You probably know her as the kick-butt Marine Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie from JAG or the whimsical, tea-sipping Cassie Nightingale from The Good Witch. But when the cameras stop rolling, the life of Catherine Bell and family looks a lot different than a cozy town in Middleton. It’s a mix of Hollywood history, a high-profile divorce, and a long-term partnership that stays mostly under the radar. Honestly, the way people talk about her family life online is usually half-baked or totally outdated, so let's actually look at the real pieces of the puzzle.
The Adam Beason Years and the Big Shift
Catherine met Adam Beason back in 1992 on the set of Death Becomes Her. He was a production assistant and screenwriter; she was the body double for Isabella Rossellini. Kinda romantic, right? They married in '94 and stayed together for 17 years, which is basically an eternity in celebrity time. During that marriage, they had two kids: Gemma and Ronan.
By 2011, things changed. They split up but kept it civil—like, actually civil. They even kept running their production company, DaVinci Films, together. You don’t see that often. Usually, it’s all lawyers and tabloid leaks, but they just... moved on.
Meet the Kids: Gemma and Ronan
Gemma Beason was born in 2003, and Ronan followed in 2010. Catherine used to blog for People magazine back in the day, sharing all those "mom moments" we can all relate to. She talked about Ronan’s "Marine crawl" (fitting, given her JAG history) and how Gemma stepped up as a "second mommy."
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Fast forward to 2026, and these "babies" aren't babies anymore.
- Gemma is in her early 20s now.
- Ronan is midway through his teens.
Catherine has always been protective of them, but you’ll still see the occasional throwback or birthday shout-out on her Instagram. She’s big on the "organic, healthy living" vibe, something she’s carried through from their early childhood in Charleston and Los Angeles.
The Brooke Daniells Chapter
Not long after her divorce, Catherine started a new chapter with Brooke Daniells. Brooke is a photographer, party planner, and fellow Scientologist. They’ve been together since roughly 2012, making it a nearly 14-year relationship at this point.
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They lived in a huge ranch-style house in Hidden Hills for a long time—a gated community where everyone from the Kardashians to Drake has lived. It was a full house, too. Brooke has kids of her own from a previous marriage, creating a modern, blended family dynamic that most people don't realize exists. Eventually, they traded the Los Angeles hills for the Gulf Coast, moving to the Clearwater, Florida area.
Scientology and the Family Dynamic
You can't really talk about Catherine Bell and family without mentioning Scientology. It’s a huge part of her life and has been for decades. She’s attained the state of "Clear" and has been a vocal supporter of the Church’s various programs, like the Hollywood Education and Literacy Project.
For the Bell-Daniells household, this isn't just a hobby. It’s the framework for how they live. They are deeply embedded in the Clearwater community, which is essentially the global hub for the Church. While critics often zoom in on the controversies of the religion, for Catherine, it seems to be the glue that keeps her social and family circle tight.
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What's Life Like for Them in 2026?
Catherine hasn't retired, but she's definitely more selective. She’s moved away from the grueling 22-episode seasons of the JAG days. Now, it’s about those Hallmark movies or special guest spots. This shift has clearly been about prioritizing the "family" part of the equation.
She’s also a huge fan of adventure. Did you know she’s a licensed pilot? She flies a Cirrus SR22. She also rides motorcycles and does kickboxing. It’s a far cry from the "Good Witch" persona, but it’s the version of herself she shares with her kids. She’s teaching them that you don't have to fit into one box. You can be a mom, an actress, a pilot, and a practitioner of a niche religion all at once.
Real Insights for Fans
If you're following Catherine's journey, keep these things in mind:
- Check the Dates: Most "news" about her kids is years old. Gemma is an adult; Ronan is a teenager.
- Location Matters: She’s largely moved away from the Hollywood scene to Florida.
- The Partnership is Solid: Despite the lack of "official" wedding bells in the tabloids, her partnership with Brooke Daniells is one of the longest-running in the industry.
To get the most accurate look at her current life, focus on her official social media channels rather than "biography" sites that still list her as living in Calabasas. Look for her updates on her latest creative projects or her frequent travels, which often feature glimpses of her life in Florida.