Penn Badgley: From Teen Idol to Acclaimed Actor and Musician

Penn Dayton Badgley, born on November 1, 1986, is an American actor and musician whose career has spanned various genres and mediums. From his early beginnings in voice acting to his prominent roles in television and film, Badgley has established himself as a versatile and talented performer.

Early Life and Education

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Penn Badgley is the son of Lynne Murphy and Duff Badgley. His father worked as a newspaper reporter and carpenter and was also the Green Party candidate for governor of Washington in 2008. Badgley's parents divorced when he was 12, and he spent his childhood years between Woodlake, Virginia, and Seattle, Washington.

He attended Woolridge Elementary, where his mother became PTA president, before transferring to St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Virginia. He also attended Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, Washington. There are varying accounts regarding his secondary schooling, but it is believed that he was home-schooled alongside Blake Lively, his future co-star.

At the age of 14, Badgley completed his California High School Proficiency Exam and began attending Santa Monica College. This allowed him to pursue his acting career without the constraints of on-set tutoring.

Early Career and Breakthrough Roles

Badgley's entry into the entertainment industry began at the age of 11 when he relocated to Hollywood with his mother to pursue an acting career. He also sought a singing career during this time, and recorded a pop single in 1998. His first credit was voice work for the video games Mario Golf 64 and Mario Tennis 64 in 1999 and 2000. Not everyone can say they started their career at Nintendo.

His first screen acting credit was on an episode of Will & Grace, and he subsequently appeared on shows such as Daddio, The Brothers García, and What I Like About You. His first noticeable role was as Phillip Chancellor IV on the soap opera The Young and the Restless, from 2000 to 2001.

In 2002, he starred in The WB's comedy-drama series Do Over as Joel Larsen, a 34-year-old man who gets a second chance to get his life right, thanks to a freakish accident that catapults him back to 1980 as a 14-year-old. He went on to star in two other WB series: The Mountain (2004-2005) and The Bedford Diaries (2006).

"Gossip Girl" and Rise to Fame

Badgley's career ignited when he was cast as Dan Humphrey in the CW's teen drama series Gossip Girl, based on the book series of the same name by Cecily von Ziegesar. He initially turned down the role, but accepted after the producers struggled finding someone to fill the role. Badgley portrayed an outsider, nicknamed “Lonely Boy,” who is trying to navigate within the social lives of the Manhattan Elite. Badgley acted alongside Blake Lively and Leighton Meester.

The show, which followed the lives of privileged teenagers on Manhattan's Upper East Side, catapulted Badgley to stardom. As "good guy" Dan Humphrey, he romanced the preppy blonde Serena van der Woodsen portrayed by Blake Lively, who - to the enjoyment of fans and tabloid editors alike - dated Badgley in real life. The sparks between the couple only added more sizzle to the already seductive show, making Badgley a press magnet and one of the more recognized actors of his generation. His performance as Dan Humphrey was praised by audiences and critics alike, and earned him six Teen Choice Award nominations over the show's run.

Film Roles and Other Projects

Alongside his television work, Badgley has also appeared in several films. His first major film credit was 2006's John Tucker Must Die, playing the role of Scott Tucker. In its opening weekend, the film grossed a total of $14.3 million, ranking third in the US box office results for that weekend. In 2009, he starred in the thriller film The Stepfather, a remake of the 1987 film, as the stepson of the serial killer. He also appeared in the financial thriller drama Margin Call.

In late June of that year, he reportedly would portray Jeff Buckley in Greetings from Tim Buckley. The movie follows the journey Jeff Buckley took in grappling with the legacy of his late musician father, Tim, leading up to and culminating with his legendary 1991 performance of his father's songs. For the role, he said he took guitar and vocal lessons. Badgley joined the cast of Parts per Billion in December 2012, opposite Alexis Bledel and Teresa Palmer. He joined the cast of the 2013 adaptation of Cymbeline as the orphan Posthumus. He had a minor role in Adam Green's Aladdin and starred in Lifetime's former television adaptation of You as Joe Goldberg, which premiered on September 9, 2018.

"You" and Critical Acclaim

Badgley starred as Joe Goldberg in the Netflix series You, formerly Lifetime's television adaptation of the book of the same name from September 2018 to April 2025. On December 3, 2018, it was announced that You would move to Netflix as a "Netflix Original" title, ahead of the premiere of the second season. The second season was released on Netflix on December 26, 2019. On January 14, 2020, You was renewed for a third season by Netflix.

His performance was lauded by critics, with IGN calling it his best performance and writing that Badgley was "doing some of his best, most unhinged work in the series."

Music Career

In addition to his acting career, Badgley is also a musician. In early 2014, he and bandmates released a song titled "Easy" on SoundCloud under the name M O T H E R; the song quickly gained popularity and was posted on numerous blogs. Months later, the band changed the spelling to MOTHXR, citing a cease-and-desist from another band with a similar name. In 2015, the band signed with the labels Kitsuné and Washington Square Music, the New York City-based subdivision of the Razor & Tie label. The band has supported acts such as Streets of Laredo, San Cisco, Sir Sly, Har Mar Superstar, The Neighbourhood, and Miami Horror. Badgley told Cosmo that he originally formed the band as a passion project with a few close friends.

Personal Life and Activism

During the 2008 United States presidential election, he expressed his support for Barack Obama over John McCain. He and Blake Lively appeared in a pro-Barack Obama commercial, as part of MoveOn's Youth Vote program. The commercial, directed by Doug Liman, aired during Gossip Girl on The CW, MTV, and Comedy Central. In March 2010, the American Red Cross announced Penn Badgley as a member in National Celebrity Cabinet, a group of celebrity supporters who promote Red Cross services. He is a friend of Baltimore activist DeRay McKesson, whom he met during the Occupy Wall Street movement, and considers himself an ally of the Black Lives Matter movement. Badgley wants the police brutality dialogue to include women victims.

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In 2014, Badgley began a relationship with singer Domino Kirke. They married in a New York courthouse on February 27, 2017. On February 10, 2020, they announced that they are expecting their first child. The news comes after the couple suffered multiple miscarriages.

Other Ventures

On May 18, 2022, Badgley launched the podcast Podcrushed with cohosts Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari.

Recognition and Accolades

In 2011, he was named one of People's "25 Beauties (and Hotties) at 25" and BuddyTV ranked him number 75 on its "TV's 100 Sexiest Men of 2011" list.

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