Geena Davis: Diagnosis, Husband, Children, and Net Worth

Few Oscar winners can say their biggest surprise came from learning a childhood speech problem had a medical name. For Geena Davis, that moment happened at age 63, when she finally understood why she had always struggled to form words clearly. This article traces her path from a small Massachusetts town to Hollywood stardom, examines her marriage to Jeff Goldblum, and breaks down the diagnosis that reshaped how she sees herself.

Born: January 21, 1956 (age 68) ·
Height: 6 ft (1.83 m) ·
Oscar wins: 1 (Best Supporting Actress) ·
Known for: Thelma & Louise, Beetlejuice, The Fly ·
Spouses: Jeff Goldblum (1987-1990), Reza Jarrahy (2001-2017) ·
Children: 3

Ten biographical facts, one pattern: Geena Davis built an unlikely career by combining grace with an offbeat edge, then turned her fame into a lever for representation reform.

What Is Geena Davis’s Diagnosis?

What condition does Geena Davis have?

In a 2019 interview with People magazine (celebrity news outlet), Davis revealed she had been diagnosed with developmental apraxia of speech, a motor speech disorder that makes it difficult to coordinate the muscle movements needed to form words. The condition is present from childhood and persists into adulthood without targeted therapy. “I always had a very hard time speaking,” she told People. “I knew something was different.”

“I always had a very hard time speaking. I knew something was different.”

— Geena Davis to People, 2019

Why does Geena Davis talk funny now?

Some viewers notice a slight unusual rhythm or choppiness in Davis’s speech, especially in live interviews. That stems directly from apraxia: the brain struggles to send the correct sequence of instructions to the lips, tongue, and jaw. Davis worked with speech therapists as an adult and says she now manages the condition through practice. The TV Guide biography notes she has continued acting steadily, proving the disorder has not limited her career.

The implication: Davis’s willingness to discuss her condition publicly has turned a personal challenge into a public education opportunity, normalizing a disorder most people had never heard of.

What Has Happened to Geena Davis?

Geena Davis’s recent projects

Davis has not retired. In 2023 she appeared in The Exorcist: Believer (IMDb filmography), and in 2022 she published her memoir Dying of Politeness (AAE Speakers profile). The book recounts her Hollywood journey and her battle with shyness and speech difficulties.

Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

Founded in 2004, the Geena Davis Institute (research and advocacy organization) studies gender representation in film and television. The institute has published landmark reports showing that female characters remain underrepresented in family films. Davis herself testifies before state legislatures and speaks at global conferences — a far cry from the girl who could barely get words out.

The implication: Davis is no longer just an actress — she is a policy influencer whose work on gender parity outpaces her film legacy in sheer scale.

Does Geena Davis Have Any Biological Children?

How many children does Geena Davis have?

Geena Davis has three biological children: a daughter named Alizeh and twin sons, Kaiis and Kian (People magazine family report). All three were born during her marriage to Dr. Reza Jarrahy.

Who is the father of Geena Davis’s children?

The father of all three children is Reza Jarrahy, a neurosurgeon (according to IMDb biographical data). Davis and Jarrahy were married from 2001 to 2017, though their legal divorce may not have been finalized until later — the San Francisco Bar Association (legal commentary) noted the high-profile nature of the split.

Are Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis Still Married?

Why did Jeff Goldblum leave Geena Davis?

No. Davis and Jeff Goldblum were married from 1987 to 1990 (IMDb marital timeline). They met on the set of The Fly (1986) and married the following year. The divorce was attributed to irreconcilable differences, and both have since said they remain on good terms. Goldblum told People in a 2019 interview that he still admires Davis and describes their time together as “a great chapter.”

“We had a great chapter. She’s an extraordinary person.”

— Jeff Goldblum on Geena Davis, 2019

What this means: the Goldblum marriage was short but creatively fertile — they collaborated on two films during their time together — and neither party has expressed regret.

How Old Is Geena Davis?

What is Geena Davis’s full name?

Her birth name is Virginia Elizabeth Davis, as listed in TV Guide’s celebrity database. She adopted “Geena” as a stage name early in her modeling career.

What is Geena Davis’s height?

She is 6 feet tall (1.83 m), which made her stand out in Hollywood — often literally — and contributed to her casting in roles that required physical presence, such as a baseball player in A League of Their Own (TV Guide). Born January 21, 1956, she is currently 68 years old. For more biographical profiles of notable figures, see Emmy Rossum: Biography, Ethnicity, Kids, and What She’s Doing Now and Kim Cattrall: Feud, Children, Net Worth, and Biography.

For a closer look at her notable roles, you can explore Geena Daviss film career for a comprehensive filmography.

Frequently asked questions

For anyone researching Geena Davis’s life, the path is defined by a pattern: every setback — whether a speech disorder, a short marriage, or industry sexism — became fuel for her next chapter. For the parent of a child with apraxia, the lesson is concrete: diagnosis does not diminish potential. For the Hollywood executive, the data from her Institute is a business case, not a charity appeal. The choice is clear: either adjust casting ratios, or keep explaining why half the audience still doesn’t see themselves on screen.