Gillian Greene: Who Is Sam Raimi’s Wife?

Gillian Greene is a director and the wife of Sam Raimi. Gillian’s husband Sam Raimi is a film director, film producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is best known for directing the Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007) and the Evil Dead franchise (1981–present). Gillian is also the daughter of Canadian actor, musician, singer and radio personality Lorne Greene.

Gillian Greene: Bio Summary

How Old Is Gillian Greene?

Gillian Dania Greene was born on January 6, 1968, in Santa Monica, California, USA. As of 2023, she is 55 years old. She is the daughter of Lyon Himan Green also known as Lorne Greene (12 February 1915 – 11 September 1987) and his second wife Nancy Deale (May 23, 1933 – March 2, 2004).

Gillian’s father was an actor, musician, singer, and radio personality. He is best remembered for his role as ‘Ben Cartwright’ in “Bonanza,” and as ‘Commander Adama’ in “Battlestar Galactica.” Her mother was an actress, known for her appearance in Shadows, Bonanza, The Story of Ruth, Tattletales, and The Merv Griffin Show.

Gillian Greene was born and brought up in Los Angeles. She is the only child of her parents. She has zero siblings but has half-siblings from her father’s previous marriage. Her half-siblings are Charles Greene and Linda Greene Bennett, born from her father’s first marriage to Rita Hands.

Gillian Greene’s paternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire, Dora (née Grinovsky) and Daniel Green, a shoemaker. Information regarding her education is not available.

Gillian Is A Director And Actress

Gillian Greene is a filmmaker and actress. At a young age, Gillian was introduced to the world of filmmaking through her father, Lorne Greene. She spent time on set with her father after which she began to pursue acting. She said: “I grew up on set because my dad was an actor and he used to bring me to set with him.”

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“So, show business is in my blood. And then after being married to a director for so long, I really had the urge to get in there myself and direct.” Gillian Greene has appeared as Melanie in an episode of the TV Series, Battlestar Galactica. She went on to appear as Jennifer Sills in Bonanza: The Next Generation. She also appeared as herself in V.I.P.-Schaukel.

In 2014, Gillian Greene served as the director of the film, Murder of a Cat. The film stars Greg Kinnear, Blythe Danner, Nikki Reed, J.K. Simmons, Fran Kranz, Leonardo Nam, and Aidan Andrews, among others. She also directed Fanboy. Speaking of what inspired her to make “Fanboy”, Gillian said in an interview: “I made a short film for Sam (Raimi) and it was with all of his friends.”

“It was a birthday roast and I thought this was so much fun! Then it inspired me to write the story … So ultimately, that (“Fanboy”) became my calling card for features. I don’t really need to release it [but] I had to watch it [again] and thought, “Damn! This is good!” (Laughing) Everyone really likes it and that’s why I’m releasing it now.”

Gillian revealed that “Fanboy” is “based on a real person named Jeremiah Brennan. He’s an actor and he’s my friend’s boyfriend. He’s a really funny guy and he is that character and … I was going to cast him, but [he] didn’t find the humor. I had to fire the real Jeremiah! He didn’t talk to me for a year! I said I’ve got to do this for the movie. This is my movie and I’m so, so sorry!”

Gillian Has Lost Both Parents

Gillian Greene’s parents Lorne Greene and Nancy Deale are no longer alive. Her father Lorne Greene passed away on 11 September 1987, in Santa Monica, California, U.S. He died from complications from pneumonia, following ulcer surgery. He was 72 years old at the time he died. He was buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City.

Gillian Greene’s mother Nancy Deale died on 2 March 2004, at age 70, in Marina del Rey, Los Angeles County, California, USA. She died of cancer and was laid to rest at Hillside Memorial Park, Culver City, Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Gillian Is The Wife Of A Filmmaker

Gillian Greene is happily married to American filmmaker Sam Raimi, founder of the production company Renaissance Pictures (1979) and Ghost House Pictures (2002). Speaking of how they met, Gillian said she met her then-future husband Sam “at a bowling party when I was 20 years old.”

“He was, I think, maybe 28, 29, and he had just finished directing “Darkman”, so he had already had a prolific career. That was his fourth movie, and he was only, like, 28. We just hit it off right away. I, for the next 15, 20 years became his, for the lack of a better term, silent producing partner.”

Gillian and Sam have been married since 1993. Their marriage has survived for about 30 years. The couple’s marriage has been blessed with five children. Gillian once said in an interview:

“I met Sam (Raimi) when I was really young and we started having kids right away. I was sort of his silent producing partner so I read all the scripts and went on location and watched all the dailies and [helped with] the casting. I brought my kids on set.”

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“That was easy when they were younger. I was there throughout the whole process of every movie so I learned a lot, but if the kids needed me I would be with them.” Gillian Greene and Sam Raimi’s 5 children are Henry Raimi, Emma Raimi, Lorne Raimi, Dashiell William Raimi, and Oliver Raimi.

Gillian Greene and Sam Raimi have certainly gone through some challenges but they have remained in love. There is no sign of separation between Gillian and her husband Sam. They have loved and supported each other.