Key Highlights
- Betty Gilpin’s husband, Cosmo Pfeil, transitioned from acting to nursing and humanitarian work.
- Gilpin and Pfeil met on set while filming “The Northern Kingdom” in 2009.
- The couple married in 2016 and have two daughters together.
- Gilpin wrote about their complementary personalities in her book, “All the Women in My Brain: And Other Concerns.”
Betty Gilpin’s Husband’s Journey from Acting to Humanitarian Work
Cosmo Pfeil, husband of actress Betty Gilpin, has undergone a significant career transformation. Born and raised in Vermont, Pfeil embarked on his journey with aspirations in the arts. He pursued fine and studio arts at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, graduating in 2000.
His early career saw him working both in front of and behind the camera. According to his IMDb profile, he appeared in films such as “Company K” (2004) and “Shotgun Stories” (2007), and on television series like “The Good Wife” and “Person of Interest.” He also served as an assistant director on projects including “Shotgun Stories” and the 2011 film “Take Shelter.”
Meeting and Marriage
Gilpin and Pfeil’s partnership began on set while filming the 2009 drama “The Northern Kingdom,” where they played siblings. The couple married in 2016, roughly seven years after their professional encounter. Their relationship is marked by a shared commitment to family life and distinct yet complementary career paths.
Transition into Nursing and Humanitarian Work
After working in the entertainment industry for several years, Pfeil made a significant shift towards nursing and humanitarian efforts. According to a New York Times profile of Gilpin, he transitioned into becoming a nurse while also getting involved with various organizations dedicated to humanitarian causes. He currently serves as the director of operations for CAN-DO (Compassion into Action Network – Direct Outcome Organization) and GiveLove, a nonprofit founded by Patricia Arquette that focuses on promoting ecological sanitation in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.
Family Life
Gilpin and Pfeil are parents to two daughters. Their older daughter, Mary, was born in November 2020, while their younger daughter arrived in 2024. In a January 2025 interview with The Los Angeles Times, Gilpin spoke about the challenges of being a mother on location during filming, noting that it required her to balance demanding roles in Hollywood with the responsibilities of parenting.
Complementary Personalities
Gilpin highlighted their contrasting backgrounds and personalities in her book “All the Women in My Brain: And Other Concerns.” She described how Pfeil’s upbringing, marked by a family of skilled tradespeople and nurses, contrasted with her own more traditional New England roots. While Gilpin found herself drawn to abstract concepts like table leg designations or discussing hawk itineraries, she appreciated his practical solutions and problem-solving abilities.
“He knew every tree type by leaf and liked to cook obscure organs with peppers that made my eyes rain,” Gilpin wrote, detailing some of Pfeil’s quirks. “He could talk for an hour straight about the make of a table leg or a hawk’s itinerary.” Despite their differences, she acknowledged his complementary nature: “As for me, when a printer is out of ink, I fantasize about throwing the printer away.”
Gilpin’s reflections underscore the unique dynamic between her and Pfeil, highlighting how their distinct personalities and career paths complement each other in their personal and professional lives.
