Chris Hansen is currently married to Gabrielle Gagnon, his wife since November 2021. Before that, he was married to Mary Joan Hansen for nearly 30 years, from 1989 until their divorce was finalized in 2020. Together, Chris and Mary Joan had two sons, and their marriage ultimately ended following a widely reported affair.
Here’s a full breakdown of Chris Hansen’s marriages, his children, and the family details behind them.
Who Is Chris Hansen Married To Now?
Chris is married to Gabrielle Gagnon. The two tied the knot on November 13, 2021, in Detroit, Michigan, roughly a year after his divorce from first wife Mary Joan Hansen was finalized.
According to reports, the couple met at a restaurant bar called At Beau’s in Bloomfield, Michigan, while out for dinner with friends. They got engaged in December 2020 and married less than a year later.
Gabrielle Gagnon is Chris Hansen’s second wife, and by most accounts, an intensely private one. Unlike Hansen, who has built much of his career in front of a camera, Gagnon has kept her professional life almost entirely out of public view.
Gagnon has largely avoided interviews or detailed public statements about her life, which means several personal details, including her exact age, career and background, simply haven’t been confirmed through any reliable source.
What Is The Age Difference Between Chris Hansen & His Wife Gabrielle Gagnon?
Chris was born on September 13, 1959, making him 66 years old as of 2026. Gabrielle Gagnon’s exact date of birth has not been publicly confirmed, so an exact age gap between the couple cannot be stated with certainty.
Various entertainment outlets have suggested a noticeable age difference between the two, but without a confirmed birth date for Gagnon, any specific number should be treated as speculation rather than fact.
Who Was Chris Hansen’s First Wife? Why Did They Divorce?
Hansen’s first wife was Mary Joan Hansen, sometimes referred to by her maiden name, Mary Joan Gleich. The couple married on November 18, 1989, and stayed together for nearly three decades, raising two sons in Stamford, Connecticut.
Mary Joan filed for divorce in June 2018, citing that the marriage had “broken down irretrievably,” and the divorce was finalized in 2020. Her filing came several years after Chris was reported to have had an affair with fellow television journalist Kristyn Caddell in 2011, a scandal that also reportedly contributed to NBC deciding not to renew his contract in 2013.
Mary Joan never publicly tied her divorce filing directly to the affair, sticking to the general language of irreconcilable differences in her court papers.
Where Is Chris Hansen’s First Wife Mary Joan Hansen Now?
Mary Joan has kept an extremely low public profile since her divorce from Chris was finalized in 2020. She has not given interviews, and there is no active public social media presence associated with her.
Public records reportedly show a Qualified Domestic Relations Order filed in August 2020 to divide the couple’s assets, and she is believed to have remained in Connecticut, close to where the couple raised their sons. Beyond that, little else about her current life has been made public.
Who Is Chris Hansen’s Children?
Hansen has two sons, both from his first marriage to Mary Joan Hansen. He has no publicly known children from his current marriage to Gabrielle Gagnon.
His sons are reported to be named Chase Hansen and Connor Hansen, born in the early-to-mid 1990s.
Similarly, Chris is step-father to his now wife Gabrielle Gagnon’s children: a daughter named Lauren and a son named Paul. Both his stepkids are grownups.
Did Chris Cheat On His Wife? Who Was It With?
Yes. Chris was reported to have had an extramarital affair in 2011, while still married to his first wife, Mary Joan Hansen.
The affair was reported to involve Kristyn Caddell, a television journalist roughly two decades younger than Hansen. According to multiple entertainment outlets at the time, the relationship lasted about four months before it became public.
The fallout reportedly played a role in NBC’s decision not to renew Hansen’s contract in 2013, effectively ending his run on Dateline NBC.
Mary Joan did not publicly confirm the affair as her reason for eventually filing for divorce in 2018, citing only that the marriage had broken down irretrievably, but the timeline of the affair becoming public and the marriage later ending has been widely noted by entertainment reporters covering the story.
Chris Hansen Bio Table
| Fact | Information |
| Full name | Christopher Edward Hansen |
| Born | September 13, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois |
| Age | 66 (as of 2026) |
| Current wife | Gabrielle Gagnon (m. November 13, 2021) |
| First wife | Mary Joan Hansen (m. 1989; div. 2020) |
| Children | Two sons, Chase and Connor, from his first marriage, Stepfather to Lauren and Paul |
| Known affair | Reported 2011 affair with journalist Kristyn Caddell |
| Known for | “To Catch a Predator,” Dateline NBC |
| Residence | Stamford, Connecticut |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Chris Hansen’s Wife?
Chris is currently married to Gabrielle Gagnon, whom he wed on November 13, 2021, in Detroit, Michigan.
Who Was Chris Hansen’s First Wife?
His first wife was Mary Joan Hansen, whom he married in 1989. They divorced in 2020 after nearly 30 years of marriage.
Does Chris Hansen Have Children?
Yes. Chris has two sons, Chase and Connor, both from his first marriage to Mary Joan Hansen.
Did Chris Cheat On His Wife?
Yes. He was reported to have had an affair with journalist Kristyn Caddell in 2011, while still married to his first wife, Mary Joan Hansen.
Why Did Chris And Mary Joan Hansen Divorce?
Mary Joan Hansen filed for divorce in 2018, citing that the marriage had broken down irretrievably. The filing came years after Chris’ reported 2011 affair with Kristyn Caddell became public.
Also Read: What Is Chris Hansen’s Net Worth 2026? His Financial Breakdown
