Michelle Buteau's Husband: 7 Surprising Facts About Gijs Van Der Most And Their Interracial Love Story

Comedian and actress Michelle Buteau is one of the most recognizable faces in modern comedy, known for her roles in *Survival of the Thickest* and as the host of *The Circle*. As of the current date in December 2025, fans are constantly searching for details about the man who has been her rock for over a decade: her husband, Gijs van der Most.

While Buteau's career is firmly planted in the spotlight, her husband, Gijs van der Most, maintains a more private life as a Dutch photographer and entrepreneur. Their unique, long-distance-turned-interracial marriage and their challenging road to parenthood via surrogacy make their love story one of the most compelling in Hollywood.

Michelle Buteau: A Complete Biographical Profile

Before diving into the details of her marriage, it is essential to understand the powerhouse that is Michelle Buteau. Her career trajectory from stand-up comedian to an award-winning actress and producer is a testament to her talent and drive.

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• Full Name: Michelle Buteau
• Date of Birth: July 24, 1977
• Age: 48 (as of December 2025)
• Birthplace: Hamilton Township, New Jersey, USA
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity/Heritage: Mixed heritage; her father is Haitian of Lebanese descent, and her mother is Jamaican of French descent.
• Known For: Stand-up comedian, actress, author, producer, and television host.
• Major Works: *Survival of the Thickest* (Netflix series and book), *The Circle* (Netflix host), *Welcome to Buteaupia* (Netflix stand-up special), films like *Always Be My Maybe* and *Marry Me*.
• Awards: Won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) for *Survival of the Thickest* in 2024.
• Husband: Gijs van der Most (m. 2010)
• Children: Twins, Hazel and Otis (b. 2019)

The Dutch Connection: Who is Gijs van der Most?

Michelle Buteau’s husband, Gijs van der Most, is a significant figure in her life, often mentioned in her comedy routines and her book, *Survival of the Thickest*. Unlike his famous wife, Gijs is primarily focused on a career behind the camera and in business.

Gijs van der Most is a Dutch national who has built a successful career as a photographer and entrepreneur. He is known for his work in photographic design, having studied at the prestigious Utrecht School for Arts (HKU) in the Netherlands from 2000 to 2005.

Before relocating to the United States, Gijs worked in Amsterdam for many years. His professional photography work has been featured in various publications, including LPV magazine, Mossless, and File. While the couple initially settled in New York City, Gijs is now based in Los Angeles, reflecting a recent move that aligns with the couple's evolving career demands in the entertainment industry.

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7 Surprising Facts About Michelle and Gijs’s Relationship

Their relationship is a cornerstone of Michelle Buteau’s personal life and a frequent source of material for her comedy, touching on themes of interracial marriage, cultural differences, and modern family life. Here are seven key facts about their unique journey together:

1. They Met in a Classic New York City Bar

The couple’s love story began in the late 2000s in New York City. Michelle Buteau has described their first meeting as a classic New York encounter, where they met at a bar. Their initial connection quickly blossomed despite their very different backgrounds—a New Jersey-born comedian with Caribbean roots and a Dutch photographer.

2. They Endured a Two-Year Long-Distance Relationship

After their initial meeting, the couple navigated a challenging two-year long-distance relationship. Gijs was based in Amsterdam while Michelle was in New York, a setup that tested their commitment early on. They ultimately decided to close the distance, leading to their marriage.

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3. The Couple Married in 2010

Michelle Buteau and Gijs van der Most officially tied the knot in July 2010. Their wedding marked the end of their long-distance struggle and the beginning of their life together as a married couple, a partnership that has now spanned over a decade.

4. Gijs is the Inspiration for Much of Her Material

Michelle Buteau frequently incorporates her life with Gijs into her stand-up specials and her hit Netflix series, *Survival of the Thickest*. Her jokes often highlight the comical aspects of their cultural differences, his Dutch directness, and the dynamics of their interracial marriage. This transparency has made her comedy incredibly relatable to a broad audience.

5. Their Twins Were Born Via Surrogacy

The couple faced a difficult and emotional journey to parenthood. After unsuccessful attempts to conceive, Michelle and Gijs turned to surrogacy. In January 2019, they welcomed their fraternal twins, a daughter named Hazel and a son named Otis.

6. The Surrogacy Journey is a Major Theme in Her Book

The struggles and eventual triumph of their path to motherhood are detailed extensively in Michelle Buteau's best-selling collection of essays, *Survival of the Thickest*. She has been open about the emotional toll and financial commitment of surrogacy, offering an honest look at a less-discussed aspect of modern family building.

7. They Recently Relocated to Los Angeles

While their careers were once centered in New York City, Gijs van der Most is now listed as a Los Angeles-based photographer. This move suggests a shift to the West Coast, likely influenced by Michelle's burgeoning career as a producer and writer in Hollywood, especially following the success of her Netflix show.

Topical Authority: Michelle Buteau’s Thriving Career and Entourage

Michelle Buteau’s work continues to gain critical acclaim, providing a strong foundation for her family life. Her personal experiences, including her marriage and motherhood journey, are deeply integrated into her professional output, giving her work a unique and authentic voice.

The success of the *Survival of the Thickest* series, which is based on her book, has cemented her status as a leading figure in the industry. The show, which she co-created, stars her as Mavis Beaumont, a stylist navigating a new life after a bad breakup, and it highlights themes of body positivity, female friendship, and self-discovery.

Beyond her own show, Buteau remains the beloved host of the reality competition series *The Circle* on Netflix, a role that showcases her quick wit and infectious personality. She also continues to perform stand-up comedy, with her special *Welcome to Buteaupia* being a popular example of her comedic style. Her appearances in major romantic comedies like *Always Be My Maybe* and *Marry Me* further demonstrate her versatility as an actress.

The stability provided by her long-standing marriage to Gijs van der Most allows Buteau to tackle these numerous high-profile projects. Their partnership, built on a foundation of mutual support through long-distance and the challenges of starting a family, is an inspiring example of a successful, modern celebrity marriage.

The couple's family life with their twins, Hazel and Otis, remains a central focus, a journey that Michelle Buteau has bravely shared with the world, making her not just a comedian, but a relatable voice for many navigating the complexities of marriage and motherhood today.