Riley Keough’s marriage to Australian stunt performer Ben Smith-Petersen continues to attract attention as the actress balances her Hollywood career, motherhood and responsibilities connected to her family’s legacy. The Daisy Jones & the Six star and granddaughter of Elvis Presley has been married to Smith-Petersen for more than a decade. Their relationship has remained relatively private despite Keough’s growing public profile and the significant personal challenges her family has experienced.
Keough and Smith-Petersen celebrated their eleventh wedding anniversary in February 2026, marking another milestone in a relationship that began on a Hollywood film set. The couple share two children and have supported one another through major family changes, including the passing of Keough’s mother, Lisa Marie Presley, and her responsibilities involving the Graceland estate.
Who Is Riley Keough’s Husband?
Riley Keough’s husband is Ben Smith-Petersen, an Australian actor and professional stunt performer.
He has worked in the entertainment industry for several years, contributing to major Hollywood productions through stunt coordination and physically demanding action sequences.
Smith-Petersen became more widely recognised after his relationship with Keough attracted public attention.
However, he had already established a professional career before their marriage.
Unlike his wife, who frequently appears in leading television and film roles, Smith-Petersen generally works behind the scenes.
His profession requires physical training, technical ability and experience performing potentially dangerous sequences under controlled conditions.
He has also appeared in smaller acting roles, occasionally working on projects connected to Keough.
Despite their Hollywood connections, the couple have generally maintained a low-profile relationship and rarely discuss every aspect of their private lives.
How Did Riley Keough Meet Ben Smith-Petersen?
Riley Keough and Ben Smith-Petersen first met in 2012 while working on the action film Mad Max: Fury Road.
The production involved extensive filming in Namibia, where Keough played Capable, one of the characters travelling with the group known as the Five Wives.
Smith-Petersen was employed as a stunt performer on the film.
Although they became acquainted during the original production, their romantic relationship did not begin immediately.
They reconnected approximately a year later when additional filming took place in Australia.
Their friendship soon developed into a relationship.
Keough has recalled feeling an unusually strong connection with Smith-Petersen during their early dates.
She later revealed that she believed he would become her husband by their second date.
Their relationship progressed quickly, and they became engaged in 2014.
The couple’s early romance developed away from the constant attention normally associated with Hollywood relationships, allowing them to establish a personal connection before becoming widely known as a celebrity couple.
Riley Keough and Ben Smith-Petersen’s Wedding
Riley Keough married Ben Smith-Petersen on February 4, 2015.
Their wedding took place in Napa Valley, California, surrounded by family members and close friends.
The ceremony came after the couple had already celebrated their commitment through a spiritual Hindu blessing in Nepal.
Their Nepal ceremony reflected a personal experience they shared before formally marrying in the United States.
The California wedding brought together members of Keough’s famous family and people connected to the entertainment industry.
At the time, Keough was continuing to establish herself as an actress after appearing in films including The Runaways and Magic Mike.
Smith-Petersen was also developing his stunt career.
Their marriage has continued through major professional changes and personal milestones.
In February 2026, the couple marked eleven years of marriage.
Their longstanding relationship stands out in an industry where celebrity romances frequently receive intense public scrutiny.
Ben Smith-Petersen’s Career in Hollywood
Ben Smith-Petersen has worked as a stunt performer on several major film productions.
His professional credits include projects such as The Great Gatsby, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Suicide Squad.
Stunt performers play an important role in action filmmaking, often handling sequences involving combat, falls, vehicle movement and other physically demanding scenes.
Smith-Petersen’s background in physical performance has helped him establish a career in this specialised field.
He is also trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has earned a black belt in the martial art.
His skills have contributed to his work in action-oriented productions.
Although stunt work remains his primary professional background, he has occasionally appeared on screen.
He made a brief appearance in Daisy Jones & the Six, the musical drama in which Keough played the title character.
The series became one of Keough’s most recognised television projects and earned considerable attention for her performance.
Their shared connection to the entertainment industry has allowed the couple to understand the demands of filming schedules, travel and production commitments.
How Many Children Do Riley Keough and Ben Have?
Riley Keough and Ben Smith-Petersen have two children together.
Their first daughter, Tupelo Storm Smith-Petersen, was born through surrogacy in August 2022.
The couple initially kept her arrival private.
Her existence became publicly known in January 2023 when Smith-Petersen read a message written by Keough during a memorial service for her mother, Lisa Marie Presley.
The message referred to Keough’s own experience of becoming a mother.
Tupelo’s name carries significant family meaning.
Her first name honours Tupelo, Mississippi, the birthplace of her great-grandfather, Elvis Presley.
Her middle name, Storm, honours Keough’s younger brother, Benjamin Storm Keough, who passed away in 2020.
The couple later welcomed a second child through surrogacy.
They have chosen to keep many details about their younger child private, including information about the child’s everyday life.
Keough has spoken about the importance of motherhood while continuing to maintain boundaries around her children’s public exposure.
How Ben Supported Riley Through Family Challenges
Ben Smith-Petersen has been an important source of support for Riley Keough during several difficult periods.
In July 2020, Keough’s younger brother, Benjamin Keough, passed away at the age of 27.
The loss deeply affected the Presley family.
Another major family tragedy followed in January 2023 when Keough’s mother, Lisa Marie Presley, passed away at 54.
Keough subsequently assumed responsibilities connected to her mother’s estate and the Presley family’s historic Graceland property.
The estate became the subject of legal discussions involving family inheritance arrangements.
Throughout these developments, Smith-Petersen remained alongside his wife.
He also represented her at Lisa Marie’s public memorial by reading the personal tribute she had written.
The moment attracted attention because it revealed both their close relationship and the emotional support he provided during a particularly difficult time.
Their marriage has continued as Keough balances family responsibilities with her acting career.
Riley Keough’s Marriage and Life Today
Riley Keough remains active in film and television while managing her responsibilities as a mother and member of the Presley family.
Her acclaimed performance in Daisy Jones & the Six strengthened her reputation as a leading actress.
She has also worked as a producer and filmmaker, expanding her career beyond acting.
Smith-Petersen continues pursuing his entertainment industry career while maintaining a relatively private personal life.
Together, they have built a family that combines Hollywood careers with a strong connection to Keough’s musical heritage.
For readers searching for Riley Keough’s husband, Ben Smith-Petersen is the Australian stunt performer she married in February 2015.
Their relationship began on the set of Mad Max: Fury Road and has developed into a marriage of more than eleven years, with two children and a shared commitment to family life.