After her first two marriages ended in divorce, the stars aligned for Linda Lavin to meet third husband, actor Steve Bakunas.

“We have so much fun together,” the 76-year-old former Alice star raves to Closer about Steve. “I feel very fortunate to have found him!”

And even though she admits it wasn’t love at first sight during their “accident of fate” meeting in a Wilmington, North Carolina, theater on November 17, 1999, she remains eternally grateful she was able to make a good first impression.

linda lavin

Lavin (L) with guest-star George Burns and co-stars Polly Holliday and Vic Tayback on “Alice”

“Thank God I had my hair done that day,” the actress shares with a laugh. “We always wake up with a real gratitude of being in each other’s lives.”

The pair have been married since 2005, and while Linda has no biological children, she is stepmom to Steve’s children from a previous relationship.