You’ve seen the headlines, or maybe you just fell down a late-night Reddit rabbit hole about the "glitch in the Matrix" surrounding Jack Black's love life. There’s a weirdly persistent internet rumor that the School of Rock legend has an ex-wife. Some people swear they remember him being married to someone else—maybe an actress or a comedian—before his current long-term situation.
But honestly? If you’re looking for a messy divorce record or a "starter marriage" hidden in the 90s, you won't find one.
The truth is actually a lot more wholesome, though it does involve a very high-profile breakup that probably confused a lot of people. Jack Black has only been married once. He isn't a member of the Hollywood multiple-divorce club. Since 2006, he’s been married to Tanya Haden. So, where did the "ex-wife" talk come from?
The Long-Term Partner Everyone Mistakes for a Wife
Before Tanya Haden entered the picture, Jack Black was in a very serious, very public relationship with comedian and writer Laura Kightlinger. They were together from roughly 1996 to 2005. Nine years is a lifetime in Hollywood.
Because they were together during his meteoric rise—think High Fidelity and the early days of Tenacious D—many fans just assumed they were hitched. They lived together, showed up on every red carpet, and were basically the "it" couple of the alt-comedy scene. When they split in early 2005, the news hit like a divorce announcement.
Kightlinger is a powerhouse in her own right. She’s written for Will & Grace and Saturday Night Live, and if you remember the show The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, that was her. Their breakup was reportedly amicable, but it happened right as Jack’s career was hitting the stratosphere, which might be why people still search for "Jack Black ex wife" today. They weren't married, but for nearly a decade, they might as well have been.
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Reconnecting with the "High School Crush"
Once the dust settled with Kightlinger, things moved fast. Like, lightning speed.
Jack met Tanya Haden decades earlier at Crossroads School in Santa Monica. It’s one of those fancy private schools where half the class ends up being famous—classmates included people like Maya Rudolph and Gwyneth Paltrow. Jack has admitted in several interviews, including a 2024 appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast, that he was totally intimidated by her back then.
"I just was always in awe of them," Black said, referring to Tanya and her triplet sisters. "I would watch from the shadows, mumble some compliments, and shuffle off."
They reconnected at a friend's birthday party in 2005. This time, Tanya made the first move. She asked for his number. Jack has described that moment as "heaven opening up" above his head. After 15 years of watching her from afar, they started dating in the spring of 2005. By March 2006, they had eloped in Big Sur.
Who is Tanya Haden?
She’s way more than just "Jack Black's wife." Tanya is a classically trained cellist and an artist with an MFA from CalArts. She’s part of the Haden Triplets (with sisters Petra and Rachel), and their dad was the legendary jazz bassist Charlie Haden.
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If you’ve watched Kung Fu Panda, you’ve actually heard her—she voiced the "Smitten Bunny." She’s also contributed cello to albums by bands like Silversun Pickups and Sea Wolf.
The couple has two sons:
- Samuel Jason "Sammy" Black (born June 2006)
- Thomas David "Tommy" Black (born May 2008)
Jack has been pretty vocal about how fatherhood changed him. He went from a "wild and reckless" guy who didn't really believe in marriage to someone who loves "hanging poolside with the boys."
Why Do People Think He Had an Asian Wife?
There is a specific, bizarre corner of the internet (mostly on the r/Retconned subreddit) where people claim they remember Jack Black having an Asian wife.
This is likely a classic case of the Mandela Effect. Around 2008, during the Kung Fu Panda press tour, Jack was constantly photographed with his co-star Lucy Liu. There’s even a famous photo from a press junket where Jack is bumping his belly against a pregnant Angelina Jolie, with Lucy Liu standing right there. If you weren't paying close attention to the captions, it was easy to get the families mixed up in your head.
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Furthermore, Tanya Haden has an olive complexion and sometimes wears her hair in styles that, in low-res 2000s paparazzi photos, might have led to some confusion for casual fans. But no, there was no secret marriage.
The Reality of Jack Black's Relationship Status in 2026
As of early 2026, Jack Black and Tanya Haden are still going strong. They celebrated their 20th anniversary of dating last year. In a world where celebrity marriages last about as long as a TikTok trend, their two-decade run is basically a miracle.
Jack’s hesitance to get married early on actually came from a deep-seated fear of divorce. His own parents, who were both satellite engineers (his mom worked on the Hubble telescope!), divorced when he was 10. He’s said that experience made him feel like "something was wrong" with him, and he didn't want to repeat that cycle.
It turns out he just needed to find the right person. He once told The Guardian that with other people, he always felt alone even when they were together. With Tanya, he doesn't feel the need to "escape."
Takeaway Insights
- The "Ex-Wife" is a Myth: Jack Black has never been divorced. His only long-term public relationship before marriage was with Laura Kightlinger.
- Quick Timeline: He went from dating to married in less than a year because they already had 20 years of history as acquaintances.
- Creative Partnership: Tanya Haden is an accomplished musician and artist in her own right, contributing to films and indie rock albums.
- Private but Present: While they eloped to keep things private, they are frequently seen on red carpets together, most recently at the 2024 Golden Globes.
If you’re trying to keep your celebrity facts straight, remember that the "Jack Black ex-wife" search is a dead end. He found his "person" in a high school crush and actually managed to make it work in the long run. To verify his current projects or see their latest public appearances, checking official trade publications like Variety or The Hollywood Reporter is your best bet for avoiding the weird internet rumors that keep this "ex-wife" myth alive.