Ryan Coogler Wife:
Ryan Coogler wife is Zinzi Coogler (née Evans), an American film producer born on April 18, 1985, in Oakland, California. Her parents, Maria and Zishan Evans, welcomed her in Oakland.
Ryan Coogler is the filmmaker behind Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Sinners. He is one of the most respected directors working today. But he has said many times that the person who shaped his career most is the one standing next to him.
The couple met as teenagers and became a team in life and in business. Zinzi has produced several of his films, and they co-founded the production company Proximity Media in 2021 with Sev Ohanian. In this article you’ll learn about her background, her career, how she and Ryan met, their 2016 wedding, their children and her life away from the spotlight.
Who Is Zinzi Coogler, Ryan Coogler’s Wife?
Zinzi Coogler was born Zinzi Evans. According to one published profile, her birthday is April 18, 1985. Like her husband, she is from Oakland, California. She is American.
She grew up in the Bay Area and was an athlete. Ryan has recalled that she was dominating on the track when they were young, and he said he needed courage to ask her out. Sports were part of both of their lives.
Zinzi went to college in California, and the two began dating officially while at Saint Mary’s in California. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies. That training led to her first career as a certified American Sign Language interpreter.
After college she stayed in the Bay Area for her ASL interpreting job, while Ryan moved to Los Angeles for film school. The couple kept their relationship going long distance. Before Hollywood, her life was built around communication, accessibility and service. She keeps most details about her family and childhood private, so the public record is limited.
Zinzi Coogler’s Career and Net Worth as Ryan Coogler’s Wife
Zinzi did not stay in interpreting. Her producing credits go back to her husband’s 2009 short film Locks, and she now has more than a dozen producing credits.
Her work as a producer and executive producer includes projects such as Creed III, Space Jam: A New Legacy and Judas and the Black Messiah, along with Wakanda-related projects such as Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever. She also produced Sinners, and her leadership on that film was described as crucial to its success. Because she produced Sinners, she was in line to become an Oscar winner herself if the film took the top prize.
In 2021, she joined forces with Ryan and Sev Ohanian to create Proximity Media. The company makes films and other projects rooted in culture and storytelling. At Proximity, Zinzi is a founder and a key decision-maker, not just a supporter.
Ryan has been open about how much he relies on her judgment. He has said she is always the first person to hear his ideas, and he has called her his anchor.
Net worth: Zinzi Coogler’s net worth has not been confirmed by any reliable source. Estimates online vary and are often unsourced, so we do not publish a figure here. What is clear is that she has a successful producing career and co-owns a major production company.
How Did Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Coogler Meet?
Their story began long before Hollywood. Zinzi has said, “We met when we were 13 or 14.” Ryan has said much the same.
Their first outing was a trip to the movie theater to see Bring It On in 2000. Ryan described it as their first time holding hands and sharing popcorn. It is fitting that a future director and a future producer began with a movie.
They stayed connected through high school and college. She believed in his talent as a screenwriter during their college years. The best-known story from that time is the gift of screenwriting software. Ryan was struggling to write scripts in Microsoft Word, and he was broke, playing football on a small scholarship. Zinzi scraped together the money and bought him Final Draft.
When she visited him in Los Angeles, she sometimes sat in on his film classes. By the time his career took off, she already knew his creative process well.
The engagement: The couple has not shared public details of how Ryan proposed. They are private people, and no proposal date or location has been confirmed by a reliable source. What is documented is the long path from teenage sweethearts to their 2016 wedding.
Ryan Coogler Wife Marriage and Wedding Details
Ryan and Zinzi married in the spring of 2016. Ryan and Zinzi got married on May 1, 2016. The ceremony came after more than a decade together. By then, Fruitvale Station had made Ryan a rising director, and Creed arrived later that same year.
The couple kept the wedding private. Wedding photos from the day are hard to find. There is no verified public information about the venue or the guest list, so we won’t guess. It fits their style, since they have always kept personal milestones out of the headlines.
Their public moments as a couple are well documented, though. At the 2025 Met Gala, Ryan spoke about the importance of movies in their relationship. At the Critics Choice Awards, he gave an emotional speech honoring Zinzi and credited her with pushing him to be better as a student, athlete and man.
At a Directors Guild event in early 2026, Ryan said he was extra nervous because his anchor and life partner was not there, since Zinzi was at home with their sick son. Moments like these show how openly he credits her.
Children and Family Life of Ryan Coogler’s Wife
Ryan and Zinzi have kept their children out of the public eye, so their names and birthdates are not public. In early 2019, shortly before the Oscars, news broke that the couple was expecting their first child. The news came out through a friend’s social media post, not an announcement from the couple.
The reported number of children has changed over time. Earlier articles said they have two kids and that their names and genders have not been disclosed. More recent reports say they share three children. Ryan has also mentioned a son. Because the couple does not confirm family details, the most recent reports are the best guide, and the exact details remain private.
Ryan has also joked about being new to parenting, and Zinzi has said she hopes her work helps make a softer world for her kids. The couple balances huge public careers with a family life they protect closely. They attend premieres and award shows together, but they rarely share photos or stories about home life. That choice gives their children a normal childhood.
Zinzi Coogler on Social Media
Zinzi Coogler is not a heavy social media user. She does not frequently give interviews or post on social media. Compared with many Hollywood spouses, she keeps a low profile online.
Because of this, we cannot give a reliable follower count. Accounts with her name are not always verified, and fan pages can be misleading. Be careful with unofficial accounts that claim to be her.
The best way to follow her work is through Proximity Media’s channels, press interviews and red carpet appearances. In interviews, such as one with The Hollywood Reporter, she talks about how she and Ryan work together and about the business side of making films. Her public presence is about the work, not personal content.
Quick Facts: Ryan Coogler’s Wife at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Zinzi Coogler (née Evans) |
| Date of Birth | April 18, 1985 (as reported by one outlet) |
| Birthplace | Oakland, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Film producer, Proximity Media co-founder, former ASL interpreter |
| Married to | Ryan Coogler |
| Marriage Year | 2016 (May 1) |
| Children | Reports say three; names kept private |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed |
FAQ About Ryan Coogler’s Wife
Q: What is Ryan Coogler’s wife’s name?
A: Ryan Coogler’s wife is Zinzi Coogler, whose maiden name is Evans. She is a film producer and a co-founder of Proximity Media.
Q: How old is Zinzi Coogler?
A: One published profile lists her birthday as April 18, 1985, which would make her 41 as of October 2026. She has not widely confirmed her birth date herself.
Q: What does Zinzi Coogler do for a living?
A: She is a film producer and executive who co-founded Proximity Media in 2021. She was previously a certified American Sign Language interpreter.
Q: When did Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Coogler get married?
A: They married on May 1, 2016, after being together since their teenage years. The couple has kept details of the wedding private.
Q: How many kids do Ryan Coogler and Zinzi Coogler have?
A: Recent reports say they have three children, though earlier reports said two. The couple has not shared their names publicly.
Conclusion
Zinzi Coogler is much more than a famous director’s partner. She is an Oakland-born former ASL interpreter who became a successful producer and, with Proximity Media, an owner of her own company. She and Ryan have been together since they were teenagers, and she has been part of his work from the first short film to Sinners.
If you searched for Ryan Coogler wife, the short answer is Zinzi Coogler. The fuller answer is a love story that began at the movies and grew into a creative partnership. They have built a career and a family while keeping their private life private, and fans have plenty to look forward to from this couple.