For decades, the standard celebrity narrative followed a predictable script: the blockbuster wedding, the high-profile pregnancy announcement, and the inevitable “Who do they look like?” magazine cover. However, a growing number of A-list couples are flipping the script and choosing a different path. From industry veterans to modern icons, these pairs are candidly discussing their decision to remain childfree, citing everything from environmental concerns and career dedication to a simple lack of desire for the role of mom or dad.
Alison Brie and Dave Franco
Source: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Married since 2017, this acting duo has decided that their two cats, Max and Otis, provide all the parental fulfillment they need. Brie has noted in several interviews that the logistical stress of balancing a rigorous filming schedule with a pregnancy felt unappealing, especially given how much she values her sleep and freedom. During the 2025 press tour for their film Together, the couple leaned into their “fun aunt and uncle” energy, proving that a family of two can be just as complete and dynamic as any other.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
Source: Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images for RH
As one of Hollywood’s most enduring power couples, DeGeneres and de Rossi decided early in their marriage that they didn’t want to take on the long-term commitment of raising a child. While they admit they would likely be great parents, they have expressed a preference for being “cool aunts” rather than primary caregivers. Their shared life is instead centered around their mutual love for animal rescue and philanthropy, showcasing a model of partnership that focuses on shared advocacy rather than traditional expansion.
Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally
Source: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
The Parks and Recreation and Will & Grace stars have built a legendary partnership based on mutual adoration and a shared sense of humor, but children were never a requirement for their happiness. Mullally has candidly shared that while they tried a little bit early on, they lacked the “organic burning desire” that typically drives people toward parenthood. Today, they remain one of the industry’s most supportive pairs, often stating that their relationship is their primary focus and that they feel entirely fulfilled without heirs.
Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen
Source: Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images
The comedic powerhouse and his filmmaker wife have been refreshingly blunt about their lack of desire to parent, often citing their love for their current lifestyle as the primary reason. Rogen has frequently joked in interviews that the secret to his prolific creative output—and his ability to enjoy indulgent Saturday mornings—is the absence of children. For this duo, the freedom to pursue hobbies like pottery and high-level filmmaking outweighs the traditional milestones of parenthood, a sentiment they continue to reaffirm as they enter new stages of their marriage.
Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor
Source: Amy Sussman/Getty Images
This award-winning pair has often discussed how their unconventional relationship is built on a foundation of total independence and mutual respect. Paulson, who froze her eggs years ago just in case, has more recently leaned into the realization that she prefers the freedom her current life affords. Both actresses are deeply dedicated to their craft, and they have spoken about how their bond is strengthened by the fact that they can give 100% of their emotional energy to one another and their work.
Miley Cyrus and Maxx Morando
Source: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
While Cyrus has been in the spotlight for decades, her stance on motherhood has remained remarkably consistent and rooted in environmental concerns. She has famously stated that she refuses to bring a new life into a world facing a climate crisis until she feels the planet is in a more sustainable state. Alongside her partner, musician Maxx Morando, Cyrus continues to prioritize her music, viewing her decision as an act of responsibility toward the future of the earth.
Ricky Gervais and Jane Fallon
Source: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix
The creator of The Office and his longtime partner, best-selling author Jane Fallon, have been together since 1982 and are famously united in their decision to forgo marriage and children. Gervais has joked that he would worry about a baby until it was 50, admitting that his own anxiety and the world’s state make the prospect of parenting unappealing. Fallon has echoed these sentiments, writing candidly about the relief she felt when they realized they were both on the same page.
Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham
Source: Paul R. Giunta/Getty Images
Though they have been together since 1986, the media mogul and her longtime partner have never felt the need to marry or have children to validate their bond. Winfrey has often remarked that if she had children, they would likely have ended up hating her because her career required so much of her focus and energy. Instead, she has channeled her maternal instincts into the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls.
Christopher Walken and Georgianne Walken
Source: John Lamparski/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
With a marriage spanning over five decades, the Walkens are a rare Hollywood success story who credit their longevity in part to their childfree status. The Academy Award winner has been remarkably pragmatic about the choice, stating that many of his peers had to leave show business to find dependable work once they had mouths to feed. Because they never had children, Walken felt he could take creative risks and endure periods of unemployment that would have been impossible as a father, ultimately allowing both him and Georgianne, a successful casting director, to fully inhabit their artistic lives.
Rachael Ray and John Cusimano
Source: John Lamparski/Getty Images for NYCWFF
The celebrity chef and her musician husband have been married for two decades and have remained steadfast in their decision to stay a family of two. Ray has been open about the fact that she works too much to be the kind of parent she would want to be, noting that she would feel like she was failing at the job.
