The actors have wildly different experiences with getting recognized for their roles in the beloved historical drama series.
The duo recently released a collaborative bluegrass album, Safe, Sensible and Sane
Steve Martin and Alison Brown appeared on The Tonight Show to showcase their instrumental bluegrass track “Let’s Get Out of Here.” Martin and Brown performed the rousing song on banjo with the help of several other live musicians, including two strings players.
“Let’s Get Out of Here” is the closing track on Martin and Brown’s recent LP, Safe, Sensible and Sane, which dropped earlier this month. The album marks the musicians’ first collaborative release, and includes appearances from Jackson Browne, Vince Gill, the Indigo Girls, Tim O’Brien, Jason Mraz, and Della Mae. It was tracked live at Compass Sound Studio in Nashville.
“With the banjo, there are so many styles you can work with, but Alison and I both have an ear for its more melodic, melancholy aspect,” Martin explained in a statement about the album. “We got together and played music for days, and ended up making a record where our entire banjo histories coalesce.”
“We didn’t start off by saying, ‘Let’s make an album,’” Brown added. “We were just having a good time writing songs, and at some point we realized we’d written enough to gather them all together and put a bow on it. There was a joy and ease and sense of fun to the whole process, and now hopefully everyone who listens will share that joy.”
Martin recorded the album in the midst of filming his hit TV series, Only Murders in the Building. The fifth season of the show premiered on Sept. 9. Hulu recently announced that the series will head overseas to London to film its sixth season. Martin’s co-star Selena Gomez celebrated the news with a post on Instagram featuring a photo of her with Martin and Martin Short. “We are eternally grateful we can bring any of you any sort of joy,” she wrote. “My deepest gratitude from Steve, Marty and myself.”
While Dave Franco is a popular actor, director, writer and producer, but his wife, Alison Brie, needs no further introduction. While their love story has made headlines, Dave and Alison’s individual success stories are fan-favorite fascinations. The spouses have collaborated on numerous film projects, with their latest being the body-horror flick Together.
Since Dave is starring in the 2025 romance drama Regretting You, fans are hoping that it’s only a matter of time that he and Alison co-star in an on-screen love story as well. Below, Hollywood Life has compiled five facts about the talented and incredible Alison and her marriage to Dave!
Alison Brie Worked as a Costumed Character for Children’s Parties Before Making it Big
During a March 2012 interview with Los Angeles Magazine, Alison opened up about growing up in Pasadena, California, where she worked as multiple costumed characters for children’s parties. Some of the characters she played were a clown named Sunny and Princess Snow White.
“I worked as a clown at parties when I was 17,” the Mad Men alum said. “I took a little weekend course to learn how, but it was not like going to clown college, which I imagine to be much more legitimate. You made up your own face paints and decided on your clown name. Mine was Sunny. My wig was yellow. We each got a boom box with songs, and they’d send you on your way. … Sometimes I was Sunny, and other times I was Snow White, which was probably my best character. The worst characters were the Powerpuff Girls.”
While recalling the different homes she would visit in character, Alison pointed out that she “saw all different parts of Los Angeles,” from the opulent mansions to the simpler lifestyles.
“Some of the parties were at rich people’s houses,” she added. “You’d walk in, and it was fully catered, and the adults were having their separate party off to the side and were all dressed up. You’d go to another booking, and it was a family of five living in a one-bedroom house.”
Alison Brie Is a Writer, Actress & Producer
Like her husband, Dave, Alison is a multi-threat in the entertainment industry. Not only is she an actress, but she’s also a screenwriter and producer. Among her writing, acting and production credits include Horse Girl, Spin Me Round and Somebody I Used to Know.
Alison Brie & Dave Franco Met at a Mardi Gras Party
While promoting their film Together, Alison and Dave rehashed the place they met: at a Mardi Gras party with mutual friends in 2011. They hooked up and kept in touch after Dave went to New York to work on a film. They later went to France together, where they solidified their relationship. From then on, the couple were inseparable, and they got married in 2017.
Alison Brie Came Out as Bisexual in 2023
During a February 2023 conversation with Buzzfeed, Alison was accompanied by Dave, and she casually came out as bisexual. The duo read aloud tweets from fans, and one read, “Listen, I am bisexual for a reason, and that reason is strictly to be used in a threesome by Dave Franco and Alison Brie.” After Dave and Alison high-fived each other, she quipped, “That’s also why I’m bisexual!”
Alison Brie Has Starred in About 40 Movies So Far
As previously noted, Alison has a lengthy portfolio of film and TV work. She has been featured in movies such as Scream 4, The Five-Year Engagement, How to Be Single, Promising Young Woman, Horse Girl, Spin Me Round and Together.
On TV, Alison is best known for her roles in Mad Men, Community and GLOW.
Dave Franco and Alison Brie have become one of Hollywood’s most low-key yet beloved couples. Since meeting over a decade ago, the pair has kept their relationship largely private while continuing to support each other’s careers and collaborate creatively. Their latest joint project was the 2025 body-horror film Together, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and hit U.S. theaters on July 30. Directed by Michael Shanks in his feature debut, the film stars Dave and Alison as a couple whose crumbling marriage takes a bizarre supernatural turn.
As their marriage continues to flourish, many fans have wondered whether the two plan to start a family — especially after Dave was seen holding up two babies at the October 2025 premiere of his film Regretting You. The little ones starred in the film as his character’s child. Over the years, Alison has opened up about motherhood. Below, learn more about their relationship, wedding, and what they’ve said about having children.
Do Dave Franco and Alison Brie Have Children?
As of 2025, Dave and Alison do not have any children.
What Has Alison Brie Said About Wanting Kids?
Alison has spoken candidly about the topic of having children. In a 2018 interview with The Sunday Times, she revealed that she and Dave often joke about not having kids and enjoy their life without them.
“I don’t really want to have kids. It’s great because I don’t worry about when should I get pregnant — between seasons, while we’re shooting the show — I don’t think about it every day. It would be nice, but I think of all the things that would be so stressful,” she said.
“I think about how much we’re involved in our cats’ lives. Oh my God, if it was a child!”
What Projects Have Dave Franco and Alison Brie Worked on Together?
Dave and Alison have built a strong creative partnership over the years. Their first on-screen project together was The Little Hours (2017), a medieval-era romantic comedy. That same year, they appeared in The Disaster Artist, with Dave starring as Greg Sestero and Alison playing his on-screen girlfriend, Amber.
In 2020, the couple co-wrote The Rental, a psychological thriller that marked Dave’s directorial debut and featured Alison in a leading role. They teamed up again for Somebody I Used to Know (2023), an Amazon Original romantic dramedy written by Alison and directed by Dave, with Alison also starring.
Their most recent project, Together (2025), took their collaboration into bold new territory. The surreal body-horror film explores intimacy and identity in a way neither actor had tackled before. Dave described it as “the most intense experience we’ve ever had on set.”
“Part of the reason we started working together was really just to spend time together, because our jobs tear us apart a lot of the time,” Dave explained in an interview with People.
How Did Dave Franco and Alison Brie First Meet?
Dave and Alison met in 2011 during a Mardi Gras party in New Orleans, introduced by a mutual friend who sensed they’d hit it off. In a joint interview with People, the couple recalled that their first night together was a whirlwind—after sharing a drink laced with molly, they spent the evening “lip-locked.”
How Long Have Dave Franco and Alison Brie Been Married?
Dave and Alison got engaged in 2015 and tied the knot in March 2017. As of 2025, they’ve been married for eight years.
Alison Victoria is bringing her talents to Las Vegas on the new show Sin City Rehab, but she previously worked in Chicago for five seasons on Windy City Rehab. HGTV’s Chicago-based show was not without its shortage of drama, especially in the early seasons.
That’s because of legal drama involving Victoria and her former business partner Donovan Eckhardt, whom she no longer works with. Scroll down for a refresh on what happened, including where the two stand today.
What happened to Alison Victoria and Donovan Eckhardt?
Victoria and Eckhardt had a falling out in 2020, which was documented on Season 2 of Windy City Rehab. Victoria officially pulled the plug on her working relationship with the contractor after she found out he mishandled company finances, she revealed on an episode of the show.
At the time of the falling out, Eckhardt’s contractor’s license was suspended (more on that below), but Victoria found that he’d still issued an invoice to his own company. “What are you getting paid for?” she wondered, noting that he couldn’t have done the work due to his suspension. She feared he was also letting other invoices “slip” through for work he hadn’t actually done.
“You got the money off the top,” she ranted. “That means that’s my money too. Those are my houses. That’s my bank loan. And I received zero from those jobs. From most of them, I received zero profit.”
“This is the end with me and Donovan,” Victoria said. “He’s gone, by his own right, by his own doing. I have lost a friend and I have lost a business partner. But I do know this … this happened for a reason, and I know that I am strong, and I know that I will get through this.”
In 2021, Eckhardt sued Discovery Inc. and Big Table Media, Windy City Rehab’s production company, claiming the accusations about how he handled finances were false. While he did not sue Victoria directly, she was inadvertently brought into the lawsuit amid Eckhardt’s claims of “defamation” and “intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
Eckhardt claimed he was painted as the “villain” on Windy City Rehab, leading to “depression, sleeplessness, and loss of appetite,” according to Chicago Sun Times. He said he also lost money because of the drama. The lawsuit was dismissed, per Chicago Sun Times.
Why did Donovan Eckhardt lose his license?
Eckhardt’s contractor license was suspended for 45 days in 2019, according to the Chicago Sun Times. The outlet reported that Eckhardt “violated the law by building three garages and garage decks without permits and endangering workers and the public by removing flooring at properties without putting up safety barriers.”
In defense, Eckhardt claimed that he did not give the direction to complete this work. He said the work was done by people he authorized to work on the properties, though. The city still held him liable since he was still the company owner. Eckhardt was also accused of working at 11 properties without the proper permits.
All of this came amid a bunch of other legal issues for Victoria and Eckhardt. The two were hit with multiple stop-work orders due to building violations in 2019, and we also unable to file new permits at this time. They were also sued by some of the homeowners whose homes they renovated. One particular buyer sued for fraud in 2020, claiming their upstairs shower leaked gallons of water just one day after they closed on the house, with more problems arising from there.
Plus, Eckhardt was sued by a subcontractor, who claimed he did not receive more than $100,000 he was owed for work he did on a project.
Are Alison Victoria and Donovan Eckhardt friends now?
No, Eckhardt and Victoria no longer have a working relationship or a friendship. She told People in 2023 that they’re no longer friends, and reiterated this in another interview with the outlet in 2024.
“Donovan who?” she said. “It is so far behind me that I don’t even look back. But I know it’s so important because when people come up to me, they say, ‘I love your show, I love you and watching you go through that has helped me. Thank you for being vulnerable. Thank you for showing it.’”
Per his Instagram page, Eckhardt still appears to be doing contracting work.
Sin City Rehab, Season 1, Wednesdays, 9/8c, HGTV
The Association of Event Organisers (AEO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Alison Willis, chief executive officer of Easyfairs, as its new chair. The decision was made at the recent AEO Board meeting, with Andrew Williams, executive vice president at Informa, named vice chair. Rachel Swann, chief operating officer of the energy division at dmg events and outgoing chair, will take on the role of past chair until September 2026.
The AEO also extends its sincere thanks to Matthew Butler, group managing director of CloserStill Media, who stands down from the Executive Committee as outgoing past chair. His ongoing support and dedication to the AEO over the years has been invaluable and greatly appreciated.
Willis’s priority for the coming year will be to continue building on the AEO’s momentum around member engagement, with a particular focus on delivering a refreshed value proposition that truly reflects what members want and need. She will work closely with the Board and the wider membership to ensure that AEO’s offering stays relevant, impactful, and future-focused.
Willis said:
“I’m truly honoured to take on the role of AEO chair at such an exciting time for our sector. There’s so much energy and ambition among our members, and my priority is to harness that – working together to make the AEO experience even more rewarding, relevant, and inspiring. Over the coming year, I’ll be connecting directly with members to co-create a value proposition that supports their ambitions and reflects the best of our industry. Together with Andrew, Rachel, Anna, and the Board, I can’t wait to build on our successes and help shape a bright future for event organisers across the UK.”
Swann said:
“It’s been a privilege to serve as AEO chair and work alongside so many dedicated colleagues. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made – especially around member engagement and advocacy. As I pass the baton, I’m confident that Alison’s passion and focus will keep the AEO moving forward, and I look forward to supporting her and Andrew in this new chapter.”
Anna Golden, chief executive of AEO, added:
“Rachel has steered the AEO through a period of real change, and her commitment has set a high bar. As we welcome Alison and Andrew into their new roles, my focus will be on deepening our member relationships and delivering on the promise of a refreshed value proposition – one that’s shaped by what our community truly wants and needs.”
Board rotation and new appointments
As part of its regular Board rotation, the AEO thanks the following outgoing Board members for their service and contribution:
- Carina Bauer – chief executive officer, IMEX Group
- Ruth Carter – chief executive officer, CIBSE
- Sophie Walker – chief operating officer, Immediate Live
Golden expressed her thanks, saying:
“A huge thank you to Carina, Kerry, Alison, and Sophie for their invaluable contributions to the AEO. Their commitment and insight have played a key role in the association’s continued growth.”
The new Board members joining AEO are:
- Simon Albert – managing director, Messe Frankfurt UK
- Emma Barrett – managing director, Broadway Events
- Tim Willoughby – managing director, Mark Allen Group
The new Board members were formally appointed at the AGM in Manchester on 3rd September 2025 and will help steer the future direction of the association.
The refreshed Board is set to play a central role in guiding the AEO and ensuring it continues to meet the evolving needs of its members and the wider events industry.
