Kelly Ripa Reveals ‘the Reason’ She Married Mark Consuelos

Kelly Ripa has credited her decades of marriage with Mark Consuelos to one person who also played an important role in both of the TV personalities’ careers.

Ripa, 54, identified the person she has to thank for introducing her to Consuelos, 53, while discussing a special reunion during a recent episode of their daytime talk show, Live With Kelly & Mark.

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Ripa and Consuelos met in the mid-1990s while acting together on All My Children. The soap opera recently celebrated its 55th anniversary with a panel discussion hosted by fellow actress Susan Lucci in New York City on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Ripa, who participated in Tuesday’s panel, shared photos from the celebration during her talk show’s Wednesday, Jan. 15, episode. She pointed out casting director Judy Blye Wilson, telling the show’s live audience that Wilson “is the reason that Mark Consuelos and I are married.”

“Yes,” Consuelos agreed.

Related: Kelly Ripa Makes a Bold Declaration About Divorcing Husband Mark Consuelos

“Not only was she the casting director of All My Children, but she, unbeknownst to her, found me a husband in the process,” Ripa declared.

Consuelos explained that Wilson had “plucked me out of obscurity” before vouching for him as the casting process for his character, Mateo Santos, played out. “Not only did she find me, and they sent me up for an audition, but once I got there, she really, really fought for me,” he added before telling his wife, “if it wasn’t for her, like you said, I wouldn’t be here.”

“I know where I was—I know where I was standing,” Ripa recalled of the first time she saw a photo of Consuelos. “I was in her office, and she’s like, ‘I found him. I think I found Mateo. He’s never done anything. He’s green. He’s fresh out of college, I just found him, this guy.’ And she showed me your headshot, and I was like, ‘That’s the guy.’”

Ripa and Consuelos began dating shortly after meeting on the show and were married in 1996. They now share three kids: sons Michael, 27, and Joaquin, 21, and daughter Lola, 23.

Next: Kelly Ripa Says 'Sexual Chemistry Was Palpable' Between Husband Mark Consuelos and 'Friends' Star