‘The Gilded Age’: Meet the Real-Life Loves of the Cast of the HBO Hit

HBO’s “The Gilded Age” dazzles with its lavish portrayal of 1880s New York, where marriage often meant social strategy. But off-screen, the cast’s modern-day love stories are rooted in genuine connection. As season 3 keeps fans hooked with tangled romances like Marian Brook and Larry Russell’s slow-burn, the actors behind these characters lead equally compelling personal lives. From marriages sparked on stage to secret weddings, here’s a look at the real-life partners of “The Gilded Age’s” talented ensemble.

These ‘Gilded Age’ Stars Credit the Theater For Finding Love

Carrie Coon (Bertha Russell) and Morgan Spector (George Russell) both found love in the theater. Coon married Pulitzer-winning playwright Tracy Letts in 2013 after starring together in a 2010 revival of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.” She told The Guardian that their “healthy” and “honest” marriage, which includes two children welcomed in 2018 and 2021, transformed her approach to relationships. 

Similarly, Spector wed British actress Rebecca Hall in 2015 after meeting during the Broadway production “Machinal.” Hall shared with PEOPLE that they cherish a quiet countryside life with their child, who was born in 2018. 

Kate Baldwin (Nancy Adams Bell) met her husband, actor Graham Rowat, during the 2003 production of the musical, “1776.” The couple married in 2005 and share a son.

“My husband and I are both balancing in equal parts,” Baldwin told The Interval in 2014. “We’re both actors and we both take care of our little boy. He really is my equal partner in every way … I do half and he does half. We really share.”

Unexpected Romances and Secret Vows

Some cast members’ love stories carry a touch of surprise. Taissa Farmiga (Gladys Russell) quietly married filmmaker Hadley Klein in 2020. They collaborated on the 2024 Hulu film “She Taught Love,” and on Instagram she called it a “joy” to create with her husband. 

Louisa Jacobson (Marian Brook), Meryl Streep’s daughter, went Instagram official with producer Anna Blundell in June 2024. They keep their romance relatively private. But Jacobson did tell PEOPLE that they celebrated Valentine’s Day this year by “going dancing.” 

Denée Benton (Peggy Scott) was swept off her feet by “Manifest” actor Carl Lundstedt. The couple met at Carnegie Mellon University and dated for five years before he popped the question. She told Vogue that he proposed unexpectedly despite her “controlling Capricorn” nature.

“He succeeded, and it’s one of the reasons I’m so happy we’re married, because spontaneity comes so naturally to him that our balance makes it beautiful,” Benton said.

These ‘The Gilded Age’ Cast Members Found Love Years Ago

Christine Baranski (Agnes van Rhijn) shared a 30-year marriage and two children with actor-playwright Matthew Cowles until he died in 2014. Baranski told Deadline in 2024 that Cowles’ connection to the Drexel family, a Gilded Age dynasty, felt like fate when she joined the show. 

Dylan Baker (Dr. Logan) and Becky Ann Baker are both actors who have been married since 1990, and they share a daughter. Despite their busy careers, they prioritize staying close and have played husband and wife on-screen twice.

Blake Ritson (Oscar van Rhijn) and Hattie Morahan have been engaged since their Cambridge days, and they welcomed a daughter in 2016. Despite the long engagement, they have no plans to get married anytime soon. She told Express that they would maybe marry “when we’re 80.”

Cynthia Nixon (Ada Forte) married activist Christine Marinoni in 2012, after welcoming a son the year prior. 

“The Gilded Age” is now streaming on HBO Max.

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