Zooey Deschanel’s Family Life, Relationships, and Close Friends: Everything You Need to Know

Zooey Deschanel is known for her strong family ties and lasting friendships. Frequently mentioning the importance of loved ones, she once said, “I’m always surrounded by family and friends.” These relationships have shaped her both on- and off-screen, helping her maintain balance in her busy career.

Family Life and Upbringing

Zooey Deschanel was born on January 17, 1980, in Los Angeles, California. She grew up in a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry. Her father, Caleb Deschanel, is a renowned cinematographer, and her mother, Mary Jo Deschanel, is an acclaimed actress. Her sister, Emily Deschanel, is also an actress.

Zooey’s upbringing in Los Angeles provided early exposure to film and television. Her family’s Roman Catholic background played a role in her childhood experiences. Zooey is of Swiss, Dutch, English, Irish, and French descent.

Zooey is currently engaged to Jonathan Scott, a Canadian television personality known for Property Brothers. They reportedly met in 2019 while filming an episode of Carpool Karaoke. Zooey was previously married to Ben Gibbard from 2009 to 2012, and then to Jacob Pechenik in 2015. She had two children, Elsie Otter and Charlie Wolf, with Jacob. Both children are biological.

Here is a table of her immediate family members:

Name	Relation	Birth Year
Caleb Deschanel	Father	1944
Mary Jo Deschanel	Mother	1945
Emily Deschanel	Sister	1976
Elsie Otter	Daughter	2015
Charlie Wolf	Son	2017
Jonathan Scott	Fiancé	1978

Relationships Over the Years

Zooey’s first marriage was to Ben Gibbard, lead singer and guitarist of Death Cab For Cutie. The couple married in 2009 after meeting through mutual friends in the music industry. Their marriage ended in late 2011, finalizing their divorce in 2012. Ben is an American musician known for his work with indie rock.

After her divorce, Zooey started dating Jacob Pechenik, a film producer from the United States. They got engaged in January 2015 and married later that year. Jacob and Zooey met while working together on the movie Rock the Kasbah. The pair had two children before separating in 2019.

Following her split from Jacob, Zooey met Jonathan Scott, a Canadian contractor and television personality. They met during a 2019 taping of Carpool Karaoke. They announced their engagement in 2023.

Name	Relationship Type	Time Period
Ben Gibbard	Ex-Husband	2009–2012
Jacob Pechenik	Ex-Husband	2015–2019

Friends Through the Years

Zooey attended high school in Santa Monica, where she met fellow actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Kate Hudson. These early friendships carried into her career, as they all pursued acting in Hollywood. Zooey has often spoken about the support she received from her friends during her rise to fame.

In her music career, Zooey became close to M. Ward, with whom she formed the indie folk duo She & Him. Their friendship was built on a shared love of music and creativity. The duo released their debut album, Volume One, in 2008.

Zooey also maintains strong connections with her New Girl castmates, including Hannah Simone. Their bond grew while working long hours together on set.

Name	Known Since	Profession
Jake Gyllenhaal	1990s	Actor
Kate Hudson	1990s	Actress
M. Ward	2007	Musician
Hannah Simone	2011	Actress