Gia Ruiz (born 23rd of May 1976) is the wife of Danny McBride, an acclaimed comedian, writer, director, and producer. He has been married to Danny McBride since 9 October 2010 and they have one child together.
Being married to a comedian means there is a pretty good chance of your personal life being used as fodder for content. While some would not like this, others do not mind, and one such person is Gia Ruiz.
Better known as the wife of Danny McBride, The couple got together in 2002 before McBride hit the big time. They have remained together ever since then, and nothing, not even McBride’s tendency to be raunchy and loudmouthed, can come between them.
Summary of Gia Ruiz’s Biography
- Full name: Gia Marina Ruiz
- Date of birth: 23rd of May 1976
- Age: 47 years old
- Birthplace: California
- Father: N/A
- Mother: N/A
- Siblings: N/A
- Spouse: Danny McBride
- Children: two, namely Declan and Ava
- Occupation: art director
Danny McBride’s Wife, Gia Ruiz, is also the Niece of Cheech Marin – the Famous American Comedian
Gia Ruiz has familial connections to not just one but two accomplished comics. It is a well-known fact that she is married to a notable funnyman in Hollywood. What many do not know, however, is that Ruiz is also related to another legendary comic named Cheech Marin. A musician, activist, actor, art collector, stand-up, and comedian, Marin rose to fame as one half of the stoner-hipper comedy act – Cheech & Chong. They reigned supreme in the 70s and 80s, and Marin acquired a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable Hispanic stars.
Before achieving that reputation, Cheech Marin was born Richard Anthony Marin on the 13th of July 1946. He hailed from a Mexican-American family and grew up with three sisters, namely Monica Gail Marin, Margaret Grace Marin, and Elena Marie Marin. His sisters would subsequently get married, and one of those marriages produced Gia Marina Ruiz on the 23rd of May 1976. It, therefore, means that she is the niece of the famed comedian. It also means that Gia Ruiz is currently 47 years old and has Latina ethnic heritage.
The Couple Started Dating Around 2002
No one can accuse Gia Ruiz of being some gold digger, given that she was with her famous husband when he was still a down-on-his-luck and struggling talent. As the story goes, McBride had arrived in L.A. in 1998 fresh out of college and hoping to achieve his dreams of becoming a filmmaker. However, he could only manage one acting and one cameraman gig and survived by working odd jobs. By 2002, the North Carolina native had gotten tired of scrapping by and decided to return home.
Having made this decision, McBride decided to attend a super bowl party as one of his final outings in L.A. As luck would have it, he bumped into Gia and was quite taken with her. She was similarly impressed with him, and they began dating in earnest. McBride revealed to Gia his plan to go home, and she volunteered to accompany him on the ride and return to L.A. The couple would make this journey, but by the end of the incredible road trip, McBride decided that there was no way that he was letting Gia go.
Gia Ruiz Officially Became Danny McBride’s Wife Eight Years Later
He returned with her to L.A., and they continued working hard and loving each other. Their finances were tight, but they remained together for the next four years, and McBride eventually got his breakthrough with the 2006 movie, The Foot Fist Way. By 2009, he became a superstar when Eastbound & Down debuted, and their lives were transformed forever. After being together for eight years, Gia Ruiz and Danny McBride decided to formalize their union. They eloped to Palm Springs, California, and got married on the 9th of October 2010.
Gia Ruiz Shares Two Children, Declan and Ava, With Her Husband
Gia Ruiz and Danny McBride have been married for 14 years now and have welcomed two children in the course of their union. Their first child is a son named Declan George, born on the 9th of October 2011. Their second child is a daughter named Ava, born in 2015. The family makes their home in Charleston, South Carolina, while Gia and the kids stay away from the spotlight.
Incredible having Danny McBride in for brunch today. Super nice guy with an awesome family. #kp55 pic.twitter.com/ScCnlnnFI4
— Dr.MantisTobogganRVA (@jsparatta) May 18, 2014
The former LACC worker limits her public appearance to the occasional red carpet outing with her husband. She is also active in philanthropy and once joined hands with her husband to donate $45,000 to the Medical University of North Carolina Shawn Jenkins Children’s hospital.
Asides from these occasional red carpet outings and philanthropic endeavors, Gia Ruiz is not willing to reveal much information about the personal lives of her and her family members. The only insight we get is the tidbits that her husband reveals in interviews. For instance, the comic admitted that when their finances were lean, they never splurged on gifts for each other but would rather shop in the mall with $25 for each other.
They found this to be much fun, but there is no doubt that the couple would have upgraded, given that they now have tens of millions of dollars in net worth. Gia’s husband has also revealed that they prefer limiting screen time for the kids but had to relax the rules during the covid-19 pandemic.
The shutdown meant that the kids couldn’t go to school or hang out with friends. Their major source of happiness was playing online games with friends, and they did not have the heart to deprive them of that. Danny McBride has also acknowledged that his kids will be embarrassed by his movies and utterances once they grow up.
For instance, while Gia was pregnant with Declan, the comic proudly announced on national television that he wasted no time in getting his wife knocked up after they married. He also predicted that the child could turn out to be a three-legged girl or a well-hung boy. Of course, this never happened, but the internet never forgets, so Declan and Ava would be bumping into this hilarious clip someday.
She Previously Worked in Special Needs Before Becoming An Art Director
Gia Ruiz spent her formative years in Los Angeles and completed, at least, a high school diploma and possibly a college degree. She then kick-started her career by working with special needs students at the Los Angeles City College (LACC). Her responsibilities included facilitating equal access for LACC students with disabilities to enable them to participate fully in educational programs, services, and campus activities.
Gia worked at LACC for some time before meeting her future husband, Danny McBride, who inspired her to seek a career in the movie business. Utilizing her husband’s help, Gia Ruiz landed the role of the art director for the 2006 low-budget martial arts comedy that he co-wrote and starred in, The Foot Fist Way. Her responsibilities centered around determining the overall visual appearance of the movie. She and the other cast and crew certainly did an excellent job as the film went on to become a hit at the Sundance Movie Festival.
Gia Ruiz also worked as an assistant in the art department for her husband’s hit HBO series, Eastbound & Down. This was in 2009, and since then, there has been no record of her working on any other movie. It is possible that she took some time off to take care of her kids.
