Who Is Jenny Slate’s Husband? Inside the Actress’s Heartwarming Marriage to Ben Shattuck
When fans search for Jenny Slate’s husband, they’re often looking to learn more about the man who shares life with one of Hollywood’s most refreshingly genuine and witty talents. Jenny Slate, the actress and comedian known for her charming blend of humor and vulnerability in roles like Obvious Child, Parks and Recreation, and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, has long captured audiences’ hearts with her unique voice and emotional authenticity. Her career has been built on laughter, honesty, and relatability—and her love story with her husband, Ben Shattuck, reflects those same qualities. Unlike the glitzy, headline-grabbing romances of many celebrities, Slate’s relationship with Shattuck feels grounded, creative, and tender, a love story rooted in real connection and shared values.
Who Is Jenny Slate?
Before diving into her marriage, it’s worth remembering just who Jenny Slate is—a multifaceted artist whose career spans comedy, film, writing, and voice work. Born on March 25, 1982, in Milton, Massachusetts, Jenny was raised in a close-knit family that nurtured her creative energy and sharp humor. After graduating from Columbia University, where she studied literature, she began her career performing stand-up comedy and co-founded the sketch duo Gabe & Jenny.
Her big break came when she joined Saturday Night Live for the 2009–2010 season. Although her time on the show was brief, it opened the door to a series of standout performances in independent films and television. Her role as Donna Stern in Obvious Child marked a turning point—she received widespread critical acclaim for portraying a young comedian navigating an unplanned pregnancy with humor and humanity.
Beyond acting, Slate’s voice became iconic in the Marcel the Shell with Shoes On short films—a sweet, philosophical series she co-created and co-wrote with her former partner, Dean Fleischer-Camp. The character, voiced by Slate, later made its way to the big screen in the Oscar-nominated feature film Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2022). Her ability to balance humor and depth, wit and sensitivity, has made her a beloved figure in entertainment.
Who Is Jenny Slate’s Husband?
Jenny Slate’s husband is Ben Shattuck, a writer, painter, and art curator who seems to embody the same reflective and creative qualities that define her work. Ben is the owner and director of the Dedee Shattuck Gallery in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, a contemporary art space founded by his mother. He is also an accomplished author whose debut essay collection, Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau, received critical praise for its meditative and lyrical exploration of nature, memory, and self-discovery.
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Ben grew up surrounded by art, literature, and the beauty of coastal New England. His calm and thoughtful personality provides a natural counterbalance to Jenny’s energetic and expressive spirit. Their relationship thrives on creativity and curiosity—two people who see the world with both intellect and imagination.
How Jenny Slate and Ben Shattuck Met
Jenny Slate and Ben Shattuck’s love story began quietly, far away from Hollywood spotlights. The two met through mutual friends in Massachusetts and connected over shared roots, humor, and a love of art. Both come from creative families and value authenticity over glamour. They started dating sometime around 2018, shortly after Jenny ended her previous engagement, and their relationship blossomed naturally.
In September 2019, Jenny announced their engagement on Instagram in a way that felt perfectly her—whimsical, heartfelt, and real. She wrote, “He took me to France and made a picnic and made me feel happy and free and then he asked me to marry him and I screamed YES.” Accompanying the caption was a picture of the couple in love, their joy radiating through the screen. The proposal took place in an abandoned castle in France, a setting that felt almost storybook-like—romantic yet simple, intimate yet filled with meaning.
The engagement reflected everything about their relationship: rooted in love, art, and shared adventure. It wasn’t about extravagance—it was about creating a memory that felt authentically theirs.
Their Wedding and Family Life
Jenny Slate and Ben Shattuck’s wedding story is as charming as their engagement. Like many couples, their wedding plans were affected by the pandemic. They postponed their original plans multiple times before deciding to host an intimate ceremony at their home in Massachusetts in December 2021.
The couple chose to keep the celebration small and personal, attended only by immediate family members. It was a winter wedding that exuded warmth and simplicity—a reflection of their preference for genuine moments over grand gestures. In an interview, Jenny shared that their wedding felt like “a lovely, safe gathering filled with love,” proving that even in uncertain times, their commitment to one another remained steadfast.
Before they married, Jenny and Ben had already become parents. In early 2021, they welcomed their first child, a daughter. Jenny has spoken candidly about how motherhood transformed her, bringing both joy and self-discovery. She has described parenting as “an awakening” that allowed her to embrace softness, patience, and love in new ways. Together, she and Ben balance creativity and parenthood with humor and grace.
How Jenny Slate Describes Her Husband
Jenny often speaks about Ben with deep affection and admiration. In interviews, she describes him as “the kindest person I’ve ever met” and praises his gentleness, intelligence, and ability to create peace in her life. For someone who thrives in the chaos of comedy and creativity, Ben provides a sense of calm and safety—a grounding presence that allows her to be her full self.
In one interview, Slate shared that her husband makes her feel “safe to be funny and sensitive at the same time,” a rare balance in a world that often expects people—especially women—to choose between vulnerability and confidence. Their relationship is built on emotional honesty, respect, and laughter—the same qualities that make her work so beloved.
A Love Built on Creativity and Kindness
Both Jenny and Ben are artists at heart, and their love is steeped in shared creativity. They often collaborate in small ways—supporting each other’s projects, exchanging ideas, and finding inspiration in each other’s work. Ben’s introspective writing about nature and place mirrors Jenny’s emotional storytelling, making their connection feel like a meeting of two creative souls.
They live a relatively quiet life in Massachusetts, far from Hollywood’s chaos, focusing on family, art, and community. Jenny has said that being away from Los Angeles helps her stay connected to the rhythms of everyday life—a choice that aligns perfectly with Ben’s love of nature and simplicity. Together, they’ve built a life that values art, laughter, and authenticity over fame or flash.
Featured Image Source: scmp.com
