Penn Badgley – Biography, Age, Career, Net Worth

Who is Penn Badgley?

Penn Badgley, who was born on November 1, 1986, gained recognition as Dan Humphrey, the main character of the popular teen drama TV series Gossip Girl. Badgley was meant to be famous in the drama genre, having starred in TV soap operas as a child. Although he has appeared in several successful comedy roles in TV series and teen movies, his true passion lies in drama. When he joined the cast of Netflix series ‘You’ in 2018, he underwent a dramatic renaissance. He’s a proficient musician as well.

Biography

Penn Badgley’s birthplace is Baltimore, Maryland, USA and he was born on November 1, 1986. After working in newspaper reporting, Duff Badgley turned to carpentry, and his mother, Lynne Murphy Badgley, is a visual artist and musician. Penn’s previous relationship resulted in the birth of Adam Badgley, who is his older half-brother. Due to his father’s job, the family relocated frequently throughout his childhood, living in Maryland, Seattle, and Tacoma, Washington.

This resulted in Penn being homeschooled for a portion of his childhood. Despite spending some time at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma and studying at Santa Monica City College, he ultimately left to pursue his acting career.

Personal Life

Penn Badgley’s marriage to Domino Kirke, who is also a singer and doula, began in February 2017. This is the sole marriage of Badgley, and they have one child, James Badgley, who was born in August 2020. Domino has a son named Cassius Riley from a previous relationship, which makes Penn his stepfather.

From 2007 to 2010, Blake Lively and him were in a highly publicized relationship, which was fueled by their on-screen chemistry. After that, he had a romantic relationship with actress Zo Kravitz from July 2011 to June 2013, after Kravitz made a famous approach at a coffee shop.

In 2014, Badgley began her relationship with Domino Kirke, and in the same year, they made their relationship public, leading to their eventual marriage.

Career

Badgley’s career began when he voiced characters in video games such as Mario Golf 64 and Mario Tennis 64. He made the switch to acting in front of the camera, appearing in TV shows like The Young and the Restless (2000–2001) and films like John Tucker Must Die (2006) and Drive-Thru (2007). He achieved widespread recognition for portraying Dan Humphrey in Gossip Girl (2007–2012) as a significant milestone. His versatility was showcased through his roles in Easy A (2010) and Margin Call (2011). Badgley’s 2018 performance in You, where he played Joe Goldberg, received critical acclaim and solidified his status in the entertainment industry.

Badgley’s debut of a new buzzcut hairstyle at the US Open in September 2024 signified a new look for him. The fifth and final season of You was completed by him earlier this summer. He played a role in Ariana Grande’s music video for ‘The Boy Is Mine’ in June 2024, along with Brandy and Monica.

Other activities

Badgley and his colleagues formed a group and released a song named ‘Easy’ on SoundCloud under the name M O T H E R. The song quickly became popular and was posted on numerous blogs. In 2015, the group changed their spelling to MOTHXR, citing a stop-and-start from another band with a similar name. They promptly signed with the labels Kitsuné and Washington Square Music, the New York City-based division of the Razor & Tie label. This led to MOTHXR releasing their debut album, titled Centerfold, via Concord on February 26, 2016.

Podcast

Badgley’s podcast called Podcrushed was introduced by him with cohosts Nava Kavulin and Sophie Ansari on May 18, 2022. Guests will be invited to share their middle school stories in this show, which explores the awkwardness, anxiety, heartbreak, and self-discovery that define adolescence. Drew Barrymore, Conan O’Brien, Jenna Ortega, Leighton Meester, Rainn Wilson, and Ariana Grande were some of the Guests who were featured.

Activism

Badgley voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 United States presidential election. An Obama commercial for MoveOn’s Youth Vote program starring Blake Lively and him was aired during Gossip Girl on The CW, MTV, and Comedy Central.

Badgley was announced as a member of the National Celebrity Cabinet by the American Red Cross in March 2010, a group of well-known individuals are promoting Red Cross services. Badgley was supportive of the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011 and has since become an advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement. He aims to have a conversation about police brutality that includes female victims and upholds LGBT rights.

Filmography

TV Series

• The Young and the Restless (2000-2001)
• Do Over (2002)
• The Twilight Zone (2002)
• What I Like About You (2003)
• The Mountain (2004-2005)
• The Bedford Diaries (2006)
• Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
• The Slap (2015)
• You (2018-present)

Movies

• John Tucker Must Die (2006)
• Drive-Thru (2007)
• Forever Strong (2008)
• The Stepfather (2009)
• Easy A (2010)
• Margin Call (2011)
• Greetings from Tim Buckley (2012)
• Parts per Billion (2014)
• Cymbeline (2014)
• The Paper Store (2016)
• Here Today (2021)

Voice

• Mario Golf 64 (1999)
• Mario Tennis 64 (2000)
• Slayer (2018)

Net Worth

Penn Badgley is believed to have a net worth of $8 million. His television and film roles are his main focus, with his Gossip Girl appearance being his most notable. His wealth has been gained through his work in acting, scriptwriting, and lucrative brand endorsement deals.

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