The Walking Dead villain Negan needs no introduction and the same could well be said of the actor who brought him to life. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a recognisable and beloved face on-screen and off, with fans regularly swooning over his relationship with Hilarie Burton.
But who was the actor married to before he even met Hilarie? We’ve got the answers and you might even recognise her name from one of Meryl Streep’s most iconic projects…
© WireImage via Getty ImagesJeffrey and Hilarie said ‘I do’ in 2019, 10 years after their mutual friends set them up on a blind date
Marriage to Hilarie Burton
Jeffrey was first introduced to his wife Hilarie by mutual friends, including his Supernatural co-star Jensen Ackles. Jensen and his wife Danneel set the pair up on a blind date in 2009 and it seems it was love at first sight.
Less than a year after their first meeting, the couple welcomed son Augustus, followed by daughter George Virginia in 2018. They tied the knot in 2019, sharing the moment in a small ceremony with their two children and a selection of their family and friends.
© WireImage via Getty ImagesHilarie is an acting icon in her own right with roles on teen classics like ‘One Tree Hill’ and ‘Dawson’s Creek’
Her star career
The Walking Dead continues to be a re-watchable, zombie-fighting hit but Hilarie Burton has just as permanent a place on our TV screens.
The One Tree Hill actress has worked alongside her husband on The Walking Dead, appeared on beloved teen drama Dawson’s Creek and starred in drama White Collar with Matt Bomer and Alexandra Daddario.
© Patrick McMullan via Getty ImageAnya Longwell is a well-known actress and model
First wife Anya Longwell
Before he tied the knot with Hilarie, Jeffrey Dean Morgan was married to actress and model Anya Longwell. The couple said ‘I do’ in 1992 and were married until 2003.
Anya is best known for her ’90s on-screen roles, featuring in films like Death Becomes Her, Scorned and Wasted in Babylon. She returned to the screen in 2024 with TV mini-series The Heiress Strikes Back.
© Getty Images for Macy’s, Inc.Jeffrey is still a well-known face in ‘The Walking Dead’s sequel franchise and is now working as a voice actor on ‘Invincible’
Where is he now?
Following his run on The Walking Dead, Jeffrey has continued to work on some iconic franchises. He appeared in Season 4 of superhero satire The Boys, returned to his best-known character in The Walking Dead: Dead City and starred in 2025 crime thriller Neighbourhood Watch.
Most recently, he’s worked as a voice actor on Prime Original hit Invincible, which follows 17-year-old Mark Grayson’s journey as the titular superhero.
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