Gabrielle Union Celebrates Dwyane Wade’s Birthday with a Fun Instagram Montage: Here’s to 44 Looking Great!

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade from a clip she shared on Instagram on Jan. 17, 2026.
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Gabrielle Union-Wade/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• Gabrielle Union honored her husband, Dwyane Wade, on his 44th birthday, January 17.
• The actress posted a heartfelt video montage on Instagram to celebrate the former NBA star.
• The couple married in 2014, having met in 2007.

Gabrielle Union expressed her love for her husband, Dwyane Wade, on his birthday this year. The actress shared a touching video tribute via Instagram as Wade celebrated his 44th birthday on Saturday, January 17. The montage included clips of the former NBA star alongside voices of women expressing appreciation with the phrase, “I love you, Black man,” a viral trend highlighting admiration for Black men.

She captioned the post, “Happy Birthday Baby. 44 never looked so good ❤️ @dwyanewade.”

Union and Wade, who tied the knot in 2014, initially met in 2007. At the time, Union had recently divorced her first husband, Chris Howard, while Wade was still married to his first wife, Siohvaughn Funches, with whom he shares two children, Zaya, 18, and Zaire, 23.

The couple went public with their relationship in 2010 and announced their engagement in 2013. After they married a year later, Union took on the role of stepmother to Wade’s children, including his son Xavier, 12, from a previous relationship.

Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, and their daughter, Kaavia, from a clip she shared on Instagram on Jan. 17, 2026.

Gabrielle Union-Wade/Instagram

In November 2018, Union and Wade welcomed their first child together, daughter Kaavia James, now 7.

Wade has previously mentioned that he was captivated by Union from their first date, admitting during an appearance on “Today with Jenna & Friends” in March 2025 that he “wasn’t really listening” to her because he was transfixed by her looks. “My wife’s so beautiful,” he remarked. “I was just kind of looking at her eyes and her lips and all those things,” adding he remembered her intelligence yet felt it was unfair since he already knew her as an actress.

Union has candidly shared her experiences of connecting with Wade’s family, noting that his mother and older sister were initially wary of their nearly 10-year age difference. “With [his older sister] Tragil… she has been the protector,” Union explained. “Before I got to the wife stage, I think Tragil and his mom were like, ‘What do you want? Who are you, you older lady?'” Despite the skepticism, Union mentioned that it took time to earn each other’s trust. “Now, it’s easy because we are all on the same side,” she stated.

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade from a clip she shared on Instagram on Jan. 17, 2026.

Gabrielle Union-Wade/Instagram