Penn Badgley

Penn Badgley is an American actor best known for his roles in Gossip Girl and the Netflix thriller series You. Born on November 1, 1986, in Baltimore, Maryland, he grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and later moved to the Seattle area. He began acting as a child, appearing in local theater productions before landing roles in television shows and films during his teenage years.

Badgley’s first major role came when he was cast as Dan Humphrey in the CW series Gossip Girl (2007-2012), which became a cultural phenomenon and made him a teen idol. During the show’s run, he also appeared in films such as The Stepfather (2009) and Easy A (2010). After Gossip Girl ended, Badgley took a step back from mainstream Hollywood, pursuing independent film projects and focusing on his music career with the band MOTHXR.

In 2018, Badgley’s career reached new heights when he was cast as Joe Goldberg in the psychological thriller series You, initially on Lifetime and later moving to Netflix. The show became a massive global hit, with Badgley’s chilling portrayal of a charming yet deadly stalker earning critical acclaim. The series ran for multiple seasons and solidified his status as a leading man capable of complex, darker roles far removed from his Gossip Girl persona.

Outside of acting, Badgley co-hosts the podcast Podcrushed, which explores the experiences and social dynamics of adolescence. He is married to singer-songwriter Domino Kirke, and the couple has been vocal about maintaining privacy for their family. With his successful television career and growing media ventures, Badgley has built an estimated net worth of $8 million.