Jason Momoa Spent 14 Years On A Heartfelt Gift For Lisa Bonet
When it comes to listing the reasons why Jason Momoa is the ideal husband, where do you begin? You could start with his unbelievable good looks, which admittedly are a large factor, but what pushes him over the edge of perfection is his devotion to his wife, Lisa Bonet. Recently, the Aquaman star opened up about a heartfelt surprise that took 14 years to complete, and when he unveiled it, it left his wife (and his fans!) unable to speak.
Love At First Sight
Starting the special gift, Momoa remembered his relationship's unusual start. Unlike the average couple, the first time Jason ever saw his future wife was on television as a kid. He was one of the millions who nursed a crush for Denise Huxtable, Lisa Bonet’s character on The Cosby Show.
Meeting His Dream Girl
It wasn’t until decades later, in 2005, that the Hawaiian heartthrob was set up with Bonet. They were introduced by mutual friends, and he showed up to their date at an NYC jazz club with his hair dreaded to match hers.
Instant Chemistry
Bonet could sense from that first date that their chemistry was something special. She told Porter magazine, "He did not run as I think a lot of men do. He basically picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, caveman style!”
Fitting Into The Family
They were together from then on, which meant Momoa had to win over Bonet’s then-teenage daughter, actress Zoe Kravitz. Thankfully, Zoe was an early fan of her mom’s partner. It helped that he downed some beers with her and her friends.
Becoming A Dad
Momoa's lifelong dream of being a dad finally came true in 2007 when he and Bonet welcomed their daughter Lola. Then, a year later, they added their son Nakoa-Wolf to the mix.
Secret Nuptials
Deeply in love and firmly committed as life partners, a wedding wasn't a top priority for Momoa and Bonet. Though, they did tie the knot in a secret ceremony in 2017, where the groom performed a traditional Māori haka for the bride.
Displays of Love
Whether expressing his love through dance or carefully crafted gifts, one thing’s for sure — Jason Momoa loves a heartfelt gesture. He is always looking for opportunities to give his family memories and meaningful displays of affection.
Treasures For The Kids
One such passion project was building a family heirloom Harley-Davidson. Both of his kids helped him put the Harley together, which he intends to give to his son. Don’t worry, he has his beloved first motorcycle lined up for Lola.
Family Priorities
As Momoa told People, "All I have is being at home and being a papa. I don’t want them to know me as my job. I just wanted to build a Harley with my kids. And I’m really happy my wife let me do it because ultimately she’s the boss.”
The Ultimate Gift
When it came to cooking up the perfect gift for the lady he calls his queen, Momoa did some serious thinking. Once again, he landed on something of the automotive variety. Though, this one would speak straight to Bonet's nostalgia.
First Car Feelings
At 17 years old, Bonet purchased her first car. Given that she’s a style icon and effortlessly wears the title of the ultimate cool girl, the teenage actress picked a vehicle to match — a 1965 Mustang.
Turning Back The Clock
Bonet held onto the car even though it needed a major rehaul. The idea to bring it back to its former glory was one too good for Momoa to pass up, as he explained, "I know we can’t relive a memory, but maybe we can rebuild one."
Seeking Professional Help
In order to tackle this vintage mechanical feat, Momoa had to seek the help of the experts. So, he brought the Mustang to Divine 1 Customs in Las Vegas to see what they could do.
One Of A Kind
There was one major challenge that turned the car restoration into a painstaking process. Bonet's classic Mustang was one just three of that model ever produced. That meant tracking down all the individual parts was nearly impossible.
Documenting The Process
As he’s done in the past with other major milestones, Momoa documented every part of the process and posted it on his YouTube channel. It shows the labor of the craftsman working their magic on the car that required a ton of elbow grease.
A Real Masterpiece
When they finally reached the end of the restoration, Momoa could not believe the finished product. He was barely able to accept that the sleek ride he was picking up was the same one he'd dropped off!
Stoked For The Surprise
"To be in this passenger seat with my wife here and surprise her and our babies in the back — riding in her first car when she was 17 — I’m excited to see her face," Jason said in the video.
The Big Reveal
Making sure to maintain the surprise, he made Bonet come outside of their house with her eyes closed, there, he had had some of the mechanic team waiting, and of course, his wife's revamped Mustang.
First Car Reunion
As you might expect, Bonet was blown away. She walked around the hot rod taking in all its angles. "It’s beautiful. Holy cow," she said. "That is gorgeous. Oh my gosh. It’s pristine, not too flashy but just enough."
Time To Hit The Pavement
After taking a look under the hood, thanking the mechanics, and planting one on the expert gift giver, Bonet wanted to cruise. So with Momoa behind the wheel this time, they made the kids hop in the back to fulfill the ending he'd envisioned.
Memories To Come
To Momoa, the real gift is the time spent afterward. Holding his wife's hand across the seat with the wind whipping through their hair— these are the moments the action star lives for. As he told Men’s Health in November 2020, “I may look big and tough, but I’m not. I’m nothing like Khal Drogo.” In fact, his wife has always been his biggest weakness.
He Was A Mess When They Met
Momoa told Men’s Health that he was “a mess” when he first met Bonet. And he wasn’t sure if he could pluck up the courage to ask her out. The actor told Men’s Health, “[It’s difficult] when you meet someone you’re completely infatuated with and then find out she’s amazing, intelligent, and funny and she’s a goddess and you’re a degenerate.”
Bonet Rules The Roost
In fact, 15 years later Momoa admitted that those initial fears when he first asked out his wife are still there. And again, he’s nothing like Khal Drogo. The star admitted, “I’m not even the king of my own house! I’m absolutely terrified of my wife.”
He's Always Striving For Improvement
Momoa makes it very clear that Bonet is in charge. The actor told Men’s Health, “My wife is very sophisticated and smart, and [our kids and I are] kind of like animals that need to be trained a little better. I’m constantly a work in progress, and I’ve just been trying to get better as a father and a husband.”
Worried Dad
Momoa is clearly dedicated to his wife and kids. Though the star is also a worrier, and he revealed that when talking about his daughter growing up. Momoa said, “I’m not going to do well with [Lola dating]. I’ll just hate it if she brings home some ******* bad boy.” Indeed, the actor also admitted that he cried when his beloved daughter turned 13.
He Hopes His Daughter Finds A Partner Like Himself
What Momoa apparently hopes for is that his daughter will meet a man like he is. That is, someone who is dedicated to his other half. The heartthrob said, “I’m like, ‘If you find a man who treats you better than I [treat Bonet], good luck!’”
He's No Match For His Wife On The Yoga Mat
Momoa does have some rugged pursuits – he reportedly loves rock climbing, for example. But he is still no match for his wife, who is more of a Pilates and yoga connoisseur. Bonet has been trying for some time to get her husband involved in her physical hobbies, and Momoa finally relented – to his detriment.
The Hardest Thing He's Ever Done
“So I tried yoga the other day, and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Momoa told Men’s Health. “I’d rather squat a car. Climbing El Capitan would be easier than doing two hours of yoga. I can’t bend over anymore! My hamstrings are so tight. It’s pathetic!”
He Gives Yogis Props
Momoa also recalled a previous time he attempted yoga, and the results were equally as embarrassing. The actor joked, “I remember one time I was all yoked out for Conan the Barbarian, and I was in a yoga class with these older ladies in Topanga and everyone was just holding their arms up and I was like, ‘This is so hard!’”
Major Height Difference
As well as a 12-year age gap, did you know that there is also a significant height difference between Momoa and Bonet? Unsurprisingly, Momoa is a gargantuan 6 feet 4 inches – the perfect height for an on-screen warrior. Bonet, on the other hand, is reportedly only 5’ 2” tall. Yet he is still apparently “terrified” of her. She has also been a source of infatuation for Momoa for decades – long before she ever became his wife.
More Than Love At First Sight
During an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Momoa explained that his feelings for Bonet went back many years. The eponymous host asked him if it was love at first sight when he first met the actress. And Momoa responded, “Listen, it was more than [love at first sight].”
Girl Of His Dreams
Momoa said that he first laid eyes on Bonet when she was an actor appearing on TV screens back in the 1980s. Bonet was particularly well known for playing the role of Denise Huxtable in The Cosby Show. Momoa told Corden, “Ever since I was eight years old and I saw her on the TV I was like, ‘Mommy, I want that one.’”
Borderline Obsessed
It’s a cute story, but it also began what would become a lifelong obsession for Momoa. He told Corden, “I was like, ‘I’m going to stalk you for the rest of my life, and I’m going to get you.’ I’m a full-fledged stalker. But yeah, I’ve just always wanted to meet her. She was a queen, always.”
He Saw Fireworks
Momoa finally got a chance to meet his dream woman when they were introduced to each other at a jazz club in 2005. Momoa told Corden, “I turned around to my friend and I was like, ‘Ahhh!’ I had ******* fireworks going off inside man.”
It Was Better Than He's Hoped
We are often warned against meeting our heroes, as it can shatter the illusion. But when Momoa and Bonet finally crossed paths, it only cemented feelings that the Aquaman star had been carrying around for quite some time. Momoa recalled on The Late Late Show with James Corden how the pair went for a bite to eat that same evening.
Her Drink Order Sealed The Deal
“We sat down, she ordered a Guinness, and that was it … I beyond love Guinness,” Momoa recalled to Corden. “She ordered a Guinness and I ordered grits. We had Guinness and grits, and the rest is history.”
He Found A Friend In Her Ex
Momoa and Bonet began dating that same year. The latter already had a daughter with musician and ex-husband Lenny Kravtiz. Though that did nothing to deter Momoa or complicate the relationship. The star actually revealed himself to be even more of a giant teddy bear. Not only did he become firmly attached to Bonet’s daughter Zoë, but he befriended her ex-husband, too. What a guy!
Momoa On His Blended Family
Momoa has referred to Zoë as “zozo bear” on Instagram. And she, in return, has called him “papa bear.” In fact, when it comes to the Kravitzes, it’s all one big love in for the Game of Thrones actor. Momoa told Men’s Health, “I love [Zoë’s] husband. I love her dad. I hope and pray my daughter is that talented and loving and open and close to her family.”
The Character He Says He's Most Similar To
Jason Momoa is actually a bit of an enigma. On screen he’s the ultimate tough guy, but off it he’s just a big softie who’s dedicated to his family. But in terms of the characters he’s played, who is the star most like? Well, Momoa himself thinks it is Aquaman. He told the lifestyle magazine Men’s Journal in December 2018, “It’s probably the character I’ve played that’s most like me. Like him, I grew up a huge outsider. I was just with my mother, he was just with his father, and I know what that’s like – not having a parent around.”
Even His Costars Can See His True Colors
But what do colleagues make of the heartthrob actor? Momoa’s Aquaman co-star Patrick Wilson told Men’s Journal, “[He] loves to defy his physical persona; I actually think that’s his biggest strength.” And Dune co-star Timothée Chalamet told the similarly named Men’s Health all about the positives that the star brings on set. The former said, “[Momoa] inspires a group spirit to all around him. He is someone who brings a raw joy for filmmaking to the set every day. He’s one of those enriching humans to be around for their joy of camaraderie...”
A Hero And A Hippie
Denis Villenueve is Momoa’s director in Dune and handpicked the actor to star as Duncan Idaho. And the filmmaker told Men’s Health exactly why. He explained, “[The character] is a true heroic knight figure: a proud, courageous, righteous, and ruthless man – famous for his unmatchable fighting skills. He’s also a bit of a bohemian. I thought that [Momoa] would be perfect to embody him.”
Force of Nature
But why Momoa, exactly? Well, Villeneuve explained that just like Duncan Idaho, the actor has “an insane charisma that makes people gravitate around him. [Momoa] is a force of nature. He’s bigger than life.” This may be so, but his wife is still very much the boss at home.
