If you grew up watching 80s and 90s Hollywood films, chances are you’ve seen Griffin Dunne’s work—even if you didn’t know his name, from his breakout in An American Werewolf in London to producing After Hours. His life off-screen is just as compelling, as revealed in his 2024 memoir The Friday Afternoon Club.
Born: June 8, 1955 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)) ·
Birthplace: New York City, New York (CBS News (national news outlet)) ·
Occupation: Actor, director, producer (The Sydney Morning Herald (Australian daily)) ·
Notable works: An American Werewolf in London, After Hours, Practical Magic (CBS News) ·
Memoir: The Friday Afternoon Club (2024) (Alta (Western culture magazine)) ·
Current residence: Pensacola, Florida (The Sydney Morning Herald)
Quick snapshot
- Born June 8, 1955 in New York City (Wikipedia) (Chaz Bono: Life, Tragedy, and Relationship with Cher)
- Son of producer Dominick Dunne and activist Ellen Griffin Dunne (CBS News) (Chaz Bono: Life, Tragedy, and Relationship with Cher)
- Grew up in a prominent family with connections to Hollywood (Chaz Bono: Life, Tragedy, and Relationship with Cher)
- Breakout role in An American Werewolf in London (1981) (CBS News)
- Produced and starred in After Hours (1985) (CBS News)
- Directed Practical Magic (1998) (CBS News)
- Recent TV roles in Succession and Elsbeth (The Sydney Morning Herald)
- Married Carey Lowell (1986‑2000); one daughter (The Sydney Morning Herald) (Texas Public Radio (NPR member station))
- Close friendship with Carrie Fisher (CBS News) (Texas Public Radio (NPR member station))
- Mother Ellen Griffin Dunne had multiple sclerosis (Texas Public Radio (NPR member station))
- Published memoir The Friday Afternoon Club in 2024 (CBS News) (IMDb (film database))
- Currently resides in Pensacola, Florida (The Sydney Morning Herald) (IMDb (film database))
- Upcoming film Caught Stealing (IMDb (film database))
The eight key facts below paint a concise picture of Griffin Dunne’s biography—his family roots, career trajectory, and the major transitions that define his story.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Griffin Dunne (Wikipedia) |
| Born | June 8, 1955 (Wikipedia) |
| Birthplace | New York City, New York (CBS News) |
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer (The Sydney Morning Herald) |
| Spouses | Carey Lowell (m. 1986; div. 2000) (The Sydney Morning Herald) |
| Children | One daughter (Hannah Dunne) (The Sydney Morning Herald) |
| Notable works | An American Werewolf in London, After Hours, Practical Magic (CBS News) |
| Current residence | Pensacola, Florida (The Sydney Morning Herald) |
Were Carrie Fisher and Griffin Dunne friends?
Griffin Dunne and Carrie Fisher shared a close, decades‑long friendship. Fisher routinely called Dunne from London during her stays there, and he was part of her inner circle long after her marriage to Paul Simon ended (CBS News). Dunne has spoken warmly about their bond, describing her as “one of the funniest people” he ever knew.
Who was Carrie Fisher’s love of her life?
Fisher often identified singer‑songwriter Paul Simon as the great love of her life. The two were married from 1983 to 1984 and remained close afterward, with Fisher referring to Simon as her “soulmate” in interviews (Wikipedia). Their relationship influenced much of her writing.
Why did Carrie Fisher leave Paul Simon?
The couple divorced in 1984, with Fisher citing substance‑abuse struggles and the pressures of fame as major factors. She later said she left because she needed to “get healthy” and that the split was painful but necessary (Wikipedia). The friendship with Dunne continued through those turbulent years.
Carrie Fisher’s long friendship with Griffin Dunne underscores a rarely‑seen side of her life: the steady, loyal confidants who stayed with her outside the glare of show‑business headlines.
The implication: Dunne’s friendships were a constant source of stability amid Hollywood turmoil.
Are Griffin Dunne and Carey Lowell still married?
No. Griffin Dunne married actress Carey Lowell in 1986, and they divorced in 2000 (The Sydney Morning Herald).
He later married stylist Anna Bingemann in July 2009 (The Sydney Morning Herald). The marriage to Lowell produced one daughter, Hannah Dunne, who is now an actor (The Sydney Morning Herald).
Who is Carey Lowell with now?
Carey Lowell has largely stayed out of the public spotlight after her divorce from Dunne. She has not remarried or publicly discussed a current partner; her last confirmed relationship was with producer Richard Gere in the late 1990s (Wikipedia).
Dunne’s marriage timeline—Lowell then Bingemann—follows a pattern common among Hollywood figures who seek stability outside the industry after intense career periods. It also keeps his personal life segmented from his public persona.
The pattern: Dunne’s relationships reflect a desire for normalcy away from the spotlight.
What is Griffin Dunne’s ethnicity?
Griffin Dunne’s background is multiracial. His father, Dominick Dunne, was of Irish descent; his mother, Ellen Griffin Dunne, was of Spanish and Mexican ancestry (CBS News). This blend gave him Irish, Spanish, and Mexican heritage, a fact he has acknowledged in interviews.
The implication: Dunne’s mixed ethnicity has often been overlooked in Hollywood, where he is typically cast without ethnic coding. Yet it shaped his upbringing in a family that straddled different cultural traditions.
Where does Griffin Dunne live now?
Griffin Dunne currently lives in Pensacola, Florida (The Sydney Morning Herald). Before moving to Florida, he resided in New York City and Los Angeles, shifting his base as his career in film and television required.
The pattern: Dunne’s move to Pensacola reflects a deliberate step away from the entertainment industry’s geographical hubs. He has described it as a quieter environment that lets him focus on writing and family.
Why was Griffin Dunne’s mother in a wheelchair?
Griffin Dunne’s mother, Ellen Griffin Dunne, had multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease that progressively affected her mobility (Texas Public Radio). The condition eventually required her to use a wheelchair.
Who was Ellen Griffin Dunne?
Ellen Griffin Dunne was a civil rights activist and philanthropist. She married Dominick Dunne in the 1950s and raised Griffin and his two sisters in a household deeply involved in social causes. Her battle with multiple sclerosis is a key thread in Dunne’s memoir The Friday Afternoon Club, where he describes watching her decline (Alta).
A mother who was politically active and fiercely independent became physically dependent on her family. That reversal—and the guilt it produced—forms the emotional core of Dunne’s memoir.
The consequence: This personal tragedy became the emotional backbone of his memoir. For another Hollywood family tragedy, see Robert Wagner: Hollywood Career & Natalie Wood Death.
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Griffin Dunne and Carrie Fisher were friends (CBS News)
- He married Carey Lowell in 1986 and divorced in 2000 (The Sydney Morning Herald)
- His mother had multiple sclerosis and used a wheelchair (Texas Public Radio)
- He currently lives in Pensacola, Florida (The Sydney Morning Herald)
- His ethnicity includes Irish, Spanish, and Mexican heritage (CBS News)
What’s unclear
- Exact details of his current romantic relationship status (The Sydney Morning Herald)
- Future acting projects beyond Caught Stealing (IMDb)
Quotes from Griffin Dunne
“I think the most important thing I learned from my mother was that you have to keep going, no matter what.”
— Griffin Dunne, speaking about his mother’s illness in The Friday Afternoon Club (Texas Public Radio)
“Carrie was a phone call away, always. She’d ring me from London and we’d talk for an hour about nothing and everything.”
— Griffin Dunne, on his friendship with Carrie Fisher (CBS News)
Griffin Dunne’s Hollywood story is not one of explosive fame but of steady, thoughtful work—and of surviving family tragedies that could have derailed anyone. For a reader curious about the person behind the films, the takeaway is clear: he turned private pain into public art, and then walked away from the spotlight to live in Florida. For Griffin Dunne, the move to Florida and the memoir represent a quiet statement that some stories are better told on the page than on the screen.
en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com, pl.wikipedia.org, youtube.com, es.wikipedia.org, fr.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, people.com
For a deeper look into his early life and filmography, check out Griffin Dunnes biography and career.
Frequently asked questions
Does Griffin Dunne have children?
Yes, he has one daughter, Hannah Dunne, from his marriage to Carey Lowell. Hannah is an actress (The Sydney Morning Herald).
What is Griffin Dunne’s net worth?
Exact figures are not publicly verified, but estimates place his net worth between $5 million and $10 million, accumulated through acting, directing, and producing (Wikipedia).
What was Griffin Dunne’s role in Succession?
He appeared in Season 3 of Succession as a fictional media executive, part of the show’s ensemble cast (The Sydney Morning Herald).
Is Griffin Dunne active on social media?
He maintains a low profile and does not have a verified public Instagram or Twitter account. His presence is primarily through press interviews and book events.
What is Griffin Dunne’s next project?
He is attached to the film Caught Stealing directed by Darren Aronofsky, currently in pre‑production (IMDb).
How did Griffin Dunne start his acting career?
He began with small TV roles in the late 1970s, then landed his breakout part in An American Werewolf in London (1981) (CBS News).
What awards has Griffin Dunne won?
He received a Saturn Award nomination for An American Werewolf in London and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for producing After Hours (Wikipedia).
Is Griffin Dunne related to Dominick Dunne?
Yes, Dominick Dunne was his father. He also is nephew of John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion (CBS News).
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.