Who Is Timothy Olyphant's Wife? All About Alexis Knief

Timothy Olyphant married his college sweetheart, Alexis Knief, in 1991

Timothy Olyphant is known for his acting, but he also has an important off-screen role — as a supportive husband to his wife of over 30 years, Alexis Knief.

The couple’s relationship blossomed during their college days at the University of Southern California and have been inseparable ever since, dating through college and marrying in 1991.

Over three decades later, Olyphant and Knief continue to grow their relationship as well as their family, raising three children together — Grace, Henry and Vivian — in Los Angeles.

The actor openly cherishes his relationship with his wife, often sharing glimpses of their life in his interviews. Reflecting on his long marriage to his college sweetheart in a 2011 interview with Women's Health, he shared, “You have to be with the right person, and you both have to be willing to do the work, day in and day out, to make it happen,” a mantra that seems to be the cornerstone of their lasting relationship.

So who is Timothy Olyphant’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Alexis Knief and her relationship with the actor.

They met in college and have been married since 1991

Olyphant and Knief's romance began in the halls of the University of Southern California, where they were both students. Olyphant had been recruited to join the swim team, and told Conan O'Brien during at 2014 interview that he was an "artsy jock" while at college. When a photo of the actor at college was shown on screen, Olyphant teased, "my wife married that guy!"

Their relationship blossomed in college and by 1991, the college sweethearts decided to walk down the aisle, marking the start of their lifelong journey together.

She shares three children with Olyphant

As the Deadwood actor’s career was taking off, he and Knief were also growing their family. They welcomed their first child, Grace, in June 1999. Two years later, their son Henry was born, and in 2003, they added another daughter, Vivian, to their family.

Olyphant has openly discussed the challenges and joys that come with parenting. In an interview on The Ellen Show in 2012, he joked about adjusting to life with three kids: "They’re good kids, and I think I’ve gotten used to them," he teased, adding, "I mean it’s pretty clear to me at this point we are keeping them."

He also shared a candid take on fatherhood to Women's Health, describing it as exhausting: "It f------ exhausts you! That's how it changes you! Imagine I call you at midnight, hang up without saying anything, call you two hours later and hang up again. This continues. Oh, and by the way, in between my calls, you're wondering if I'm dead."

Knief is a stay-at-home mom

Knief has embraced her role as a stay-at-home mom, as she and Olyphant raise their family mostly away from the spotlight.

In a light-hearted moment during a 2019 interview on Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, Olyphant shared some insight into his wife's perspective on Hollywood events: "I have a fantasy that I get nominated for an Oscar and then as the award show approaches....I say 'Well, the Oscars are Sunday' and she goes 'That's kind of your thing,' " he joked.

She supports his career

While Knief generally prefers to keep a low profile, rarely stepping into the spotlight except for occasional red carpet appearances with her husband, Olyphant frequently brings her up during interviews, revealing that she is a grounding force in his life and possesses a particularly sharp sense of humor.

He reflected on his would-be Emmy speech to Conan in 2012, “My opening line—this was my wife’s idea actually—I was going to look at the trophy... and then look out at my wife of 20 years and say, ‘Well, Honey, this is it. I’m finally leaving you,’ ” capturing the playful support that his wife brings to their marriage.

They raise a few pets together

The duo has also had a myriad of pets together, including two Shiloh Shepherds, aptly named "Ah ah" and "No” as Olyphant joked on Ellen in 2012, a rabbit, guinea pig, some fish and a stray house cat that seemingly stays outside.

The actor said at the time that his animals brought plenty of character to the household, especially since one of the dogs was even on Prozac to manage its energy levels. Reflecting on his daily walks with the dogs, Olyphant jokingly shared, "I like to go for walks. I don't like being threatened to go on a walk."

He also shared details of how the family came to be the owners of a cat. Olyphant described his rather resourceful approach to getting his family a feline friend after his kids encountered a bunch of stray cats hanging around their hotel while on vacation.

“Tonight, we'll put a little cat food out on the sidewalk. Tomorrow night, we'll move it a little closer, and we'll just keep moving it right up to the front door. You give me a little time, I'm gonna get you a cat by Thursday,” he jokingly recounted.

Their daughter Vivian is following in Olyphant’s footsteps

The couple’s younger daughter Vivian has started her acting career, inspired by her father. She studied acting at William Esper Studio and learned songwriting at Berklee College of Music. Her first gig was in Justified: City Primeval where she played Willa Givens, the daughter of her father's character, Raylan Givens, for four episodes.

Vivian shared her excitement about working with her dad in an interview with /Film in 2023. "I was really excited to work with my dad. Just preparing for the audition was a joy. Even if I hadn’t gotten the part, I would have been happy," she said.

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