Who Is Tia Mowry's Ex-Husband? All About Cory Hardrict

Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict first met on a movie set in 1999. The couple tied the knot in 2008 and welcomed two children together before announcing their divorce in October 2022

Tia Mowry and her ex-husband Cory Hardrict finalized their divorce in April 2023.

The couple announced their split in October 2022 — just six months after they celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary.

"I have always been honest with my fans, and today is no different. I wanted to share that Cory and I have decided to go our separate ways," Mowry wrote on Instagram after filing for divorce in Los Angeles. "These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness. We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children."

While divorce isn't always easy for the kids, in June 2023, Mowry said that she hopes her children will learn from her example. “For them seeing their mother walk in truth, I feel like it’s a great lesson for them because it was not an easy decision," the actress told HelloBeautiful.

The Game actress and fellow actor Hardrict first met on an indie film set in 1999. They developed a friendship before officially dating in 2000.

"I met my husband Cory on the set of a movie we were both filming called Hollywood Horror in 1999. It was the last year of Sister, Sister and I had decided to embark on my first feature film. I wasn't really focused on boys at the time, since I was in my early 20s, juggling my career and going to school — however, while Cory and I were filming, he took a liking to me rather quickly," Mowry told PEOPLE in 2020.

The two tied the knot in April 2008 in an outdoor ceremony at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara in front of 170 friends and family members. Three years later, they welcomed the first of their two children.

Read on to learn more about Tia Mowry's ex-husband, Cory Hardrict.

He is an actor

Hardrict began his acting career in the 1990s with appearances in shows like Smart Guy, That's So Raven, Felicity, Once and Again and ER. He made his cinema debut in the 1999 romantic comedy Never Been Kissed, which also starred Drew Barrymore. Since then, he has starred in dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably American Sniper, He's Just Not That Into You, Lincoln Heights, All Eyez on Me, The Chi and All American: Homecoming.

He's also served as a producer for features including Neighborhood Watch, Destined, The Outpost and Karen. In February 2022, Hardrict starred in the music video for Nicki Minaj's single, "Do We Have a Problem."

He met Mowry at the start of his career

Hardrict relocated from Chicago to Inglewood to start his acting career. He landed a role in the independent slasher film Hollywood Horror, but like many aspiring actors, he picked up a few extra jobs to make ends meet. During that time, he met his future wife, who was riding high on the success of her popular sitcom.

"I had odd jobs. I worked at K-Mart, graveyard shift, security," Hardrict told Essence in an interview. "That's when I was just grinding man. I met my wife during them days. She was with me. She was just coming out of Sister, Sister, but they had everything man and I didn't have anything. I had a studio apartment, sleeping in the corner, no furniture for almost two years."

The actor also revealed how his and Mowry's relationship got its start after they met on set. "I was waiting on a bus stop — after I shot my first film. Her sister and her drove by, they saw me waiting and asked to give me a ride. I was embarrassed. I was downtown. They gave me a ride and we were friends ever since," he explained. "They took me to Inglewood, so that's how that relationship started."

Mowry later told PEOPLE that her mom encouraged her to give him a chance. "I remember my mom sitting me down and saying, 'Look Tia, this guy seems really nice and you should give him a chance.' That's when we started hanging out," she said.

He proposed on Christmas Day

The actor popped the question on Christmas Day in 2006 in front of Mowry's family.

"I knew something was up because he came over to my parents' house and he was acting strange," the actress recalled of the memorable day. "He went to the bathroom three times in 10 minutes and he was sweating profusely. I was like 'Cory, are you okay?' "

But it was all part of Hardrict's plan. He enlisted the help of his future brothers-in-law to throw Mowry off track before dropping down to one knee with a ring he designed himself.

"He was crying, I was crying," Mowry told PEOPLE. "It was just one of the best moments of my entire life."

He is a father of two

Hardrict and Mowry welcomed son Cree Taylor on June 28, 2011, in L.A. In May 2018, Mowry gave birth to the couple's second child, daughter Cairo.

The actress praised Hardrict for being a supportive husband and involved dad the following year.

"He's washing dishes. He's giving my daughter and my children a bath and I'm also taking out the trash," she told PEOPLE. "When Cory watches my kids, I'm not like 'he's babysitting.' He's just taking care of his children, doing his job as a parent."

He lost his mother to Leukemia

The Chicago native lost his mother to Leukemia while in high school. But he continued pursuing his acting dream in her honor.

"I had 75 dollars, a plane ticket my cousin bought me, and a dream. I promised my mother, who is in heaven now after dying from Leukemia that I wouldn't give up. She got me involved in extra work. She got sick so I stopped everything and I spent seven months by her bedside in the hospital. She wanted me to continue to pursue acting and eventually make my way to the West Coast and I told her I would," he explained in an interview with Rolling Out.

The Lovelace actor has his name tattooed on his left arm and his mother's name on his left arm, along with a cross.

He waited over a year to kiss Mowry

Hardrict and Mowry's relationship was a slow burn. They waited until a year after they met to start dating, and it took another year for them to lock lips, as Mowry later PEOPLE.

"I remember during one of our early dates, Cory had set up a picnic — he's very romantic like that. I had on these FUBU sneakers with an orange top and black Capri pants, and he had on an Allen Iverson jersey with a big fro. That was the day he had first asked to kiss me. It was all very sweet," she explained.

He's the founder of a production company

On Jan. 19, 2022, Deadline announced that Hardrict was set to produce his first film, Conmen, under his Hardcor Films production company.

He told Deadline that his mission with the project was to create "timeless, high-quality films" akin to those he loved growing up.

"Hardcor Films had been a mission of mine for many years," he said. "I am excited to take the next step in my career, and I am blessed to collaborate with like-minded partners who want to make a cultural difference. The change will not come if we wait for someone else to give it to us."

Mowry filed for divorce from Hardrict in October 2022

On Oct. 4, 2022, Mowry filed for divorce from Hardrict in L.A. Her same-day announcement of the split spurred fans of the couple to speculate that Hardrict had cheated on Mowry. One Instagram user wrote: "Cory nooooo. Don't fumble Tia!" Hardrict simply responded: "Lies!"

Later that month, Mowry told Entertainment Tonight that she's "doing great" after the split. "I have to be honest with you, I am so overwhelmed by the love and support I've received," the actress said. "I'm so grateful of the community and the fans that I have."

She added, "I'm all about inspiring and encouraging, and the DMs that I've gotten from so many women who are going through the same thing … it has just been [amazing]. I feel so blessed."

The following month, Mowry opened up to PEOPLE about life after the split. The actress said she is "all about just really taking the time to tap in and take care of myself through meditation, through affirmations, going to therapy and really continuing to work on myself and grow. I always say, 'Chase the joy.' "

"I really feel like where I am in my life right now. I've realized that life is beautiful, it's amazing, it's a gift, but it's also very short, and we all have to chase our joy and chase being happy," Mowry added. "That's really important."

Mowry spoke about her life post-split again during an interview with E! News in March 2023.

"I've always been next to someone," she said. "I've always had my sister [Tamera Mowry-Housley], side-by-side next to me and this is kind of the first time that I've ever been by myself."

The actress added, "And so, I'm just really learning about myself, loving on myself and being optimistic and positive. Life is short, so just focus on the positive."

In April 2023, Mowry and Hardrict finalized the terms of their divorce. According to court documents, the exes agreed to share legal and physical custody of their two children. No spousal support was requested by either party per the premarital agreement.

Mowry and Hardrict also agreed not to introduce their children to any future significant others before hitting the six-month dating mark. The custody agreement also stated: "Each party is further restrained from permitting his or her new romantic partner from spending overnights when the minor children are with that custodial parent during the first six months of the exclusive relationship."

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