Comedian and actress Michelle Buteau married Dutch portrait photographer Gijs Van Der Most in 2010. While Buteau's career spans stand-up specials, hosting Netflix hits like The Circle, and starring in Survival of the Thickest, her husband stays mostly behind the camera. Their long-term relationship bridges the gap between public entertainment and private stability.
Search interest around the couple usually centers on who Gijs Van Der Most is, how they met, and how they navigate family life while working in demanding creative industries. Unlike the AI-generated competitor page that mistakenly claims Gijs is a "professional wrestler and combat sports competitor," reality tells a much more grounded story about an established photographer and a supportive partner.
Who Is Gijs Van Der Most?
Gijs Van Der Most is a professional portrait and documentary photographer born in California and raised or trained heavily in the Netherlands, including studies at the Utrecht School of Arts. His commercial and editorial work has appeared in publications like Esquire, Men's Health, and Fast Company.
Unlike public figures who seek out red carpets, Van Der Most maintains a lower profile. He focuses on visual storytelling driven by authentic portraits of everyday people and environments. When he relocated to Brooklyn, New York, with Buteau, he adapted his career to balance commercial shoots with family life. Buteau frequently references his Dutch background in her stand-up routines, joking about cultural clashes regarding directness, American holidays, and navigating New York City traffic together.
How Michelle Buteau and Gijs Met
The couple crossed paths before social media matchmaking apps dominated dating culture. They connected through mutual creative circles in New York City during the late 2000s. What started as an ordinary friendship grew into a serious romance, leading to their wedding on July 31, 2010.
Buteau has often spoken candidly about how different their personalities are. She brings high-energy performance, loud comedic timing, and extroverted charm, while Van Der Most offers a calm, steady counterweight. That contrast forms the backbone of their stability. Instead of competing for attention in household dynamics, they respect each other's distinct lanes.
Overcoming Family and Fertility Challenges
Building a family wasn't an easy path for the couple. Buteau has been open about her diagnosis of prolactinoma—a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that can affect fertility and cause physical strain. After experiencing fertility struggles and failed treatments, the physical and emotional toll became overwhelming.
Van Der Most played a crucial role in shifting their approach. According to Buteau, her husband urged her to stop putting her body through exhausting medical treatments, encouraging her to consider alternatives so they could focus on enjoying their lives together.
The couple ultimately pursued surrogacy. In January 2019, they welcomed twins, Hazel and Otis. Buteau and Van Der Most maintain strict privacy regarding their children, rarely sharing images online and shielding their faces to protect their kids from public exposure.
Why Their Marriage Works Behind the Spotlight
Celebrity relationships often buckle under the weight of constant public scrutiny, social media curation, and hectic touring schedules. Buteau and Van Der Most sustain their marriage through clear boundaries.
- Preserving Privacy: They keep their home life strictly off-limits from tabloid culture, choosing what to share and what to keep sacred.
- Mutual Respect for Careers: Van Der Most understands the grueling nature of production schedules, stand-up tours, and acting gigs because he works in media himself.
- Humor as a Release: Buteau uses comedy to process daily life, and Van Der Most serves as both a willing punchline in her sets and a grounded sounding board off stage.
Their partnership proves that long-term stability in the entertainment industry doesn't require matching public profiles. It relies on shared values, clear communication, and mutual support when life demands difficult pivots.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Michelle Buteau and Gijs Van Der Most get married?
They tied the knot on July 31, 2010, after dating for a few years in New York City.
What is Gijs Van Der Most's profession?
He is a professional portrait and documentary photographer whose work has featured in major commercial and editorial outlets like Esquire and Men's Health.
Do Michelle Buteau and Gijs Van Der Most have children?
Yes, they share twins named Hazel and Otis, who were born via surrogacy in January 2019.
How did they handle fertility struggles?
After Buteau faced challenges related to a prolactinoma diagnosis and difficult medical treatments, Van Der Most encouraged her to stop the physical toll of fertility treatments, leading them to explore surrogacy.
