Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Some people build one career. Blake Anderson Hanley built three lives in one. He was a rock frontman. He became a family law attorney. He also became a father who values a quiet, private life. Most people first heard his name because he married NCIS actress Emily Wickersham. But his own story stands on its own. This article looks at his early life, his music, his legal career, his marriage, and where he is today.
Who Is Blake Anderson Hanley?
Blake Anderson Hanley is an American musician and family law attorney. He grew up in Palm Beach, Florida. He first gained public attention as the lead vocalist of the indie rock band Ghost Lion. His voice and songwriting style pulled in fans who liked emotional, honest lyrics. Later, he stepped away from the music industry spotlight and trained to become a divorce lawyer. Today, many people know him best as the former husband of actress Emily Wickersham. But his own path in music and law makes him more than just a celebrity spouse. He built a career, a second marriage, and a family, all largely outside of public view.
Blake Anderson Hanley Quick Bio
Here is a simple table with his key details reported across public sources.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Blake Anderson Hanley |
| Date of Birth | March 2, 1984 |
| Place of Birth | Palm Beach, Florida |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Musician, family law attorney |
| Known For | Frontman of Ghost Lion; ex-husband of Emily Wickersham |
| Former Spouse | Emily Wickersham (married 2010, split 2018) |
| Current Partner | Mumbi O’Brien |
| Children | One daughter, Muoni (born May 2020) |
| Father | Daniel Hanley |
Early Life in Palm Beach, Florida
Blake Anderson Hanley was born on March 2, 1984, in Palm Beach, Florida. He grew up near the coast, in a warm and creative environment. Palm Beach gave him access to art, music, and a relaxed pace of life. Friends and neighbors often described his childhood home as supportive and full of encouragement. He was not raised in a loud, famous household. Instead, his early years were simple, grounded, and shaped by family values. This calm upbringing later showed up in how he handled fame, heartbreak, and career changes as an adult. Even after marrying a well-known actress, he kept his personal journey mostly private, a habit that traces back to his quiet Florida roots.
Family Background and Parents
Reports about Blake Anderson Hanley’s family suggest a mixed cultural background. His father, Daniel Hanley, reportedly moved away from a sports career in Australian rules football before settling into business life in Florida. This gave young Blake a home that blended different cultures and different values. He also has a brother, Drew Hanley, who later played a role in Blake’s wedding by officiating the ceremony. Growing up around a father who changed direction from sports to business may have shaped Blake’s own willingness to change careers later in life, moving from music into the legal profession without much hesitation.
Education and Early Career Choices
Details about Blake Anderson Hanley’s exact school and university history are not widely published. What is clear is that his education background supported two very different skill sets. One side of his training led him toward music, performance, and songwriting. The other side eventually pushed him toward law school and legal practice. Few people follow such different paths in one lifetime. Blake did both. He spent early adulthood chasing a music career, then later pursued formal legal education to become a Florida-registered attorney. This career transition did not happen overnight. It came from years of testing what fit him best.
Blake Anderson Hanley’s Music Career
Long before law, Blake Anderson Hanley worked hard inside the indie music scene. He built a name as a singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His writing style leaned toward personal, emotional themes, which connected well with fans of independent rock. As a musician, he also worked closely with a music producer on several projects, helping shape the sound of his songs. His time in music was not just about performing. He was active in every part of the creative journey, from writing lyrics to shaping the final studio sound.
A few things stand out about this chapter of his life:
- He performed as a rock frontman for several years.
- He worked as both a songwriter and a lead vocalist.
- He built a small but loyal fan base through live shows.
- He later used skills from music, like discipline and public speaking, in his legal career.
Ghost Lion: The Indie Rock Band
Ghost Lion was the band that put Blake Anderson Hanley on the map. As frontman and lead vocalist, he led the group’s sound, which mixed a tropical, laid-back feel with raw, emotional songwriting. The band released tracks that fans still mention today, including songs known informally as “Broken Glass,” “Wolves,” and “Wrong Guy.” Ghost Lion never became a mainstream chart act, but it built a real following within the indie rock band circuit. For Blake, this band project was not a side hobby. It was a serious creative journey that shaped how he approached later challenges, including his shift into law.
From Songwriter to Family Law Attorney
At some point in his adult life, Blake Anderson Hanley made the choice to move away from full-time music and toward the legal profession. This is a rare career combo. Very few working musicians retrain as attorneys, especially in a demanding field like family law. His decision reportedly came from a desire to help people directly, in a more stable and structural way than touring and songwriting could offer. Instead of writing songs about pain and conflict, he began working directly with people facing painful conflict in their own lives, through divorce and family disputes.
How Blake Anderson Hanley Met Emily Wickersham
Blake Anderson Hanley met Emily Wickersham before she became widely known for her role as Agent Ellie Bishop on NCIS. Public reports describe their relationship as starting quietly, without much media attention at first. They reportedly met as friends and grew closer over time, rather than through a fast, public romance. As Emily’s acting career grew, the couple reportedly kept a low profile, choosing privacy over public displays common in the entertainment industry. Their calm, low-key connection set the tone for their entire relationship, right through their wedding day.
Marriage to Emily Wickersham
Blake Anderson Hanley and Emily Wickersham married on November 23, 2010. The wedding took place at Little Palm Island, a private location in the Florida Keys. Some reports say Blake’s brother, Drew Hanley, officiated the ceremony, adding a personal, family touch to the event. Guests were limited mostly to close family and friends, matching the couple’s shared preference for a low-key lifestyle.
| Marriage Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Wedding Date | November 23, 2010 |
| Wedding Location | Little Palm Island, Florida Keys |
| Officiant | Reportedly Drew Hanley (Blake’s brother) |
| Marriage Duration | About eight years (2010 to 2018) |
| Relationship Style | Private, low public profile |
During their marriage, Blake continued his own professional journey while Emily built her acting career on NCIS. Reports describe their years together as respectful and drama-free, which is somewhat rare for a celebrity spouse relationship in the public eye.
Why Blake Anderson Hanley and Emily Wickersham Divorced
Blake Anderson Hanley and Emily Wickersham’s divorce was finalized around December 2018, after close to eight years of marriage. Public reporting has not confirmed one specific reason behind the split. Entertainment journalists and celebrity news outlets noted that the couple showed few public signs of trouble before the news broke. Many fans were caught off guard by the announcement. What is confirmed is that both parties reportedly moved on respectfully, without the public conflict often seen in other celebrity divorce proceedings. Their relationship history, from friendship to marriage to divorce, stayed relatively private throughout.
Life After the Divorce
After the divorce, Blake Anderson Hanley did not disappear from productive life. He continued building his legal practice and stayed connected to music on a smaller scale. Rather than chasing public attention, he focused on his own personal life and professional background. This period marked a real turning point. He shifted his energy toward long-term stability, both in his legal career and eventually in a new relationship. His post-divorce years reflect steady growth rather than public drama, which fits the same quiet personality reported throughout his relationship history.
Mumbi O’Brien and Blake’s New Family
Blake Anderson Hanley found a new relationship with Mumbi O’Brien, described in public reports as a visual artist and costume designer. Their connection reportedly became public around late 2019, after the two had already been building a bond privately. The couple later married in a small, quiet ceremony that matched Blake’s usual preference for privacy. In May 2020, they welcomed a daughter named Muoni. Her name is said to carry a meaning close to “peace,” which fits the calmer chapter Blake entered after his first marriage ended. Blake has occasionally shared small glimpses of his life as a father, though he continues to guard most family details from public view.
Blake Anderson Hanley’s Career as a Divorce Attorney Today
Today, Blake Anderson Hanley works in the legal profession as a family and divorce attorney. Reports place his legal work in the Los Angeles area, where he represents clients going through separation, custody issues, and other sensitive family matters. As a family law specialist, his role often includes handling emotionally difficult situations, including cases connected to domestic violence, custody disputes, and asset division during divorce. Some public reporting also links him to legal aid work, similar in spirit to programs such as Legal Aid Florida, which support people who cannot easily afford private legal help.
A short list of what his current legal work reportedly involves:
- Representing clients in divorce and separation cases
- Handling custody and family disputes
- Supporting clients through sensitive domestic situations
- Working as a Florida-registered or Los Angeles-based attorney, depending on the report
His work today looks very different from his years fronting Ghost Lion, yet both careers share one thing: direct contact with people during difficult, emotional moments in their lives.
Net Worth and Personal Life
Blake Anderson Hanley’s estimated net worth is not officially confirmed through public financial records. Most figures shared online are rough estimates based on his dual income from music royalties and legal work. As a working attorney with an earlier music career, his financial background likely includes both steady legal income and smaller, ongoing earnings tied to his music project with Ghost Lion. Away from work, Blake keeps a private personal life. He rarely gives interviews and avoids heavy social media presence. His public profile today is far smaller than during his marriage to a well-known NCIS actress, and that appears to be a choice, not an accident.
Conclusion
Blake Anderson Hanley’s story is bigger than one marriage or one career. He started as a rock frontman with real talent and a loyal following. He then trained for and built a serious legal career, helping families through some of their hardest moments. His marriage to Emily Wickersham gave him public attention he never fully sought, and his life after that marriage shows steady, quiet growth instead of public drama. Today, as a husband, father, and family law attorney, Blake Anderson Hanley continues to build a life centered on privacy, purpose, and balance between two very different callings: music and law.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Blake Anderson Hanley? Blake Anderson Hanley is an American musician and family law attorney. He is known as the former lead singer of the band Ghost Lion and as the ex-husband of actress Emily Wickersham.
2. When did Blake Anderson Hanley marry Emily Wickersham? He married Emily Wickersham on November 23, 2010, at Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys. Their marriage lasted about eight years before ending in 2018.
3. What band was Blake Anderson Hanley in? He was the lead vocalist and frontman of Ghost Lion, an indie rock band known for its emotional songwriting and laid-back sound.
4. Does Blake Anderson Hanley have children? Yes. He has one daughter named Muoni, born in May 2020, with his current partner, Mumbi O’Brien.
5. What does Blake Anderson Hanley do for work now? He works as a family and divorce attorney, reportedly based in the Los Angeles area, handling family law, custody, and divorce cases.
