Who Is Zac Affleck? Ben Affleck’s Relative Stars in Hulu’s ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’
Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives premiered in September 2024, introducing viewers to Zac Affleck, the cousin of actor Ben Affleck. Zac appears in the show alongside his wife, Jennifer Affleck. After the couple announced they’re expecting their third child in February 2025, many viewers are eager to know more about Zac.
Who Is Zac Affleck From ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’?
Zac was born and raised in Utah. He played baseball for Olympus High School in Holladay, Utah, before attending Brigham Young University. Zac and his now-wife, Jen Affleck, began dating in 2018 and got married in 2019. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Nora, in November 2021, and in July 2023, they had their son Lucas. On February 11, 2025, Jen revealed their third pregnancy, sharing the news with People: “I was a few days late, and while it was a surprise, we both had a feeling there was another baby waiting for us,” Jen said. “We were very excited, there were a lot of emotions after a very crazy year!”
Jen also shared how their older children reacted to the announcement. “Nora has been hoping for a little sister, and I can tell she really wants it to be a girl!” she added. “I have a strong feeling it’s a girl. I’ve dreamed about this little girl for a while now, and I truly believe she’s the one I’m carrying.” The couple decided to wait to learn the baby’s gender until the birth.
In November 2023, Zac revealed that he and Jen had taken up running marathons after they began dating. They’ve participated in multiple marathons together, including the New York City Marathon in 2023. Zac shared his pride in Jen’s accomplishment on Instagram, saying, “This past weekend Jen and I ran the New York City Marathon representing ‘First Candle’ to help raise awareness for sudden infant death syndrome. Jen was only 3 months postpartum but she was determined to do this race and finish to support the cause,” he wrote. “I have seen her do a lot of amazing things but this was truly incredible. By the last 4 miles she was the one pushing me to keep going. The race brought out all sorts of unexpected emotions including smiles, tears, and everything in between.”
In July 2024, Jen announced that Zac had graduated from Brigham Young University and been accepted to medical school.
How Is Zac Affleck Related to Ben Affleck?
Zac is Ben’s first cousin once removed. His father is the first cousin of Ben and his brother, Casey Affleck. Jen has previously mentioned Zac’s famous family connections on social media.
In September 2022, she humorously referenced sharing a name with Ben’s wife, Jennifer Lopez, in a TikTok video where she danced to children’s songs. Jen wrote, “When you thought you were going to be the next J. Lo, but instead … she stole your name and you’re busting it down to Ms. Rachel.”
Jen also included in her caption, “Can’t forget that Ben Affleck is my husband’s second cousin.”
What Is ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ All About?
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives follows a group of women who initially gained attention by posting about their everyday lives on TikTok using the hashtag #MomTok. Their notoriety grew after a scandal involving “soft swinging” came to light. Taylor Frankie Paul, one of the more prominent figures in the #MomTok community, announced her divorce from Tate Paul in 2022, revealing that the split was due to breaking the “rules” of soft swinging within their Mormon friend group. Taylor claimed that many of the women in the group had participated in “soft swinging,” though it’s unclear whether Jen and Zac were involved.
Jen addressed the topic in an interview with People published on August 13, 2024: “It feels like we got ten years of marriage counseling in this one season of filming,” she said, adding that she was excited to talk about the experiences in her relationship.
Zac and Jen will return to The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives for season 2, which is set to premiere in the spring of 2025.
