Penn Badgley

Early Life

Penn Dayton Badgley was born on November 1, 1986, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Duff and Lynne Badgley. His father, a former newspaper reporter and carpenter, was also the Green Party candidate for governor of Washington State in 2008. Growing up as an only child, Penn was involved in the Seattle Children's Theatre and community theater, which laid the groundwork for his future in acting. He was homeschooled alongside Blake Lively, his future co-star, and expressed a desire to make music from a young age, even recording an unreleased pop single in 1998.

Career

Badgley's career began in voice-over work for children's radio stations and video games, leading to his first screen credit on an episode of "Will & Grace." He gained recognition for his role as Phillip Chancellor IV on the soap opera "The Young and the Restless" and starred in several WB series, including "Do Over" and "The Mountain." His breakout role came in 2007 when he was cast as Dan Humphrey in the CW's hit series "Gossip Girl," which ran until 2012. More recently, he has starred as Joe Goldberg in the Netflix thriller series "You," showcasing his versatility as an actor.

Personal Life

In his personal life, Badgley has had notable relationships, including a romance with his "Gossip Girl" co-star Blake Lively. He married singer Domino Kirke in 2017 and became a stepfather to her son. The couple welcomed their first child together in August 2020 and later revealed they had twins in September 2025. Badgley is also known for his spiritual beliefs, having been a member of the Baháʼí Faith since 2015, which he credits with deepening his understanding of justice and spirituality after the BP oil spill.