I’m a Celebrity’s Ruby Wax is married to well-known English star – and you’ll recognise him
The American comedian has enjoyed a successful career on British television and is even married to a well-known English TV director – and they share three children together
Ruby Wax attending the special screening of Succession season 4, a Sky exclusive, at British Museum on March 23, 2023 in London, England. Succession will air on Sky Atlantic and NOW from 27th March (Photo by Mike Marsland/Getty Images for Sky)
Ruby Wax might be American, but she’s made a career for herself in the United Kingdom.
England is very special to her as it’s also the place where she met her husband – a well-known English TV director.
The couple has three kids together, but she has described their relationship as “unconventional”.
Early life
Ruby was born on 19 April 1953, making her 72 years old.
She is originally from Evanston, Illinois, in the United States, however, her parents were Austrian Jews. They left Vienna in 1938 due to the threat of Nazis.
Her father was a sausage manufacturer, while her mother was a qualified accountant.
Ruby did attend the University of California, Berkeley and majored in psychology, but she decided to leave after one year.
Comedy career
Ruby moved to the UK and began studying at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow.
She started her acting career at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1978.
She had a longstanding relationship with the BBC and had several TV shows with them including The Full Wax, Ruby Wax Meets Madonna and her series Ruby Wax Meets.
She interviewed many high profile people on the programme, including O. J. Simpson, Pamela Anderson and Sarah, Duchess of York – which saw her nominated for a BAFTA Award in 1997.
Outside of her media career, she also lectures at Bangor University and even received an honorary degree from them in 2022.
Ruby Wax (L) and Ed Bye attend the Hawn Foundation UK launch event hosted by Goldie Hawn at Annabels on March 7, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)
Marriage
Ruby is married to television producer and director Ed Bye, who has been part of many well-known TV shows.
They tied the knot in 1988 and share three children together – 37-year-old son Max, 35-year-old daughter Madeleine and their youngest daughter 32-year-old Marina.
He directed episodes of Absolutely Fabulous, The Vicar of Dibley, Lenny Henry in Pieces and Red Dwarf – one of the shows he’s best known for.
Ruby has described their relationship as “unconventional” as they tend to spend periods of time apart.
She told Fabulous Magazine in 2021: “I have my friends, he has his friends. I don’t assume we have the same tastes. It’s understood we both have different careers.
“We’re together but we have different tastes and jobs – and that’s OK. We don’t step on each other’s toes and I don’t really see myself as Mrs Bye.”
The comedian spent part of the UK’s first lockdown alone in a one-room lodge, away from the couple’s London home.
She previously told the Sunday Telegraph; “Some may think it odd that I was away from my husband for so long. But in truth, time apart isn’t new to our marriage. We’ve been together for 33 years.
“My career has involved so much travel, and I’m not much of a texter or caller, so we’re both used to it. I think it can actually be healthy for relationships to have your own space.”
