Penn Badgley Age, Wife, Net Worth & Biography

Penn Badgley is 40 years old. The American actor, born in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 1, 1986, is best known for playing Dan Humphrey in Gossip Girl (2007–2012) and Joe Goldberg in You (2018–2025). He has been married to singer Domino Kirke since 2017, and they have three children together.

Penn Badgley Quick Facts

Full Name	Penn Dayton Badgley
Date of Birth	November 1, 1986
Age	40 years old
Birthplace	Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Wife	Domino Kirke
Children	3
Occupation	Actor
Net Worth	Approx. $9 million (Celebrity Net Worth, 2026)
Known For	Gossip Girl; You; Margin Call

Who Is Penn Badgley?

Penn Badgley is an American actor who first became famous as a teenager on The CW and then reinvented himself as one of streaming television’s most chilling leading men. He played Dan Humphrey, the Brooklyn outsider at the center of Gossip Girl (2007–2012), and later starred as Joe Goldberg, the charming serial killer of Netflix’s You (2018–2025), a role that earned him a new generation of fans and a Best Villain nomination at the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

Beyond acting, Badgley is a musician and a podcaster. He is the lead singer of the band MOTHXR, and he co-hosts the podcast Podcrushed, launched in May 2022. He is one of several actors who became streaming-era stars through Netflix series, alongside Lucas Bravo, who leads Emily in Paris. He married singer Domino Kirke in 2017, and they have three children together; he is also a stepfather to Kirke’s son from a previous relationship.

Penn Badgley’s Early Life & Background

Penn Dayton Badgley was born on November 1, 1986, in Baltimore, Maryland, the only child of Lynne Murphy and Duff Badgley. His father worked as a newspaper reporter and later as a carpenter and home builder, and was the Green Party candidate for governor of Washington in 2008. His first name comes from the brand of tennis ball his father was holding during his mother’s first sonogram.

Badgley attended Woolridge Elementary, St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, Virginia, and Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, Washington, and was home schooled alongside Blake Lively. His parents divorced when he was 12. He performed at the Seattle Children’s Theatre and the Pine Nut Players in Monroe, Washington, skipped high school altogether, and at 14 took a proficiency exam and began attending Santa Monica College. He was accepted to the University of Southern California but deferred, later enrolling for two years at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon.

Penn Badgley’s Career

Badgley began his career with voice work for the video games Mario Golf 64 (1999) and Mario Tennis 64 (2000), and his first screen acting credit came on Will & Grace. He played Phillip Chancellor IV on The Young and the Restless (2000–2001), earning a Young Artist Award nomination, and appeared in the series Do Over (2002), The Mountain (2004–2005) and The Bedford Diaries (2006). His first major film role came as Scott Tucker in John Tucker Must Die (2006).

In 2007, Badgley was cast as Dan Humphrey in Gossip Girl, a role he initially turned down. He played the character for all six seasons until the series ended in 2012, earning six Teen Choice Award nominations. During that time he appeared in the films The Stepfather (2009), Easy A (2010) and Margin Call (2011), winning a Robert Altman Award as part of the ensemble cast of Margin Call, and played Jeff Buckley in Greetings from Tim Buckley (2012), taking guitar and vocal lessons for the role.

Badgley’s second act came with You, in which he starred as Joe Goldberg from 2018 to 2025, also serving as a producer and directing the episode “She’s Not There”. His turn as Joe Goldberg made him a streaming star in the same mold as Noah Centineo, whose Netflix teen romance To All the Boys made him a household name. He also appeared in the films The Paper Store (2016), for which he won Best Actor at the Oxford International Film Festival, Here Today (2021) and The Birthday Cake (2021), and played the mayor in Ariana Grande’s “The Boy Is Mine” music video in June 2024. His next film, the romantic comedy You Deserve Each Other, opposite Meghann Fahy, was announced in July 2025.

Facts About Penn Badgley

• He played Dan Humphrey in all six seasons of Gossip Girl (2007–2012).
• He is the lead singer of the band MOTHXR, whose debut album Centerfold was released in 2016.
• He co-hosts the podcast Podcrushed, launched in May 2022.
• He won a Robert Altman Award as part of the ensemble cast of Margin Call (2011).
• He played Jeff Buckley in Greetings from Tim Buckley (2012), taking guitar and vocal lessons for the role.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Penn Badgley?

Penn Badgley is 40 years old. He was born on November 1, 1986, in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

What is Penn Badgley’s net worth?

Penn Badgley’s net worth is approximately $9 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth (2026).

Who is Penn Badgley’s wife?

Penn Badgley has been married to singer Domino Kirke since February 27, 2017. They have three children together.

What is Penn Badgley best known for?

Penn Badgley is best known for playing Dan Humphrey in Gossip Girl (2007–2012) and Joe Goldberg in You (2018–2025).

Is Penn Badgley in a band?

Yes. Penn Badgley is the lead singer of the band MOTHXR, whose debut album Centerfold was released in 2016.

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