Penn Badgley Opens Up About Miscarriages and Growing Family

Los Angeles, CA – Actor Penn Badgley has opened up about the struggles he and his wife, Domino Kirke, faced after experiencing two miscarriages. The couple, who married in 2017, nearly separated due to the emotional toll of their losses.

In a recent episode of the podcast “Totally Booked With Zibby,” Badgley discussed how they found themselves on the brink of separation after their second miscarriage before welcoming their first child, James, in August 2020. “That was a real inflection point—one of the greatest of my life and my wife’s,” the 39-year-old actor said.

Badgley reflected on the culture surrounding miscarriage, stating, “We felt so isolated in a culture that doesn’t talk much about these things or know how to support those going through it.” He detailed the experience in his recently published book, “Crushmore: Essays on Love, Loss, and Coming-of-Age.” He expressed the need for open discussions around miscarriage to help others who are suffering.

Following their challenges, the couple welcomed twin boys in September 2025, marking a significant turn in their family dynamics. “It’s funny because I wrote this before the twins were born and now I feel like I’m drowning in children,” Badgley remarked, highlighting the joy and chaos of having a larger family.

Kirke, who is also a mother to a 16-year-old son named Cassius from a previous relationship, described the moment of welcoming twins as “humbling.” In a previous interview, she remembered the overwhelming nature of pregnancy after her previous losses, saying, “It’s so overwhelming, the idea of two at once…you just take your hands off the wheel and say, ‘I’m just on the ride.'”

As their family grows, both Badgley and Kirke express gratitude for their journey and the children in their lives. Badgley emphasized the importance of sharing their story, hoping to alleviate the stigma associated with miscarriage, while also celebrating the joy of parenthood.