Tim Daly on Keeping Marriage to Tea Leoni ‘Sexy,’ Political Future, More

Tim Daly may have played government-related figures on TV, but don’t expect that to translate into his real life.

“Absolutely not,” Daly, 70, exclusively told Us Weekly on Thursday, April 23, ahead of The Creative Coalition’s annual Night Before Dinner, when asked whether he has political aspirations. “It’s funny, every time I come to DC, people ask me if I would be interested. I think that’s because I look okay on camera, and I have some modest intelligence, and I can say a few sentences without asking what the words mean.”

Daly, who serves as the president of the nonprofit focused on federal arts funding, journalism support and free speech through its #RightToBearArts campaign, said that he doesn’t have the “patience” to be in politics.

“It’s slow, and it’s messy, and you have to be patient and persistent. That said, I have come back every year with The Creative Coalition to defend and protect the National Endowment for the Arts, because what I’ve come to understand is that part of politics or part of policy is doing the same thing over and over and over again. There’s always someone that loves what you do, and there’s always someone that hates what you do, and you gotta get out there and try to convince the haters that you’re okay,” he explained.

That doesn’t mean he’s against celebrities throwing their hat into the campaign ring.

“There have been a lot of actors who’ve been elected to office, Ronald Reagan, Clint Eastwood, Sonny Bono, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Fred Thompson. You can argue about if they did a good job or not, but they had something that people responded to. And I think that if an actor comes along and they’re smart and they understand the country and the Constitution, they should give it a shot if they want to,” Daly said. “There’s a small number of people who are really great and should be given a chance to be public servants. And I don’t care what their former job was, if they’re smart and they’re dedicated and they understand the Constitution, because that, after all, is what politicians are supposed to be defending.”

“I have a belief that one of the things that helps marriages stay alive and vital, crackly and sexy, is not talking about them to the press,” Daly shared, noting the irony. “Téa and I made a vow when we decided to get married that if it changed our relationship, we were going to get divorced in a hot minute and go back because it was so good. But the truth is, it’s even better now. We really love it.”

Why Tyne Daly Wasn’t Invited to Brother Tim Daly and Tea Leoni’s Wedding

The pair began dating in 2014 while playing husband and wife on Madam Secretary and finally tied the knot in July 2025 in an intimate family gathering. Despite his sister, Tyne Daly, claiming the couple was planning a larger ceremony at a later date, the actor told Us that’s not true.

“I don’t know what the hell my sister’s talking about. She’s just made something up, just to tell somebody so, that’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Daly responded.

Daly previously shared that he fell head over heels for Leoni, 60, “four minutes” after meeting her on Madam Secretary. Daly and Leoni, 60, played husband and wife Henry and Elizabeth McCord in the political drama, which aired for six seasons from September 2014 to December 2019.

“I mean, she looked at me, and she saw me. She just saw right into me, and it scared the hell out of me, actually, because all my defenses and walls came crashing down. And there I was vulnerable and caught on her tractor beam,” he told Us.

Daly said the spark is still alive after all these years.

Madam Secretary’s Tea Leoni and Tim Daly Are Married After Dating 11 Years

“I can’t even understand. I’m crazy about her. It’s wild,” he stated.

The newlywed shared his hopes for life’s next chapter after turning 70 last month.

“Without being too cliche, I hope that it brings serenity and wisdom. It’s very interesting, because it seems so improbable to be 70 years old. I don’t feel that way at all. But I think having decades of perspective is really interesting, because I’ve seen a lot, [I’ve] experienced a lot, I’ve had an extraordinary life, far beyond anything I ever would have imagined. And so, a lot of it is about gratitude for where I am and what I’ve done. And a lot of it is being really curious about what happens next,” Daly shared.

He’s also open to slowing down, whether that’s in his career or everyday life.

“I’m sort of at the point where I’m good either way. I don’t have the burning ambition that I once did. I’m still ambitious, but it’s the chase that I’m not quite as interested in. I’ve got so many other things that I like to do. I love playing guitar, and they’re all sort of artistic pursuits.I love making sculptures out of wood. I love growing my own food. I’m an avid gardener and stuff like that, so I’ll be okay either way,” Daly said.