Who is Zac Affleck? All you need to know about the Mormon Wives star and his rumored link to Ben Affleck

Zac Affleck first became popular as a cast member on Hulu’s The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, where viewers follow his life alongside his wife, Jennifer. He grew up in Utah, served a mission, and studied medicine at Brigham Young University before stepping into the spotlight. He is in the medical field by profession.

Rumors swirled on social media that he might be family to Hollywood star Ben Affleck; but both genealogical research and statements from Zac Affleck and Jennifer confirm that the link is just a family joke.

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Zac Affleck appeared on TV as part of a reality series

Zac Affleck appears on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which shows Mormon influencers and their partners dealing with marriage, faith, and community issues. The show’s season 2, which started streaming on May 15, 2025; highlights how Zac and Jennifer worked on their marriage in therapy and even delayed some of Zac’s medical studies to focus on family life. Viewers also see Zac balancing classes, hospital rotations, and filming schedules in Utah, where the series is set.

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He grew up in Utah and is training to be a doctor

Zac Affleck was raised in a Latter-day Saints home in Utah and served a mission in the Dominican Republic after high school. He then enrolled at Brigham Young University and earned his bachelor’s degree in July 2024 before starting medical school.

“I love helping people and wanted to be a doctor,” Zac Affleck told People magazine in September 2024.

He paused parts of his medical training during intense moments on the show, but plans to return full-time when filming wraps.

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His marriage and family life are central to the show

Zac Affleck met Jennifer through a Mormon dating app in 2018, and they married on June 28, 2019, in California. Jennifer, a social-media creator with over a million followers, became the family’s main earner when Zac cut back on his studies to be on camera.

The couple has two children, Nora (born November 2021) and Lucas (born July 2023) and announced a third baby on the way in season 2, which viewers first saw in May 2025.

“Just because of everything that we went through last year and because of everything we’ve had to do so much therapy,” Jennifer told PEOPLE about how they stayed together.

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The Ben Affleck rumor started as a light-hearted comment

In 2022, Jennifer joked on TikTok that Zac Affleck was a distant cousin of Ben Affleck, which sparked online curiosity. Some fans even tried to map family trees, linking Zac’s grandfather in Utah to Ben’s Boston relatives.

In a September 2024 interview with People, Jennifer had said:

“Zac’s dad has met Ben Affleck when he was very little. I’m hoping to meet him one day, too!”

But public records and ancestry experts found no connection between the two Affleck families.

As a source told Just Jared, “There is no documented link between the Utah Affleck branch and Ben’s family,” calling the rumor “absolutely not true."

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Zac and Jennifer share their side of the story

In a confessional in May 2025, Zac Affleck said he had 'no idea' about being related to Ben Affleck.

"It's never been something serious," he said. "And so, when Jen started telling people that, I did tell her, 'I don't think you should say that anymore. I think that's probably gonna backfire.' "

Jennifer added:

"I brought it up once and press ran with it, and I feel like that's all I've ever talked about since then," she said. "But at this point, I'm like, 'Hey, if I meet Ben Affleck and J.Lo on the way, then great.' "

According to Jennifer the rumor began as a family joke and grew beyond their control once it hit social media.

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He remains focused on medicine and family life

As of May 16, 2025, Zac Affleck is back in medical school and working toward becoming a physician while still filming parts of season 2. He says he values privacy but appreciates that the show gives viewers a look at real challenges couples face. Jennifer continues her influencer career; sharing updates on their family and marital growth. Together, they plan to raise their children in Utah and hope to keep balancing public life with their personal goals.

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