Cosmo Pfeil is an American actor who changed his career to become a nurse and humanitarian worker. Most people know him as the husband of famous actress Betty Gilpin. But his own life story is very interesting. He went from working in Hollywood movies to helping people in need around the world.
Personal Info
| Full Name | Cosmo Colyer Pfeil |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 9, 1977 |
| Age | 47 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Shoreham, Vermont, USA |
| Education | University of North Carolina School of the Arts (2000) |
| Previous Job | Actor and Assistant Director |
| Current Job | Nurse and Humanitarian Worker |
| Spouse | Betty Gilpin (married in 2016) |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Known For | Films like Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter, and marriage to Betty Gilpin |
Early Life and Background
Cosmo Pfeil was born on December 9, 1977, in a small town called Shoreham in Vermont. He grew up in a family that Betty Gilpin later described as “hippies with trades.” This means his family lived a simple life but had useful skills. They were creative people who knew how to build things and take care of themselves.
Cosmo studied fine arts at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He finished his degree in 2000. After college, he decided to work in movies and television. He wanted to tell stories through film.
Acting and Film Career
Cosmo started his acting career in the early 2000s. He appeared in several movies, but he was never a big Hollywood star. Instead, he worked on smaller, independent films. These are movies made with less money but often tell important stories.
Some of his acting roles include:
- Company K (2004) – He played a character named Private Nate Mountain
- Shotgun Stories (2007) – He acted in this drama film
- The Northern Kingdom (2009) – This is where he met his future wife
Cosmo also worked behind the camera. He became an assistant director, which means he helped the main director organize the movie set and manage the filming. He worked on films like “Take Shelter” in 2011 and “Shotgun Stories” in 2007.
In 2012, Cosmo made his own documentary called “Acceptable Limits.” The film talked about the dangers of an old nuclear fuel factory in East Tennessee. It showed how the factory affected people’s health and the environment.
He also appeared in popular TV shows like “The Good Wife” and “Person of Interest” in 2012. But after working in Hollywood for several years, Cosmo decided to make a big change in his life.
Meeting Betty Gilpin
Cosmo met Betty Gilpin in 2009 when they both worked on a film called “The Northern Kingdom.” In the movie, they played brother and sister. But in real life, they started to like each other.
Betty Gilpin is a well-known actress. She became famous for her role in the Netflix show “GLOW” and other TV series like “Mrs. Davis.” She comes from a family of actors. Her father is Jack Gilpin, and her mother is Ann McDonough.
Betty has shared some sweet stories about Cosmo in her book “All the Women in My Brain: And Other Concerns,” which came out in 2022. One funny story is about when Cosmo visited her parents’ home for the first time. Her parents had a rule that everyone must take off their shoes inside the house.
Cosmo noticed that his feet were cold, so he made slippers from paper grocery bags and blue duct tape. Betty’s father was very impressed by this creative idea. He said, “This is a man! A man with solutions!” This showed that Cosmo was smart and could solve problems in simple ways.
Marriage and Family Life
Cosmo and Betty dated for several years after meeting in 2009. They got married on August 6, 2016, in a private ceremony. They have kept most details about their wedding private because they like to keep their personal life away from public attention.
The couple now has two daughters. Their first daughter, Mary Pfeil, was born in November 2020. This was during the COVID-19 pandemic when the world was going through difficult times. Their second daughter was born in April 2024. The couple has not shared the second daughter’s name publicly.
Betty has talked about how Cosmo and she are very different people. In her book, she wrote that Cosmo knows a lot about nature. He can identify trees by looking at their leaves. He likes to cook special dishes with unusual ingredients. He can talk for a long time about small details like the design of table legs or how birds fly.
Betty said she is not like that at all. When her printer stops working, she just wants to throw it away instead of fixing it. But she loves Cosmo very much and thinks their differences make their relationship stronger.
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Big Career Change
After working in the entertainment business for many years, Cosmo made a surprising choice. He decided to leave Hollywood and become a nurse. This was a complete change from making movies to taking care of sick people.
Nobody knows exactly why he made this decision, but it shows that Cosmo wanted to help people in a more direct way. Becoming a nurse meant going back to school and learning new skills. It was not an easy choice, but Cosmo was ready for the challenge.
Humanitarian Work
Along with nursing, Cosmo also got involved in humanitarian work. This means helping people who are poor or facing difficult situations. He has worked with several organizations that help people in Haiti, a country in the Caribbean.
Cosmo works as the director of operations for an organization called CAN-DO (Compassion into Action Network – Direct Outcome Organization). He has also worked with GiveLove, a nonprofit group started by actress Patricia Arquette. This organization helps people in Haiti get better toilets and clean water systems. They started this work after a terrible earthquake hit Haiti in 2010.
In his humanitarian work, Cosmo uses his filmmaking skills too. He makes videos about the projects to show other people what they are doing and why it matters.
Current Life
Today, Cosmo Pfeil keeps a quiet life away from Hollywood fame. While his wife Betty Gilpin appears in movies and TV shows, Cosmo focuses on his nursing work and helping communities in need.
The family tries to keep their children away from public attention. Betty sometimes talks about being a mother in interviews, but she respects her family’s privacy. In 2025, Betty said that having her family with her while filming helps her stay balanced between her acting work and family life.
Cosmo and Betty’s relationship shows that two people from different backgrounds can build a strong family together. Betty says she feels lucky to have Cosmo in her life. Even though they have different interests and personalities, they support each other and work together to raise their children.
Conclusion
Cosmo Pfeil’s life story is about following your heart and making brave choices. He started as an actor in Hollywood, making independent films and working behind the camera. Then he met Betty Gilpin, and they fell in love on a movie set.
But Cosmo did something unusual. He left the entertainment world to become a nurse and help people through humanitarian work. Today, he works to improve lives in Haiti while supporting his wife’s acting career and raising two young daughters.
His story shows that it is never too late to change your path in life. Whether making movies or helping sick people, Cosmo Pfeil has always tried to make a positive difference in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Cosmo Pfeil?
Cosmo Pfeil is an American former actor and assistant director who now works as a nurse and humanitarian worker. He is married to actress Betty Gilpin. He was born on December 9, 1977, in Vermont.
2. How did Cosmo Pfeil meet Betty Gilpin?
Cosmo met Betty Gilpin in 2009 when they worked together on a film called “The Northern Kingdom.” In the movie, they played brother and sister. They started dating after the film and got married in 2016.
3. What movies has Cosmo Pfeil been in?
Cosmo appeared in several independent films including “Company K” (2004), “Shotgun Stories” (2007), and “The Northern Kingdom” (2009). He also worked as an assistant director on films like “Take Shelter” (2011).
4. Does Cosmo Pfeil have children?
Yes, Cosmo and Betty Gilpin have two daughters. Their first daughter, Mary, was born in November 2020. Their second daughter was born in April 2024. The couple keeps their children’s lives private.
5. What does Cosmo Pfeil do now?
Cosmo now works as a nurse and is involved in humanitarian work. He is the director of operations for CAN-DO and has worked with GiveLove, organizations that help communities in Haiti with sanitation and healthcare projects.
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