You probably know him as the brooding, book-obsessed Joe Goldberg or the "lonely boy" Dan Humphrey, but in the real world, Penn Badgley’s life is less about tracking targets and more about tracking down lost pacifiers. If you've been scrolling through social media lately, you might have seen snippets of him talking about "paternity leave" or "twin energy." It’s left a lot of fans scratching their heads. Does Penn Badgley have kids? The short answer: Yes. And honestly, quite a few of them.
As of early 2026, Penn is a busy father of four boys. That includes a stepson, a preschooler, and a pair of identical twins who recently turned the Badgley-Kirke household into a zone of beautiful, chaotic energy. But the path to this "boy dad" status wasn't exactly a straight line. It’s a story of blended families, overcoming loss, and a very public battle with Wikipedia over a name that just wasn't right.
The truth about Penn Badgley's growing family
If you check the internet on any given Tuesday, you’ll find people debating how many children Penn actually has. Some still think he only has one. Others are just finding out he’s a stepdad.
Penn married singer and doula Domino Kirke back in 2017. When they tied the knot, he didn't just become a husband; he stepped into the role of a stepfather to Domino’s son, Cassius Riley, who is now 17 years old.
Then came the biological kids. Their first son together was born in August 2020. For years, the internet insisted this child’s name was James. It was everywhere. Even family friends were sending birthday cards addressed to "James."
Penn finally had to go on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in May 2025 to set the record straight. He basically told the world: "Look, his name is not James." He hasn't publicly shared the real name yet, keeping that bit of privacy for the now 5-year-old.
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But the biggest "plot twist," as Domino called it, happened in late summer 2025. The couple welcomed identical twin boys.
Navigating the "insane" reality of twins
Let’s be real: one baby is a lot. Two babies at the same time? That’s a whole different sport.
Penn hasn't been shy about how much his life changed after the twins arrived. During a podcast appearance on Not Skinny But Not Fat in late 2025, he joked that having one kid suddenly felt like having zero compared to the workload of twins. He called the experience "insane."
He even had to pause his professional life—specifically the promotion of his book Crushmore—to take a proper paternity leave. In a viral Instagram video from September 2025, he was seen whispering to the camera while panning down to tiny baby feet, terrified of waking the newborns. It's a vibe every parent knows all too well.
A "boy dad" with a blended perspective
What’s interesting about Penn is how he views his different roles. He’s very conscious of the fact that he has two different "parental lanes."
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- The Stepfather Role: With Cassius, Penn is a mentor and a friend. He’s noted in interviews that Cassius’s biological father (musician Morgan O'Kane) is very much in the picture. Penn doesn't try to replace him; instead, he’s "something else"—a supportive figure who bonds with his teen over sci-fi movies like Edge of Tomorrow.
- The Biological Father Role: With his younger sons, the 5-year-old and the twins, the dynamic is much more about the "hands-on" grit of early childhood development.
Penn has talked about the "pressure" of raising four boys in today's world. He’s mentioned on the Access Hollywood red carpet that the world "needs more good men," and he feels the weight of that responsibility. He’s not just raising kids; he’s trying to raise humans who are empathetic and grounded.
That time they almost split
It hasn't all been red carpets and "joyful" Instagram posts. Penn recently opened up on the Totally Booked podcast about a rough patch he and Domino hit. He admitted they actually neared a separation at one point.
They didn't give in to the "entropy" of the situation, though. They did the work, stayed together, and eventually expanded their family with the three biological sons they have now. It’s a refreshing bit of honesty in a Hollywood landscape that usually prefers to pretend everything is perfect.
The Badgley approach to "unschooling"
If you’re looking for Penn’s kids at a traditional New York City private school, you might be looking in the wrong place.
Penn and Domino have adopted what he calls a "hybrid homeschooly vibe" for their 5-year-old. He’s pretty vocal about not wanting to rush his kids into the academic meat grinder. He’s skeptical of the "neuroses and anxiety" he sees in parents who are obsessed with their toddlers' math scores.
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Basically, he wants his kids to just be children. He thinks we start formal teaching too early and end up killing the natural curiosity kids have. It’s a bit of a "slow parenting" philosophy that fits his low-key, intentional lifestyle.
Why the mystery matters
Why does he keep the kids' names so private? Why the fight with Wikipedia?
It comes down to protecting their autonomy. Penn has spent a huge chunk of his life in the spotlight, and he’s seen the dark side of fame (and, ironically, the "Joe Goldberg" side of parasocial relationships). By not naming his younger sons publicly, he’s giving them a chance to have a normal childhood before the world decides who they are.
What you should take away from Penn's parenting journey
- Privacy is a choice: You don't owe the internet your children's names or faces. Penn is proof you can be a massive star and still maintain a "secret" family life.
- Blended families take work: Being a stepdad doesn't mean being a "replacement" dad. It’s about finding a unique connection that respects everyone involved.
- It’s okay to slow down: Taking a "twin paternity leave" or choosing a non-traditional education path isn't failing; it’s prioritizing the human side of life over the professional side.
If you’re following Penn’s career, keep an eye on his podcast Podcrushed. He often weaves in these little nuggets of fatherhood wisdom between the celebrity interviews. It’s clear that while he might play a guy who’s obsessed with others on screen, in real life, his world revolves entirely around those four boys and the quiet life he's built in New York.
The next time you're curious about a celebrity's private life, check out Penn’s podcast Podcrushed for his latest updates, or look into the "hybrid homeschooling" resources he mentions if you're interested in alternative education for your own family.