Meet the Real-Life Loves of the “Elsbeth” Cast (Including the Couple Who Play Rivals On the Show!)

Elsbeth continues the story of The Good Wife’s Elsbeth Tascioni.

The CBS series stars Carrie Preston as the titular character, revolving around her journey as a consultant detective in New York City. The police procedural dramedy stars Wendell Pierce, Carra Patterson, Daniel K. Isaac and Ben Levi Ross.

In season 2, which premiered in October 2024, Preston’s real-life husband, Michael Emerson, joined cast as Judge Milton Crawford. Speaking with Marie Claire in February 2025, the actress opened up about how they “feel fortunate” to work together, but don’t treat each other differently on set.

“People ask, ‘Did you work on it at home together? Did you rehearse together?’ And the answer is, no, we don’t. We didn’t even really talk about it,” she said. “He’s a consummate professional and this is the show that I’m playing the lead on, so I feel like I know the character pretty well. We just showed up and worked on it together like we would with any other guest actor, and that makes it fresh and fun.”

Preston and Emerson aren’t the only couple to work together on Elsbeth — Patterson’s husband Ruffin Prentiss made an appearance during season 1.

Here’s everything to know about the real-life partners of the Elsbeth cast.

Carrie Preston and Michael Emerson

Preston, who plays former attorney and consultant detective Elsbeth Tascioni, has been married to Emerson for 26 years.

The pair first met in 1994 when they were both performing in the Alabama Shakespeare Festival in Montgomery, Ala. They tied the knot four years later in 1998 at a theater in Preston’s hometown of Macon, Ga. In September 2024, Preston and Emerson celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary.

“26 years ago, we said I do,” Preston wrote on Instagram alongside two then-and-now photos of the couple. “And we are still saying it every day. Happy anniversary to @officialmichaelemerson – my partner in all things life. ❤️.”

Preston and Emerson have worked together several times throughout their careers, including on Lost and Person of Interest. Most recently, they played adversaries when Emerson took on the role of Judge Milton Crawford in Elsbeth season 2.

“It’s interesting, weird and complicated,” Emerson told PEOPLE in December 2024 about sparring with Preston on set. “It’s like a two-layered acting day. You have to act like you don’t know this person that you woke up with in the morning and treat them as if they are a fictional character, and as your adversary, not your spouse. So it’s a lot going on.”

He continued, “Playing those different dynamics is just fun.”

Carra Patterson and Ruffin Prentiss

Carra Patterson, who plays NYPD officer Kaya Blanke, is married to fellow actor Ruffin Prentiss.

The couple tied the knot in May 2019 and share two daughters together. Their older daughter, Cressida, was born in December 2020 and their second daughter, Coretta, was born in February 2023.

Prentiss — who is best known for his roles on SEAL Team and Insecure — guest starred on season 1 of Elsbeth as Detective Darren Jax. In April 2024, shared a compilation video of him and Patterson on set, calling working with his wife “a blessing.”

“In our house, we love to dance…so obviously nothing would change when we stepped on set together! Such a blessing to share the screen with my wife Carra on her show,” he wrote in the caption. “Carrie, you made me feel so welcomed from the second I stepped on set! And walking into a precinct scene with Wendell Pierce was like something out of a dream for me! Thank you both for making the experience so great!”

Wendell Pierce and Erika Woods

Wendell Pierce portrays Charles Wallace Wagner, the captain of Kaya Blanke’s precinct. He has been dating his girlfriend Erika Woods for over a decade.

During a joint appearance on Sherri in February 2025, the couple shared that they first met in 2013 when Woods guest starred as Pierce’s date on The Michael J. Fox Show. Afterwards, the two went on a real dinner date, and their relationship blossomed.

“We appreciated the way each other worked and appreciated each other’s company, and it was just organic,” Pierce said.

The pair worked together again on Power Book III: Raising Kanan, portraying a married couple, Snaps and Pop.

“Wendell is such a giving actor that regardless of our relationship, he and I would have that same professionalism and way of work,” Woods told Blavity. “It just enhances [my work]. I’m very comfortable with him, and we like to ask the same questions about our characters, develop a back story, and have a great time working on the material.”

Daniel K. Isaac and Scott Rising

Daniel K. Isaac joined Elsbeth in season 2, portraying Lieutenant Steve Connor. Isaac went Instagram official with boyfriend Scott Rising in 2023.

In December 2024, Isaac shared a sweet birthday tribute to his boyfriend by posting a carousel of photos of the pair.

“happy birthday to the love of my life. you’ve expanded my world & my heart,” he wrote in the caption. “the greatest life partner, travel partner, theatre date, shoulder to cry on, hand to hold, dance floor stud, party queen, mario party king &&&… to many adventures to come!”

Gloria Reuben

Gloria Reuben portrays Claudia Payne, who is one-half of a power couple with Captain Wagner. In real life, the actress keeps her relationships more private and is not known to be romantically involved with anyone. She was previously married to producer Wayne Isaak.

During an interview with TV Insider in April 2024, Reuben opened up about creating an on-screen relationship with Pierce.

“He and I started talking about our extended family, what that looks like, our marriage as a whole, and the kind of pivotal points throughout our marriage that have really shaped our marriage, and it’s still quite fresh,” she said. “We’re still kind of investigating and finding more detail and more nuances.”

Ben Levi Ross

Ben Levi Ross, who plays Elsbeth’s son Teddy Tascioni, appears to be single. The actor has spoken up about building a close relationship with Preston on set.

“The dynamic with Carrie is so alive and warm and fun. I think the thing that’s so impressive is that she’s not on autopilot at all. She feels so engaged, honestly, at all times,” Ross told ScreenRant in December 2024. “She’s really like ‘mama’ to me on set, at least. She really feels so caring.”

He continued, “I feel like we’re sort of building this relationship as we go, with each other, like feeling how me and Carrie are with each other. Our showrunner, Jonathan Tolins, is sort of watching that and seeing, ‘How can we build upon this relationship?’ “

Molly Price and Derek Kelly

Molly Price, who portrays Detective Jackie Donnelly, is married to FDNY firefighter Derek Kelly.

The pair met while filming the pilot episode of Third Watch in 1999, where Kelly was guest starring, per CNN. They married two years later in 2001 and share one son together.

Micaela Diamond

Micaela Diamond, who plays Detective Samantha Edwards, is not known to be romantically involved with anyone. However, she has shared how she’s bonded with the Elsbeth creators, Robert and Michelle King, as well as the cast.

“I love them so much. I’m doing a few more episodes this [second] season. I adore them,” she told Bleeding Cool News in October 2024. “I love Carrie Preston, who’s an incredible number one on a show to have. We get along like gangbusters. We enjoy each other’s company.”

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