Zoe Lister-Jones' Husband: The Actress Had an Open Relationship with Daryl Wein before They Married

Posted by Arica Deslauriers on Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein's open relationship began in their college days, and their individual experiences of being in an open relationship were different and eye-opening. Although they later became exclusive and married, the open relationship inspired many of their joint projects.

In mid-September 2022, news broke that Zoe Lister-Jones had filed for divorce from her spouse Daryl Wein. The former lovers had been together for 17 years and married for nine. Irreconcilable differences were the reason cited for their separation.

Zoe Lister-Jones revealed in documents obtained by TMZ that she and Daryl Wein had ended their romance in February 2021. In a recent interview, she said the pandemic forced her to confront a lot of unfavorable "what-ifs" in their relationship.

Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein at the Los Angeles Premiere of "How It Ends" on July 15, 2021, in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images

Lister-Jones used her craft to make sense of her thoughts during the pandemic, something she and Wein had in common. The two had worked with many stars who witnessed the ebbs and flows of their dynamic as a couple.

Joint productions like "Breaking Upwards," which re-enacted their open relationship, and "Lola Versus" put them on the Hollywood radar and more materialized as they cemented themselves in the industry.

Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein at the "White Rabbit" cocktail party during the Sundance Film Festival 2018, on January 19, 2018, in Park City, Utah | Source: Getty Images

Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein's Attempt at Open Relationship Lasted about a Year

Lister-Jones and Wein met when they attended New York University: Tisch School of the Arts in 2004. She was a senior, and he was a sophomore. They began dating, and their romance quickly became serious.

The two began exploring ways to navigate their relationship without being too codependent on one another. The first "experiment" involved "days off" where they didn't communicate and had time to themselves individually.

Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein at the Environmental Media Association's 26th Annual EMA Awards on October 22, 2016, in California | Source: Getty Images

Lister-Jones then proposed opening up their relationship, an idea inspired by her mom's best friends, but without telling each other of their external partners. Wein was initially upset, but the prospect of being sexually intimate with anyone he liked eventually seemed inviting.

The actress and writer was also excited, so she started going on dates. Most of them, if not all, ended poorly. When she decided she no longer wanted non-monogamy, she found that Wein was enjoying himself. They eventually agreed to go exclusive and married in July 2013.

Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein at the "How It Ends" premiere during the 2021 Tribeca Festival on June 20, 2021, in New York City | Source: Getty Images

Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein Were a 'Complicated Couple'

"They know how to get what they want without it seeming obvious that they're working to get what they want, if that makes sense. [...] They're like two heads on the same person, just balancing each other out really nicely," Gerwig observed.

Zoe Lister Jones and Daryl Wein at the Premiere of "America Divided" on September 20, 2016, in California | Source: Getty Images

Notably, Lister-Jones and Wein admitted that separating their work life and relationship was still tricky. They argued frequently during the film's production but, as Michael London, who co-produced "Lola Versus," also shared:

"They're a complicated couple, and when you work with them, you're inside their relationship. It's kind of great. It makes everything more extreme. The stakes feel higher. They argue about everything, but they care that much more about resolving issues because it's their relationship on the line."

Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones at the after party for the premiere of HBO Films' "Confirmation" on March 31, 2016, in California | Source: Getty Images

Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein's Love Lives Remain Quiet since Filing for Divorce

Wein remains active on social media, sharing his adventures and trips on Instagram. His latest project is a 2022 romantic comedy with Zoey Deutch called "Something from Tiffany's." He recently wrote and is producing the upcoming thriller "Electra."

The same can be said for Lister-Jones, who, after filing for divorce, is also active on social media and has advocated for the Writers Guild of America strike. Her latest work is the comedy fantasy series "Slip," which debuted in April 2023.

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