Creatives with New Kiddos
There’s a baby boom of late. Meet Hollywood’s pint-sized up-and-comers who are ready for their close-up, a first look deal, fashion label, or wherever their creativity may eventually take them.
TYLER ELLIS & BEN SHRINER
The luxury accessories designer and her husband, the founder of Bristol Circle Advisor, welcomed their first child, FitzHarold Ellis Shriner, in September 2021. “His enchanting smirks, pterodactyl-like clamors, pudgy jelly rolls, and stoic stares give us a happiness more fulfilling than anything I could ever imagine. He completes us,” Ellis — the daughter of fashion designer Perry Ellis and television writer/executive Barbara Gallagher — told The Retaility. “The name FitzHarold is very special as it pays homage to our heritages. My husband and I are both partially of Irish descent, and in Irish Fitz means ‘Son of’. Harold was my maternal grandfather, the prominent male figure in my childhood because my father passed away when I was 18 months old. Ellis represents my father’s legacy and Shriner will carry on my husband’s family name. So he is truly the ‘Son of’ our three family lines. We call him ‘Mr. Fitz’ as it is strong, memorable, and unique, just like he is!”
Ellis is the creative director and CEO of an eponymous accessories label launched in 2011. Her designs, which are handcrafted in Italy, have been worn by the likes of Jill Biden, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Sandra Bullock, Gemma Chan, Hailey Bieber, Salma Hayek, and Kylie Jenner. For his part, prior to founding Bristol Circle Advisor in 2020, Shriner was a managing partner at a boutique placement agency headquartered in Los Angeles, through which he managed a global network of relationships with institutional investors. He was also previously the Head of Investor Relations for Zelnick Media Capital, in addition to working with Credit Suisse and Derivative Support Group.
KELLY MCCREARY & PETE CHATMON
The “Grey’s Anatomy” actress gave birth to her daughter in October 2021. She told fans: “Our everything… 💙 Indigo Wren Chatmon is here. 💙" This is her first child with husband Chatmon, a director. “We had planned a lovely, intimate home birth, but my bag of waters broke several weeks early, so I wound up delivering in the hospital,” McCreary told People Magazine. “Like many birthing people, about the only thing that went according to our birth plan was that the baby came out! I was just so relieved that we both made it through safely.”
LEAH RACHEL & TRAVIS JACKSON
The writer, director, and author gave birth to son Hugo Shai Jackson in December 2021 with her longtime partner, a writer and producer. “A few years ago, I wasn't sure I wanted kids, but I guess falling in love changes all of that,” Rachel told The Retaility. “Now I can't imagine life without little baby Hugo and his intense stares and wild giggles. He was born on 12/22/21 which is a palindrome which the astrological side of me is really excited about. (Good luck and all that!) He loves to listen to music and dance on his father's lap and take long nature walks with his mama on the windy roads of Laurel Canyon. So far he's a true California classic!”
In addition to raising her newborn son, Rachel runs the cult-favorite Instagram account @TheYellowHairedGirl. She’s also the author of “Love Street: A Pulp Romance for Modern Women” (Harper Collins) and created the Uma Thurman-fronted series “Chambers,” which aired on Netflix in 2019. Additionally, Rachel has projects set up at Amazon, Film Nation, and Annapurna, and is set to make her directorial debut at the end of 2022. Jackson got his start on “The Shield” and “Hemlock Grove.” He most recently served as co-producer on “Chambers” and is adapting Eve Forward’s fantasy novel “Villains by Necessity” for the big screen in addition to co-producing Rachel’s upcoming film.
ILIZA SHLESINGER & NOAH GALUTEN
The comedian and her chef-husband welcomed their first child, Sierra Mae, in January 2022. “The decision to induce came purely from me wanting to have enough time with her and to heal before my February shows,” Shlesinger wrote on Instagram. “So…27 hours of labor, 75 minutes of power pushing (they said I had 4 hours and I was like “oh no, this ends NOW. Champions do more.”) and at 11:27pm on January 13 out came my healthy, strong and beautiful Sierra Mae. I became a mother the moment at 10cm dilated, around minute 60 of pushing when I realized I could feel my body breaking and I didn’t care because I was doing it for her. I had been dreaming of the moment they would pull her out and put her on my chest and I could look at her little face. I got what I came for. That perfect moment.” Shlesinger added, “She is gorgeous but her face is hers to share, not mine. So while I won’t show her, I will share us. I will be processing this comedically, artistically and spiritually for the rest of my life and I can’t wait.”
DAN LEVY & RACHEL SPECTER
The “How I Met Your Father” co-executive producer told The Retaility that he and Specter — a writer/producer — welcomed their third child: “Penny Harper Levy and all of her hair, on Nov 23, 2021, ten days early and just in time to not miss a single holiday or event. Like a true Angeleno she enjoys spending her time being frustrated by traffic and basking in the sun.”
The writer, comedian, and producer’s credits also include “Indebted” and “The Goldbergs,” while Specter is known for her work on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” “Indebted,” and “Cougar Town.”
JAMIE CHUNG & BRYAN GREENBERG
The actors welcomed twins to the world in October 2021. Chung captioned her Instagram announcement: “x 2. Pretty magical. ♥️ @drshahinghadir @scrcivf.” They’ve yet to reveal their kiddos’ names, but they often post images of their little guys.
NADIA JOSSE & MATT ROWEAN
The breathwork facilitator and Matte Projects founder welcomed a baby girl named Paloma in June 2021. “I never thought I could love this much,” Josse shared with us. “Being a mom is incredible. She's our everything - and we are in awe of how much she changes and learns every day.” Josse and Rowean met in 2016 and have been engaged since 2018. “We were supposed to get married in 2020 but we had to push it because of the pandemic,” Josse said. “I got pregnant at the end of 2020 so plans and priorities have shifted a bit. We picked the name Paloma pretty quickly after I got pregnant. We wanted a name that was easily pronounced in both English and French.”
Josse, a Paris-born luxury fashion executive, trained during the pandemic to become a breathwork facilitator. In addition to continuing her work in the fashion world, Josse now has private breathwork clients and hosts virtual breathwork sessions each month. For his part, Rowean is a Brooklyn-based artist and the co-founder of Matte Projects, a creative and film agency.
FREIDA PINTO & CORY TRAN
The actress announced the birth of her first child, Rumi-Ray, in November 2021 — while singing her photographer-husband’s praises. “Happy Birthday Dada Cory!” Pinto wrote. “I celebrate you my husband, friend and partner in life. To see you become not just a Dad but Super-Dad makes me so emotional and fills me with joy. It also gives this sleep deprived Mama a break and you have no idea how much I appreciate that! I am so grateful and in love with how we do life together. Love you madly. Rumi-Ray you are one lucky boy!”
DANIEL MACENA & CHINA MACENA
The married advertising executives welcomed son Xavier into the world in December 2021. “New year. Who dis? Meet Xavier. Born 12/26/21. The cuddliest bear in our pack. Mama’s a hero and recovering well,” Mr. Macena shared on Instagram. The Danm Good creative director’s work has included collaborating with Spike Lee on the “Nola For Life” campaign, which aimed to decrease gun violence in New Orleans. His clients have also included IBM, HBO, General Motors, Ford, Verizon, Colgate, Home Depot, Burger King, Olay, and the United States Marine Corps. Meanwhile, Mrs. Macena is an associate creative director at Grey Group. Her clients have included Clinique, Coca-Cola, Coors Light, Estée Lauder, Pantene, Planned Parenthood, SiriusXM, Urban Decay, and Verizon. The couple also recently launched a craft rum brand called LaJoae Spirits.
LANCE BASS & MICHAEL TURCHIN
The ‘N Sync singer turned television personality welcomed twins Violet Betty and Alexander James with his visual artist-husband in October 2021. “The baby dragons have arrived!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️" Bass wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the kiddos’ birth certificates. "I can not express how much love I feel right now. Thank you for all the kind wishes. It meant a lot. Now, how do you change a diaper??! Ahhhhhhhh!" Days later, Bass shared an additional post with the caption: “Haven’t slept much in 5 days and I’m covered in ick but I’ve never been so happy! Now there are four of us in this house that wear diapers (hint: it’s not me or @michaelturchinart)”
LINDZI SCHARF & MICHAEL BUCKNER
The Retaility founder and her husband, a photographer for Penske Media Corporation, welcomed their second child, Reid, in January. “Forever grateful to have these two together,” Scharf recently captioned an Instagram photo of her newborn son alongside her three-year-old daughter, Evan. Meanwhile, Buckner shared, “He’s fitting in right at home with his big sister, and making sure none of us sleep.”
OLIVIA MUNN & JOHN MULANEY
The “Violet” actress and her comedian boyfriend welcomed son Malcolm Hiệp Mulaney into the world in November 2021. “My Golden Ox baby,” Munn captioned a photo on Instagram. Mulaney shared the same image with the note: “He has his whole life ahead of him. He hasn’t even tried seltzer yet. I’m very in love with him and his whole deal.”
MEG MASTERS & MATT CARNEY
The Netflix publicity executive gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Poppy Owen in January 2022. Masters and her husband — a writer and executive producer who is currently the showrunner for “Good Mythical Morning” on YouTube — shared sweet pix of the little lady on their respective Instagram accounts. Masters wrote, “Our sweet Poppy Owen made her way into this world on January 27 and immediately stole every bit of our hearts. she’s the most curious, expressive, bright-eyed little beauty who’s already bringing endless amounts of joy to this life and we simply couldn’t love her more.✨💛”
TERESA PALMER & MARK WEBBER
The actress and Your Zen Mama founder gave birth to her fourth child with her actor/director-husband in August 2021. Palmer wrote on Instagram: “Introducing our daughter, Prairie Moon Palmer, who was born just as the sun rose on Tuesday morning, 17th August, surrounded by her siblings who are absolutely [enamored] with her. A little magic moon for our family 🌙☀️✨ ~ 17•12•12•17” The two also share daughter Poet Lake as well as sons Forest Sage and Bodhi Rain. Webber is also dad to son Isaac from a previous relationship.
ALLE FISTER & DON POPKES
The Bollare Communications founder and her husband, the principal at One Tuscany Development, welcomed their daughter, Dylan, in December 2021. The couple — who lives in Playa del Rey, California — are also parents to their two-year-old son, Duke. According to Fister, the family “loves being active outdoors by the beach or by the mountains.”
Fister is a public relations guru who launched Bollare, a beauty, fashion, and lifestyle communications firm in 2005. The company works with the likes of Barbie, Beyond Yoga, Eberjey, Josie Maran, and T3, and has a presence in Los Angeles, Tribeca, and East London. Fister began her career at Shopbop as the brand's head of communications before the e-retailer was acquired by Amazon. Popkes runs One Tuscany Development, a full service construction and development firm whose projects have appeared in Architectural Digest.
CHRISTINA RICCI & MARK HAMPTON
In December 2021, the “Yellowjackets” actress and her hairstylist-husband introduced fans to their first child together, Cleopatra Ricci Hampton. She shared a video of the newborn on Instagram with the caption, “Baby Cleo is here ♥️ we are so in love with her ♥️ also she has the most incredible dad imaginable 💕♥️ @markhamptonhair 💕♥️" Ricci is also mom to her seven-year-old son, Freddie, from a previous relationship.
SAMIRA WILEY & LAUREN MORELLI
“The Handmaid’s Tale” actress and her wife — the writer/producer behind the Laura Linney-fronted series “Tales of the City” — welcomed their first child, George Elizabeth, in April 2021. “Welcome to the world, babygirl,” wrote Wiley on Instagram. “We love you and we thank you for giving us the best 1st Mother’s Day two ladies could ask for.” Meanwhile, Morelli wrote on her respective account: “We are so happy, so grateful, and so tired.” The couple married in 2017 after meeting on the set of “Orange Is The New Black.”
JENNY MEYER & BRIAN CZARNY
The Jennifer Bett Communications founder and her husband — the chief marketing officer at tech company RapidSOS— introduced friends to daughter Charlotte Meyer Czarny in January 2022. Meyer wrote on Instagram, “Started 2022 off with a bang (a 36-hour, 3-week early bang to be exact). Introducing Ms. Charlotte Meyer Czarny aka Charlie, 6.5 pounds of deliciousness.”
Left off the list? If you’re a creative in California, New York, or anywhere in between and you’d like your family’s newest addition to be featured, please e-mail info@lindzi.com with your name, creative credits, child’s name, and a baby photo — and you may appear here or on @TheRetaility’s Instagram account.