Cosmo Pfeil is an American former actor, filmmaker, nurse, and humanitarian worker. He is also known as the husband of actress Betty Gilpin, who starred in GLOW, Mrs. Davis, and American Primeval.
Pfeil previously worked in front of and behind the camera. His credits include Company K, Shotgun Stories, The Northern Kingdom, The Good Wife, and Person of Interest. He later moved into nursing and humanitarian work.
Cosmo and Betty met while making The Northern Kingdom in 2009. They married in 2016 and have two daughters.
Cosmo Pfeil’s Profile Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Cosmo Colyer Pfeil |
| Known as | Cosmo Pfeil |
| Date of birth | December 9, 1977, as reported |
| Age | 48 years old as of October 2026 |
| Birthplace | Vermont, United States |
| Reported hometown | Shoreham, Vermont |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of North Carolina School of the Arts |
| Degree | Bachelor’s degree in Fine and Studio Arts |
| Graduation year | 2000 |
| Profession | Former actor, filmmaker, nurse, humanitarian worker |
| Known for | Acting, filmmaking, humanitarian work, and being Betty Gilpin’s husband |
| Wife | Betty Gilpin |
| Marriage year | 2016 |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Daughter | Mary, born in November 2020 |
| Second daughter | Born in May 2024 |
| Notable films | Company K, Shotgun Stories, The Northern Kingdom |
| Humanitarian work | CAN-DO and GiveLove |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
How Old Is Cosmo Pfeil?
Cosmo Pfeil’s date of birth is reported as December 9, 1977. Based on this date, he is 48 years old as of October 2026.
He was born in Vermont, United States. Some biographical sources give his birthplace more specifically as Shoreham, Vermont.
However, his exact birth date and Shoreham birthplace are not as strongly documented as details about his education, career, and marriage.
Early Life and Family
There is limited public information about Cosmo Pfeil’s childhood, parents, and siblings.
Betty Gilpin has shared some details about his upbringing in her 2022 book, All the Women in My Brain: And Other Concerns. She described his family as practical, skilled, and connected with an outdoor lifestyle.
Gilpin wrote humorously that Pfeil was born on a barn floor and grew up around lumberjacks, nurses, and skilled people. Her description is personal and humorous, so it should not be treated as a detailed factual record of his birth.
Some online sources report that Pfeil has two siblings, but their names and other details have not been reliably confirmed.
The names of his parents are also not publicly confirmed in the collected sources.
Education
Pfeil attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine and Studio Arts in 2000.
This education came before his work as an actor and filmmaker.
He has also been reported to have studied Spanish Language and Literature at Instituto Forester Internacional. Detailed information about this program is limited.
Cosmo Pfeil’s Acting Career
Pfeil worked as an actor during the 2000s and early 2010s. His screen work included independent films as well as television appearances.
One of his early roles was Private Nate Mountain in the 2004 film Company K.
He later appeared as Norman in Shotgun Stories in 2007.
In 2009, Pfeil played Glen in The Northern Kingdom. The film became important in his personal life because it was where he met his future wife, Betty Gilpin.
His television work included appearances in The Good Wife and Person of Interest.
Cosmo Pfeil’s Movies and TV Shows
Some of his reported acting credits include:
- Company K — Private Nate Mountain, 2004
- Happy Now — The Lifeguard, 2004
- Shotgun Stories — Norman, 2007
- Descent — Brock, 2007
- Pose Down — Chance Abel, 2007
- Boo!! — Young Man, 2008
- Grand Gorge: No God But Me — Marcus, 2008
- The Northern Kingdom — Glen, 2009
- The Good Wife — Gary Kuharski, 2012
- Person of Interest — Devil Dog, 2013
Pfeil eventually moved away from regular acting work.
Work as an Assistant Director and Filmmaker
Cosmo Pfeil also worked behind the camera.
He served as an assistant director on several film projects. His credits include Shotgun Stories, Take Shelter, and Providence.
He worked as a second assistant director on the 2011 film Take Shelter. He was also reported as a first assistant director on Providence in 2015.
Some sources additionally credit him with makeup work on Shotgun Stories.
Pfeil therefore gained experience in different areas of film production rather than working only as an actor.
Acceptable Limits
Pfeil is reported to have directed and worked as a cinematographer on the 2012 documentary Acceptable Limits.
The documentary focused on health and environmental concerns linked with an aging nuclear fuel processing facility in East Tennessee.
This project was different from many of his acting roles because it focused on a real environmental and public health subject.
Why Did Cosmo Pfeil Leave Acting?
Pfeil has not publicly given a detailed explanation for leaving regular acting work.
Over time, his career moved toward other areas, including nursing and humanitarian work.
By 2022, The New York Times described Pfeil as a nurse. Later profiles from People and ELLE also reported his move into nursing.
Public information does not clearly establish when he completed his nursing education, where he studied nursing, or whether he currently works at a particular hospital.
Cosmo Pfeil’s Humanitarian Work
Pfeil has also worked with humanitarian and nonprofit organizations.
People reported that his humanitarian work began in 2005.
He served as director of operations at CAN-DO, short for Compassion into Action Network – Direct Outcome Organization. The organization has provided assistance to communities affected by difficult conditions and disasters.
Pfeil was also connected with GiveLove, a nonprofit co-founded by Patricia Arquette. GiveLove has worked on ecological sanitation projects, including efforts in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.
He has been reported as director of operations for GiveLove Haiti’s eco-sanitation work.
Other reports connect him with One-Truck.org in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
His film skills have also reportedly been useful in documenting humanitarian projects and missions.
Other Work
Pfeil has had professional experience outside entertainment and nonprofit work.
One source reports that he worked as a senior sales specialist for Mindbody, Inc. from 2006 until 2017.
This employment history is less widely documented than his film and humanitarian work.
Who Is Cosmo Pfeil’s Wife, Betty Gilpin?
Cosmo Pfeil’s wife is Betty Gilpin, an American actress.
Her full name is Elizabeth Folan Gilpin. She is the daughter of actor Jack Gilpin.
Betty is widely known for playing Debbie “Liberty Belle” Eagan in the Netflix series GLOW. Her performance earned her multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Her other major projects include The Hunt, Mrs. Davis, American Primeval, and Death by Lightning.
She has also worked in theater. In 2025, she appeared on Broadway in Oh, Mary!
Betty published her book All the Women in My Brain: And Other Concerns in 2022. The collection includes personal writing about her life, marriage, family, and differences between her and Pfeil.
How Did Cosmo Pfeil and Betty Gilpin Meet?
Cosmo Pfeil and Betty Gilpin met while working on the 2009 drama The Northern Kingdom.
The movie was directed by Dorothy Lyman and filmed in Andes, New York.
Interestingly, Pfeil and Gilpin played siblings in the movie. Gilpin played Carissa, while Pfeil played her brother Glen.
Their relationship developed away from the screen after working together.
Cosmo Pfeil and Betty Gilpin’s Marriage
Pfeil and Gilpin married in 2016, around seven years after meeting on The Northern Kingdom.
The couple generally keeps their marriage private. Detailed information about their wedding ceremony and exact wedding date has not been widely published.
Gilpin has, however, shared several stories about Pfeil in interviews and her book.
One story comes from a Thanksgiving visit to her parents’ home while they were dating.
Her parents had a no-shoes rule. Pfeil did not have suitable indoor footwear, so he made his own slippers from paper grocery bags and blue duct tape.
Gilpin recalled that the solution impressed her father, Jack Gilpin, who praised Pfeil for being able to solve the problem.
Cosmo Pfeil and Betty Gilpin’s Children
Cosmo Pfeil and Betty Gilpin have two daughters.
Their older daughter, Mary, was born in November 2020.
Their second daughter was born in May 2024. Her name has not been publicly confirmed in the collected sources.
The couple keeps their children largely outside the public spotlight.
Family Life During American Primeval
Pfeil supported Gilpin while she filmed the Netflix Western miniseries American Primeval.
Gilpin was pregnant with their second daughter during the production. Pfeil and their older daughter, Mary, stayed with her while she was filming on location.
Gilpin told the Los Angeles Times in 2025 that returning to normal parenting duties after difficult days of filming helped balance her life.
She would finish physically demanding scenes and then return home to handle bath time and bedtime with her daughter.
What Has Betty Gilpin Said About Cosmo Pfeil?
Gilpin has described several differences between herself and her husband.
According to her book, Pfeil can recognize different trees by their leaves. He is interested in nature, birds, craftsmanship, cooking, and practical projects.
She wrote that he could spend a long time discussing subjects such as how a table leg was made or the movements of a hawk.
She also described him as someone who quickly looks for practical solutions when a problem appears.
Gilpin has used these examples to explain how different their interests and personalities can be.
Cosmo Pfeil’s Public Appearances
Pfeil keeps a much lower public profile than his wife, but the couple has attended some events together.
On January 27, 2019, Pfeil and Gilpin attended Netflix’s SAG Awards after-party at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood, California.
They were also photographed together at the 2019 US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City on September 7, 2019.
Pfeil has otherwise remained relatively private despite his wife’s public acting career.
Cosmo Pfeil’s Net Worth
Cosmo Pfeil’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
Some online sources estimate his wealth at between $200,000 and $500,000, but there is no public financial evidence confirming this range.
His professional background has included acting, film production, sales, nursing, and humanitarian work.
For this reason, the reported net worth should be treated only as an online estimate rather than a confirmed figure.
Is Cosmo Pfeil on Social Media?
Cosmo Pfeil does not appear to maintain a major public social media presence.
No verified active personal Instagram account has been confirmed in the collected information.
Professional information attributed to a LinkedIn profile has been reported by other publications, but Pfeil generally keeps his personal life private.
Where Is Cosmo Pfeil Now?
Pfeil moved away from regular Hollywood acting and production work and became involved in nursing and humanitarian projects.
Recent profiles have particularly focused on his nursing background and work with humanitarian organizations such as GiveLove.
However, his exact current employer and nursing position in 2026 have not been publicly confirmed.
Things to Know About Cosmo Pfeil
- His full name is reported as Cosmo Colyer Pfeil.
- He was born in Vermont and is reported to be from Shoreham.
- His reported birthday is December 9, 1977.
- He studied Fine and Studio Arts at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
- He graduated in 2000.
- He played Private Nate Mountain in Company K.
- His acting credits also include Shotgun Stories, The Northern Kingdom, The Good Wife, and Person of Interest.
- He worked behind the camera as an assistant director.
- He reportedly directed and filmed the documentary Acceptable Limits.
- He later became a nurse.
- His humanitarian work has included CAN-DO and GiveLove.
- He met Betty Gilpin while filming The Northern Kingdom in 2009.
- Their characters in the movie were brother and sister.
- Pfeil and Gilpin married in 2016.
- They have two daughters.
- Their eldest daughter, Mary, was born in November 2020.
- Their younger daughter was born in May 2024.
- Pfeil has an interest in nature and practical projects, according to Gilpin.
- He once made slippers from grocery bags and duct tape while visiting Gilpin’s parents.
- He has occasionally attended public events with his wife but generally keeps a low profile.
- His personal net worth has not been reliably confirmed.
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