the dark time in her 2015 memoir, Dear Mr. You.

“I realise now that whatever I was walking through was part of my life, one piece of a bigger story that is mostly beautiful,” she wrote at the time.

Crudup and Danes have put their past behind them since their split.

He married actress Naomi Watts in 2023. She wed Hugh Dancy in 2009, and they have three kids: sons Cyrus, 12, Rowan, 7, and a daughter, born in 2023.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Billy Crudup and Claire Danes reunite decades after cheating scandal