Chris Wallace Wife: Inside His Marriage, Family, and Life Away From the Camera
If you’re searching for Chris Wallace’s wife, you’re likely curious about the personal life of one of America’s most recognizable journalists. Chris Wallace has spent decades asking tough questions in the public arena, but he has always kept his own family life carefully out of the spotlight. The answer is straightforward: Chris Wallace is married to Lorraine Smothers, a cookbook author and former spouse of entertainer Dick Smothers. Together, they’ve built a long-lasting marriage and a blended family that has remained largely private despite Wallace’s highly visible career.
Who Is Chris Wallace?
Chris Wallace is a veteran broadcast journalist whose career spans more than half a century. He is best known for hosting Fox News Sunday, a role he held for nearly two decades, where he earned a reputation for direct questioning and rigorous interviews across the political spectrum.
In 2021, Wallace left Fox News and joined CNN, where he hosted interview and discussion programs such as Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace? and later The Chris Wallace Show. He departed CNN in late 2024 when his contract concluded, marking another transition in a career defined by adaptability and credibility.
Because Wallace has been a constant presence during major political moments, viewers often feel they know him well. That familiarity naturally leads to curiosity about his life beyond the studio—especially the family that supported him through decades of public scrutiny.
Who Is Chris Wallace’s Wife?
Chris Wallace’s wife is Lorraine Smothers, sometimes listed as Lorraine Martin Smothers. The couple married in 1997, and it was the second marriage for both of them.
Lorraine Smothers is a cookbook author rather than a media personality. She has written several cookbooks, including Mr. Sunday’s Soups, a title that subtly nods to Wallace’s long-running role on Fox News Sunday. Her work focuses on approachable, home-style cooking rather than celebrity lifestyle branding, which mirrors how the couple approaches their personal life overall—public when necessary, private by design.
Before marrying Wallace, Lorraine was married to comedian and actor Dick Smothers, making her familiar with public attention long before becoming part of Wallace’s life.
How Chris Wallace Met His Wife
Chris Wallace and Lorraine Smothers have never shared a detailed public account of how they met, and reputable sources don’t attempt to fill in that gap with speculation. What is well documented is the timing: Wallace’s first marriage ended, Lorraine’s first marriage ended, and the two married in 1997.
Their low-key approach to their origin story reflects a broader pattern. Unlike celebrity couples who turn relationship milestones into public narratives, Wallace and Smothers appear to have made a conscious choice to keep those details private.
Chris Wallace’s Previous Marriage
Before marrying Lorraine Smothers, Chris Wallace was married to Elizabeth Farrell. They wed in 1973 and had four children together. The marriage eventually ended in divorce.
This earlier chapter of Wallace’s life is often the source of confusion online, especially when different names appear in biographical summaries. There’s nothing secretive about it—it’s simply a first marriage followed by a second, longer-lasting one.
Marriage, Family Life, and Shared Values
One of the most notable aspects of Chris Wallace’s marriage to Lorraine Smothers is how little they’ve turned their family life into public content. Despite Wallace’s constant on-air presence, their relationship has avoided becoming part of the media cycle.
Instead, the public sees small, intentional glimpses—such as Lorraine’s cookbooks, which emphasize home, routine, and family meals. These details suggest a partnership built on stability rather than spectacle.
In a profession where schedules are unpredictable and pressure is constant, maintaining a long marriage often depends on shared expectations and clear boundaries. Wallace and Smothers appear to have prioritized exactly that.
Does Chris Wallace Have Children?
Yes, Chris Wallace has children, and together he and Lorraine Smothers are part of a blended family.
From his first marriage to Elizabeth Farrell, Wallace has four children:
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Peter
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Megan
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Catherine
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Andrew
Lorraine Smothers has two children from her previous marriage:
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Sarah Smothers
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Remick Smothers
Together, their family includes six adult children. While their names are publicly known, details about their personal lives are kept to a minimum, reflecting the family’s preference for privacy.
How Chris Wallace Balanced Journalism and Family
High-level broadcast journalism is not known for work-life balance. Anchors and interviewers operate on early mornings, late nights, breaking news, and constant public pressure. Over time, that kind of schedule can strain even strong relationships.
Wallace’s ability to maintain a long marriage and raise children through multiple career phases suggests a strong support system at home. While he hasn’t spoken extensively about the mechanics of balancing family and work, the longevity of his relationships points to consistent priorities: communication, mutual respect, and discretion.
Lorraine Smothers’ career path—centered on writing and home-focused creativity—also complements the demands of Wallace’s work. Her cookbooks, often framed around warmth and routine, subtly reinforce the idea of home as a grounding force in an otherwise unpredictable professional life.
Why Chris Wallace Keeps His Family Life Private
For journalists, privacy is often both a personal choice and a professional instinct. Wallace spent decades holding public figures accountable, and it’s reasonable that he would want to shield his own family from similar scrutiny.
Keeping family members out of political and media debates also protects them from the strong reactions that come with Wallace’s work. His approach draws a clear line between public responsibility and private life—a distinction that has likely benefited everyone involved.
Even Lorraine’s public presence remains intentionally non-political, focusing on food and family rather than commentary or controversy.
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