If you grew up watching Wizards of Waverly Place, you probably spent a good chunk of your childhood convinced that Justin and Alex Russo were the ultimate blueprint for... well, sibling bickering. But for a decade, the internet has been obsessed with something else: who David Henrie is actually dating. Honestly, the rumors never really stopped, even after he settled down.
People still post "shipping" edits of him and Selena Gomez to this day. It's wild. You’ve seen the TikToks. You’ve seen the "throwback" Instagram posts. But the reality of David Henrie relationships is a lot more grounded—and frankly, more interesting—than the tabloid fodder from 2009.
He didn't just stumble into a Hollywood marriage. He actually took a massive step back from the "scene" to find something that felt real.
The Selena Gomez Rumors That Won't Die
Let’s address the elephant in the room first. The Selena thing.
For years, fans were convinced they were a secret item. They had the chemistry, the shared history, and they were constantly spotted grabbing dinner. But here's the thing: they were never actually a couple. Henrie has been super vocal about this lately, especially while promoting Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. He views her as a sister. Period.
They’ve stayed incredibly close, but it’s the kind of closeness where she’s best friends with his wife. When Selena got married to Benny Blanco recently (which, by the way, David sadly missed because of a filming conflict), he was the first person giving her "big brother" advice on how to soak in the moment. It’s a genuine, platonic bond that survived the meat grinder of Disney Channel fame.
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The Lucy Hale Era (The One That Actually Happened)
While everyone was looking at Selena, David was actually dating Lucy Hale.
This wasn’t just a brief fling. They were together for about two years, roughly from 2007 to 2009. If you remember her guest spot on Wizards as Miranda (the goth-ish girlfriend), that’s where the sparks actually flew.
- They met on set.
- They kept it relatively low-key for Disney stars.
- They broke up before things got too messy.
Interestingly, when asked years later if they’d ever get back together, David was pretty blunt. He said they were just "buddies" now. It’s one of those rare Hollywood breakups that didn't end in a dramatic song or a public feud. They just grew up.
Meeting Maria Cahill: A Total Shift
Everything changed for David around 2012. He went through a bit of a personal "reconversion" to his Catholic faith. He’s spoken about this a lot—how he had the money and the fame but felt like he was missing a "calling."
He met Maria Cahill at a speaking event. She wasn't an actress; she was a former Miss Delaware.
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It wasn't a "red carpet" romance. They bonded over shared values, faith, and a desire for a big family. He proposed at Mission San Juan Capistrano after a day out on the water in Catalina. It was traditional, intentional, and about as far away from the "Hollywood dating circuit" as you can get.
They got married on April 21, 2017. And yeah, the Wizards cast was there, including Selena, who was basically crying the whole time because her "big brother" was officially off the market.
The Reality of Marriage and Fatherhood
If you follow David on social media now, it’s all about the "Dad Life." But it hasn't been an easy road.
David and Maria have been incredibly open about their struggles to grow their family. They’ve dealt with five miscarriages in total. That’s a level of heavy reality most celebrities never share. They eventually welcomed three kids: Pia Philomena (born 2019), James Thomas (born 2020), and Gemma Clare (born 2022).
The story of Pia’s birth is actually pretty famous in Catholic circles. They met Pope Francis, he gave Maria a blessing, and nine months later, Pia was born. That’s why her middle name is Francesca.
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What This Tells Us About David Today
Looking at the trajectory of David Henrie relationships, you see a guy who moved from the "it-boy" dating world to someone very focused on legacy.
He isn't chasing the next big starlet. He’s making wine with his wife and Selena Gomez in the backyard. He’s directing films that align with his personal morals. He’s basically the elder statesman of the Disney alumni group—the one who actually figured out how to have a stable personal life without the drama.
It’s easy to get caught up in the "who's dating who" hype, but David’s story is really about finding a person who fits the "real" version of you, not the "TV" version.
Taking a Page from the Henrie Playbook
If you’re looking at David’s journey and wondering how to apply that "stability" to your own life, here are a few takeaways:
- Prioritize Shared Values: David’s relationship with Maria works because they didn't just like each other; they wanted the same kind of life.
- Keep Your Exes (and Friends) Close: Being "just buddies" with an ex like Lucy Hale or a long-time friend like Selena Gomez shows a high level of emotional maturity. It's okay for things to evolve.
- Be Open About the Struggles: By sharing their journey with miscarriage, David and Maria turned a private pain into a way to connect with and help others. Vulnerability is a strength, not a PR weakness.
Check out David's latest work on Wizards Beyond Waverly Place to see how that "big brother" energy translates to the screen in 2026.