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When actressKaley Cuocoand famed equestrianKarl Cookfirst met in 2016, the two immediately bonded over their shared love of animals.
“He is my perfect match,” Cuoco previouslytold PEOPLE in 2018. “He lets me wake up in the morning and say, ‘I want to go and rescue rabbits.’ " She continued, “We are the same, our views are the same, our morals are the same, he is my perfect match.”
The couple dated for two years before tying the knot in June 2018. Cuoco and Cook fittingly said their vows at a horse stable in California. “Legally KCSQUARED 6-30-18 ❤,” the actresscaptioneda photo of the newlyweds at the time, referencing their shared initials.
In October 2019, however, the pair raised eyebrows when they shared that they were living separately while building their “dream house” in California. But in a 2019appearance onThe View, Cuoco explained their temporary living arrangements had “been working great and we love it.”
The twomoved into their homein March 2020 at the height of quarantine. In a virtualJimmy Kimmel Live from His House!appearance, theFlight Attendantstar said quarantine has been “great” for their marriage.
“It’s been great for our relationship,” Cuocotold Jimmy Kimmel, jokingly adding: “And we like each other, we realized, which is even better.”
In September 2021, Cuoco surprised fans when she filed for divorce from Cook after three years of marriage. In a joint statement, Cuoco and Cooktold PEOPLEthat they would be going in “opposite directions.”
Nearly two years later, Cookannounced his engagementto entrepreneur and mental health advocate Mackenzie Drazan.
So who is Cuoco’s former husband? Here’s everything to know about Karl Cook and his relationship with the Golden Globe-nominated actress.
He’s an accomplished equestrian
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Cook has been around horses his whole life and began riding competitively at 8 years old.
According toEQ Living, he had a very successful junior career, winning multiple championships. After a few disappointing seasons, however, Cook almost walked away from the sport altogether, but instead decided to head to Normandy in 2012 to train with French Olympic medalist Eric Navet.
Things started to shift after he began working with Navet and competing with his horse Calliou.
“I think Caillou has had more of an effect on my riding,” Cook told EQ Living. “We’ve had a lot of good, and less good, experiences in our years together. I think he’s 13 or 14 now, and I got him when he was seven. I’ve had him for a long time. He’s pushed me to revisit the things you think you know.”
He comes from a very successful family
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He met Cuoco at a horse show
Steve Granitz/WireImage
It felt like kismet when Cuoco and Cook’s paths first crossed at a 2016 equestrian event. “I was already involved with horses, then we happened to meet at a horse show,” Cuocorecalled to PEOPLEin September 2019. “It was totally meant to be. We were pretty much a good match from the beginning.”
Cuoco added that their keen interest in animals is what brought them together. “We share so much love for animals — we love horses and we love the sport,” she said.
“I think anyone who works with animals has to have a kind soul,” the actress told PEOPLE. “It’s almost like he’s the horse whisperer. He is just wonderful with them. It’s really beautiful to see that patience he has with them … he’s so gentle.”
He got along with Cuoco’s ex (and costar) Johnny Galecki
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Cook went to visit Cuoco on the set ofThe Big Bang Theory, and ended up leaving with a new pal:Johnny Galecki, Cuoco’s on-screen husband and real-life ex-boyfriend. She shared the funny moment on Instagram.
“Ummmmmm then this happened,“Cuoco wroteunder a photo of Cook and Galecki cuddling together on set. “@sanctionedjohnnygalecki get off my man! 😂”
Galecki also attendedthe couple’s wedding a year later.
He and Cuoco tied the knot in 2018 at a horse stable
Jamie Greenberg
Cuoco and Cookgot engagedon Cuoco’s 32nd birthday on Nov. 30, 2017. Less than a year later,they said “I do"on June 30, 2018, at a horse stable near San Diego. Their outdoor wedding was a small and intimate soirée (Cuoco’s sister Briana served as the officiate), with only close friends and family in attendance. They also chose to write their own wedding vows.
The pair’s dog, Norman, requested that “in lieu of human gifts,” wedding guests bring four-legged-friendly presents that could be donated to a local animal rescue organization. Cuoco thanked friends and family on Instagram for their generous donations.
“Wow did everyone come through!!! Unbelievable donations and gifts for our 4 legged friends. Thank you to everyone, what an incredible turn out! We feel so blessed and happy,“she wrote, in part.
He and Cuoco split in 2021
Kaley Cuoco and Karl Cook.Presley Ann/FilmMagic
Cuoco filed for divorce from Cook in Los Angeles Superior Court on Sept. 3, 2021. They publicly announced their split that same day.
“Despite a deep love and respect for one another, we have realized that our current paths have taken us in opposite directions,” the former pair saidin a joint statement shared exclusively with PEOPLE.
The statement went on to say: “We have both shared so much of our journey publicly so while we would prefer to keep this aspect of our personal life private, we wanted to be forthcoming in our truth together. There is no anger or animosity, quite the contrary.”
“We have made this decision together through an immense amount of respect and consideration for one another and request that you do the same in understanding that we will not be sharing any additional details or commenting further,” they concluded.
The split wasn’t only shocking to fans, but to friends of the couple, too. “In the beginning of the summer, Kaley seemed very happy with Karl. They were affectionate and seemed great,” a sourcetold PEOPLE. “The split seems very sudden. It’s pretty shocking.”
Cuoco and Cook’sdivorce was finalizedon June 15, 2022. In August, Cuocorevealed that she sought supportwhile filming season 2 ofThe Flight Attendantas she processed her split from Cook.
Cuoco also said that the period while she was going through her divorce “was the loneliest I’ve ever felt, and I am not really someone to share that. I’ve been very open about it, because I think for the first time, I wanted people to know that things just aren’t always what they seem. And things aren’t always so perfect.”
He and Cuoco maintain an amicable relationship
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Although they’re no longer romantically together, Cuoco still supports Cook on social media. TheBig Bang Theorystar left several red hearts and praise hand emojis on anInstagrampost of Cook winning first place at the Traverse City Horse Shows in September 2021.
When Cook shared the exciting news on his own Instagram account, Cuoco commented, “Congrats you, this was amazing 👏❤️🔥.”
He got engaged to Mackenzie Drazan in June 2023
Instagram/mrtankcook
Cookproposed to Mackenzie Drazanin June 2023 — nearly two years after splitting from Cuoco. The famous equestrian announced the big news on Instagram.
In a separate post, Drazan said: “(YES!!! ^ ♾️)* ♾️ !!! @mrtankcook Still pinching myself! I love you forever!”
source: people.com
