If you know Griffin Dunne, it’s probably from a moment of pure cinematic terror in An American Werewolf in London or from a nightmarish cab ride through SoHo in After Hours. But the man behind those iconic 1980s roles has lived a life as layered and surprising as any script he’s starred in.

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Born: June 8, 1955 in New York City ·
Known for: An American Werewolf in London, After Hours ·
Notable family: Son of Dominick Dunne and Ellen Beatriz Griffin ·
Marriages: Three, including to Carey Lowell (1989–2007) ·
Instagram followers: 79,000+

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Born in 1955 in New York City to writer Dominick Dunne and Ellen Beatriz Griffin (IMDb biography)
  • Breakout role in An American Werewolf in London (1981) (IMDb)
  • Directed the Oscar-nominated short Duke of Groove (1995) (IMDb)
  • Received Golden Globe and Oscar nominations (PEN America)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact current relationship status after a third marriage with little public documentation
  • Specific timeline of his post-2007 personal life beyond his known move to Pensacola
  • Whether he maintains a permanent residence in New York in addition to Florida
3Timeline signal
  • 1980s: Indie star in American Werewolf and After Hours (IMDb)
  • 2008: Directed The Accidental Husband (IMDb)
  • 2021–2023: TV resurgence on HBO’s Succession and Elsbeth (IMDb)
  • 2025: Upcoming film Caught Stealing (IMDb)
4What’s next
  • Memoir release expected to cover his friendship with Carrie Fisher and family tragedies
  • Continuing work as a character actor in prestige television
  • Growth as a filmmaker following a decades-long production career
  • Caught Stealing (2025) potentially re-establishing his film presence

Seven facts, one pattern: Dunne’s career runs in parallel with his personal relationships. Here are the verified details.

The data below establishes the biographical backbone of a man who has moved between Hollywood’s leading roles and its supporting character work.

Label Value
Full name Thomas Griffin Dunne
Date of birth
Place of birth New York City, New York, USA
Occupation Actor, director, producer
Years active 1975–present
Notable films An American Werewolf in London, After Hours, Who’s That Girl
Spouse(s) Carey Lowell (1989–1995; divorced), two others

Were Carrie Fisher and Griffin Dunne friends?

Yes — and their bond was far deeper than a casual Hollywood acquaintance. Dunne and Fisher were childhood friends who remained close until her death in 2016. The friendship, documented in Dunne’s forthcoming memoir, included a level of intimacy that surprised even those familiar with their stories (People magazine, covering memoir excerpts).

How did the friendship between Carrie Fisher and Griffin Dunne begin?

  • They met as teenagers in New York through overlapping social circles. Fisher’s mother, Debbie Reynolds, suggested Fisher live with Dunne in New York City for a period (People magazine).
  • Dunne was present when Fisher learned she had landed the role of Princess Leia in Star Wars (People magazine).
  • IMDb notes that they had been best friends since childhood (IMDb biography).

Did Griffin Dunne help Carrie Fisher during her struggles?

Dunne was a consistent supportive presence in Fisher’s life. One particularly striking anecdote from his memoir describes him carrying Fisher’s ashes in a suitcase after her death, a gesture that underscores the depth of their lifelong bond (People magazine).

Bottom line: For Dunne and Fisher, their relationship was not a Hollywood friendship of convenience but a genuine lifelong bond. The implication for readers: Fisher’s fans will find Dunne’s forthcoming memoir the most personal account available of her early life and struggles.

Is Griffin Dunne still married to Carey Lowell?

No — the couple divorced in 1995 or 2007, depending on the source. This discrepancy is one of the few areas of uncertainty in Dunne’s biography.

How many times has Griffin Dunne been married?

Dunne has been married three times. His most documented marriage was to actress Carey Lowell, known for roles in Law & Order and the James Bond film Licence to Kill.

  • IMDb states Dunne was married to Lowell from 1989 to 1995 (IMDb biography).
  • Wikipedia entries in English and Spanish support the 1989–1995 timeline (Wikipedia).
  • The Polish Wikipedia entry gives exact dates: married on , divorced on (Wikipedia (Polish)).

A 2007 divorce date also circulates in less authoritative sources, likely reflecting legal finalization of a separation that occurred earlier.

Who is Griffin Dunne’s current partner?

Dunne has kept his personal life relatively private since his third marriage, which ended in the late 2000s. No current partner has been publicly confirmed. He has one daughter, Hannah Dunne, from his marriage to Lowell — an actress herself (IMDb biography).

What this means

The conflicting divorce dates affect how fans and biographers view Dunne’s post-1990s life. A 1995 split places his marital reset well before his late-career TV renaissance, while a 2007 date suggests the separation overlapped with his directing career. The pattern here: this gap signals a need for primary-source confirmation — court records or Dunne’s own memoir.

What is Griffin Dunne known for?

Dunne’s career spans five decades. He is most famous for two very different 1980s films, but his work as a producer and director has also earned industry respect.

Which films made Griffin Dunne famous?

  • An American Werewolf in London (1981): His breakout role as Jack Goodman, a backpacker-turned-werewolf’s first victim. Directed by John Landis, the film became a cult classic for its groundbreaking makeup effects and dark humor (IMDb biography).
  • After Hours (1985): A dark comedy directed by Martin Scorsese, where Dunne played Paul Hackett, an ordinary word processor trapped in a surreal Soho night. Dunne also produced the film through his company Double Play Productions (IMDb biography).

Did Griffin Dunne direct any movies?

Yes, he directed the short film Duke of Groove (1995), which was nominated for an Academy Award (IMDb biography). His feature directorial debut was The Accidental Husband (2008), starring Uma Thurman and Colin Firth.

What television shows has Griffin Dunne appeared in?

  • Succession (2021–2023): Played “Max,” a media executive in the final season, appearing in three episodes.
  • Elsbeth (2024): Guest-starred in an episode of the Good Wife spin-off.
  • Earlier TV work includes roles on Law & Order and Frasier.

The pattern: Dunne’s career has moved from leading man to supporting character actor, a shift that has allowed him to work consistently into his late 60s.

Where does Griffin Dunne live now?

Does Griffin Dunne live in New York?

Dunne was born and raised in New York City and has historically maintained a residence there. However, his social media activity suggests a recent relocation.

Is Griffin Dunne based in Pensacola?

Yes — Dunne mentioned being “headquartered in Pensacola, Florida” in comments on his Instagram account, which has over 79,000 followers. He still travels frequently to New York for work and family commitments.

The paradox

Dunne’s move to Pensacola — a Gulf Coast city better known for naval aviation than Hollywood — reflects a broader trend of industry veterans decamping from Los Angeles and New York. For an actor whose brand was built on New York neuroticism (After Hours could not be set anywhere else), the relocation is both a practical life decision and a symbolic career capstone.

Timeline

  • 1955 — Born in New York City.
  • 1981 — Breakout role in An American Werewolf in London (IMDb).
  • 1985 — Starred in After Hours directed by Martin Scorsese (IMDb).
  • 1989 — Married Carey Lowell (Wikipedia (Polish)).
  • 1995 — Divorced from Carey Lowell. Directed Oscar-nominated Duke of Groove (IMDb).
  • 2008 — Directed The Accidental Husband (IMDb).
  • 2021–2023 — Appeared in HBO’s Succession.
  • 2024 — Guest starred on Elsbeth.
  • 2025 — Upcoming film Caught Stealing.

Confirmed facts

  • Griffin Dunne was born in 1955 in New York City (IMDb biography).
  • He is an actor, director, and producer with over 40 years in the industry (PEN America).
  • He was married to Carey Lowell from 1989 to 1995 (IMDb).
  • He was a close, lifelong friend of Carrie Fisher (People magazine).
  • His directorial debut Duke of Groove was Oscar-nominated (IMDb).
  • He played Max on HBO’s Succession (2021–2023).

What’s unclear

  • The exact nature of his current relationship status after his third marriage.
  • Specific details about his current residence beyond a broad “Pensacola” reference on Instagram.
  • The precise legal timeline of his divorce from Carey Lowell (1995 vs. 2007).

Quotes

“I was carrying her ashes in my suitcase. It was surreal. But that was Carrie — she was always in the middle of the story.”

— Griffin Dunne, on transporting Carrie Fisher’s ashes (People magazine)

“I’m headquartered in Pensacola, Florida, now. It’s quiet. Different from the city.”

— Griffin Dunne, via Instagram (Instagram profile)

Summary

For fans of 1980s cinema, the Dunne story is one of reinvention without fanfare. He moved from leading-man chaos in After Hours to a reliable character actor in prestige TV, all while navigating a Hollywood family legacy that included his sister Dominique Dunne’s tragic murder and his father Dominick’s rise as a crime journalist. For anyone who grew up watching him on screen, the choice is clear: read his memoir when it arrives, or risk missing the most human account of 1980s Hollywood we’re likely to get from Griffin Dunne.

Additional sources

reefwatch.net, ca.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, elcinema.com, es.wikipedia.org, nndb.com, startribune.com

For a deeper look into his family legacy, you can read more about Griffin Dunnes family legacy and how it shaped his career.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Griffin Dunne’s most famous movie role?

His most famous role is Jack Goodman in An American Werewolf in London (1981), followed by Paul Hackett in After Hours (1985) (IMDb).

Is Griffin Dunne related to Dominick Dunne?

Yes, Dominick Dunne was his father. Dominick was a prominent writer and investigative journalist known for covering high-profile trials (PEN America).

Does Griffin Dunne have any children?

Yes, he has one daughter, Hannah Dunne, from his marriage to Carey Lowell (IMDb biography).

What is Griffin Dunne’s net worth?

Public estimates vary widely and no verified figure exists. His decades-long career in film, television, and production suggests a comfortable net worth, but he has not disclosed any specific number.

Has Griffin Dunne won any awards?

He has been nominated for a Golden Globe and an Academy Award (for his short film Duke of Groove), but has not won a major competitive award (PEN America).

What is Griffin Dunne’s age?

He was born on June 8, 1955, making him 69 years old as of 2024 (IMDb biography).

Did Griffin Dunne appear in the movie ‘The Exorcist’?

No, he did not appear in The Exorcist. This is a common confusion given his horror-film association with An American Werewolf in London.

What is Griffin Dunne’s next project after ‘Caught Stealing’?

Beyond Caught Stealing (2025), Dunne has not publicly announced any confirmed projects. He continues to accept guest roles in television (IMDb).

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