The Man Behind The Music: 5 Surprising Facts About Tina Fey’s Husband, Jeff Richmond

The question of who Tina Fey’s spouse is often leads fans down a rabbit hole of comedy history, only to discover that the man behind the legendary comedian is a creative force in his own right. As of December 2025, Tina Fey remains happily married to her long-time partner, the composer, producer, and director Jeff Richmond. Their enduring relationship, which spans over three decades, is one of the most stable and creatively fruitful partnerships in Hollywood, built on a shared foundation of improv comedy and a knack for creating iconic television and film.

Jeff Richmond is more than just "Tina Fey's husband"; he is a multi-talented artist who has been instrumental in shaping the sound and direction of her most celebrated projects, including the Emmy-winning series 30 Rock and the cultural phenomenon that is the Mean Girls musical. While Fey is the face of their comedy empire, Richmond is the quiet genius composing the soundtrack to their success, a dynamic that began in the hallowed halls of Chicago's improv scene.

Jeff Richmond: A Complete Biographical Profile

Jeffrey Wayne Richmond, known professionally as Jeff Richmond, is an American composer, producer, director, and actor. He is a key creative collaborator with his wife, Tina Fey, and has earned multiple Emmy nominations for his work in television and theater.

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• Full Name: Jeffrey Wayne Richmond
• Date of Birth: January 7, 1961
• Age (as of Dec 2025): 64 years old
• Birthplace: Garrettsville, Ohio (often cited, though some sources mention Kilsyth, West Virginia)
• Education: James A. Garfield High School (Garrettsville, Ohio); Kent State University
• Spouse: Tina Fey (m. June 3, 2001)
• Children: Alice Zenobia Richmond (b. 2005) and Penelope Athena Richmond (b. 2011)
• Primary Occupations: Composer, Director, Producer, Actor
• Key Collaborations: Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, Lorne Michaels
• Notable Works: 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Saturday Night Live (SNL), Mean Girls (Musical & Film)
• Net Worth (Est. 2025): Approximately $3 Million

The Enduring Love Story: From Second City to a Greek Orthodox Wedding

The origin story of Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond is deeply rooted in the world of Chicago improv, a scene that has launched countless comedy careers. Their initial meeting was not a whirlwind romance but a slow-burn connection forged in the trenches of creative collaboration.

How Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond Met

The couple first crossed paths in 1993 at the famed ImprovOlympic Theatre in Chicago. At the time, Tina Fey was an aspiring performer auditioning for improv classes, while Jeff Richmond was the theater’s resident musical director and in-house pianist. Richmond, who had previously graduated from Kent State University and worked with the Child's Play Touring Theater, quickly became a staple of the Chicago comedy scene, working at The Second City, which is where their professional and personal relationship truly blossomed.

Their relationship began to grow while they were both working at The Second City, the legendary comedy troupe that served as a springboard for both of their careers. They dated for seven years, navigating the demanding schedules and low-pay reality of the early comedy world together. Their partnership was always grounded in mutual respect for each other’s comedic and artistic talents.

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The couple married in 2001 in a traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony. This detail is significant, as Fey is of Greek descent, and the choice of a Greek Orthodox church highlights a personal connection to her heritage. The marriage marked the beginning of their most successful period, both personally and professionally, as Fey was already making her mark as the first female head writer for Saturday Night Live.

A Powerhouse Creative Partnership: From SNL to Broadway

What makes the relationship between Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond so fascinating is its seamless blend of the personal and the professional. Richmond has been the musical backbone for nearly every major project Fey has helmed, establishing a powerful creative entity in modern comedy.

Composing the Sound of Comedy: 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

When Tina Fey transitioned from Saturday Night Live to create her own critically acclaimed sitcom, 30 Rock, she brought Richmond along as a composer and producer. He composed the memorable score and theme music for the show, contributing significantly to its unique, quirky tone. Richmond also directed multiple episodes of the series, demonstrating his versatility beyond music.

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This creative synergy continued with the Netflix hit Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which Fey co-created with Robert Carlock. Richmond served as an executive producer and composer, ensuring the show maintained the same high-caliber, musically-driven comedy that defined their previous work. His ability to capture the comedic essence of a scene through music is a defining feature of the "Fey-verse" of comedy.

The Mean Girls Musical Phenomenon

Perhaps their most visible and commercially successful collaboration is the Mean Girls franchise. While Tina Fey wrote the book for the Broadway musical adaptation of her 2004 film, Jeff Richmond composed the music, with lyrics by Nell Benjamin. The musical was a major hit, earning multiple Tony Award nominations and cementing their status as a theatrical power couple.

The partnership recently came full circle with the 2024 film adaptation of the musical, where Richmond’s songs were "reinvented" for the screen. His work on Mean Girls showcases his range, moving from the subtle, character-driven scores of television to the high-energy, rock-infused pop of Broadway, proving that the couple's creative well is far from dry. This latest project is a testament to their ongoing commitment to working together and evolving their artistic output.

Family Life and Supporting Each Other’s Careers

Despite their high-profile careers, the couple has kept their family life relatively private, focusing on raising their two daughters while maintaining their professional momentum.

Their Two Daughters: Alice and Penelope

Tina Fey and Jeff Richmond are proud parents to two daughters: Alice Zenobia Richmond, born in 2005, and Penelope Athena Richmond, born in 2011. Alice, their eldest, is now nearly 20 and has even made a few rare public appearances with her mother, occasionally showing a striking resemblance to the comedian. The names Alice Zenobia and Penelope Athena are classic and memorable, fitting for the children of a couple with a deep appreciation for culture and history.

Richmond, who is generally more reserved and behind-the-scenes compared to his wife, has consistently been a supportive figure in Fey’s career. While he has his own impressive body of work, he has often taken a more directorial or compositional role, allowing Fey to shine in the spotlight as a writer and performer. Their relationship is a model of a successful, modern marriage where two creative individuals support each other's distinct career paths while also forming a formidable professional team.

The longevity of their marriage—over two decades—in the notoriously volatile world of entertainment speaks volumes about their connection. It is clear that the foundation they built at Second City, based on shared humor, artistic goals, and a deep understanding of the comedic craft, is the secret ingredient to their enduring personal and professional success.