Penn Badgley was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to 'Lynne Murphy Badgley' . Badgley lives in New York City. At the age of 14, Penn completed his California High School Proficiency Exam and began attending Santa Monica City College. Also musically gifted, he enjoys singing, writing, and playing the guitar. In his spare time, Badgley likes to go skateboarding, surfing, skiing and snowboarding.
Has an older half sister.
Attended Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, Washington.
Upon being asked how his name originated, he says his father was bouncing a Pilot Pen tennis ball in frustration while trying to think of baby names. When his mother got her ultrasound, he referred to the baby looking like the size of the tennis ball. And thus, they named him Penn.
Boyfriend of Blake Lively. [2007-2010].
Cousin is Megan Murphy.
Parents divorced when he was age 12.
Has a tattoo on his right leg.
Was in an on and off relationship with Zoe Kravitz from summer 2011 until 2013.
Plays guitar, bass and sings.
During the 2008 United States presidential election, Badgley expressed his support for Barack Obama over John McCain.
In March 2010, The American Red Cross announced Penn Badgley as a member in National Celebrity Cabinet.
Did voice-over work for Nintendo games.
Penns mother once drove him 50 miles to appear in a community production of Music Man.
Penn highly admires TV actresses Tina Fey and Parker Posey.
Penn turned down the role of Dan Humphrey twice before accepting.
Good friend of Shawn Pyfrom.
Penns most embarrassing moment was forgetting the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" while singing at a minor-league baseball game.
Has known Blake Lively since he was eleven years old but is adamant that they didnt actually know each other well until Gossip Girl, where they became close.
Owns many guitars including a Gibson ES-175 and L-5, Collings C-10, two fenders: A sea-foam green Stratocaster and a Telecaster Custom. The L-5 and Collings were gifts to himself when he found out he landed the role of Jeff Buckley in Greetings from Tim Buckley.
Sings completely live in the film Greetings from Tim Buckley.
Penn has traveled to South America and experienced ayahuasca, the legendary vine of the souls, multiple times. Ayahuasca is a brew of psychoactive ingredients that can produce a feeling of enlightenment and spirituality when ingested. Many people say that it made profound positive changes in their lives after consumption. In October 2012 Penn took part in the 5th annual Ayahuasca Monologues which took place at Webster Hall in New York City where he described his experiences comically in front of an audience. He described his latest experience as the simplest but most profound moment of his life so far.
Penns ancestry includes English and Irish, as well as German and Scottish, and remote Dutch and Welsh; also, one of Penns paternal great-grandfathers, Howard Duff, was an immigrant from Jamaica, and may have had Afro-Jamaican ancestry. Penns patrilineal ancestry can be traced back to George Badgley, who was born, c. 1616, in Bakewell, Derby, England.
In 2001 he was nominated for a Young Artist Award for his work on "The Young and the Restless" when he was age 15.
Penn was accepted to the University of Southern California, but deferred admission to pursue his acting career. He has joked that he will attend when hes age 30.
Penns two passions in life are music and acting.
(April 2013) Living in New York
Penn, Leighton Meester and Blake Lively are the only Gossip Girl cast members to appear in every single episode of the series.
His favorite musician of all time is DAngelo. His favorite album is Voodoo.
Penn is the frontman of the Brooklyn based band, Mothxr. Originally the band had been called Mother but they found it extremely difficult to promote because its impossible for people to google.
First single, Easy, from his band Mother was released June 3, 2014 on iTunes.
Was in a relationship with Birth Doula, Domino Kirke from Spring 2014 until Winter 2014.
Penns band, Mothxr is composed of transplants from other bands. Jimmy Giannoppulos of Pretty Good Dance Moves, Lolawolf and Reputante. Simon Oscroft of No. Darren Will of Rathbourne and Lakis Pavlou of Drowners.
Long before starring together on "Gossip Girl" , Penn Badgley and Blake Lively were home schooled together as children.
Long before they played star-crossed lovers on "Gossip Girl" , Penn Badgley and Blake Lively dated in real life from 2007 to 2010.
While in a relationship with former girlfriend Zo Kravitz he met band mate Jimmy Giannopolous, who is also in Zoe Kravitzs band Lolawolf.
Close friends with fellow Baltimore native and civil rights activist DeRay McKesson.
When asked who his best and worst on-screen kissing experience was with he said Blake Lively. It was the best because of their relationship and the worst because their characters were still together after they broke up.
Joked he would rather be named Penn than other tennis brands Dunlop or Wilson.
