Ben Smith-Petersen: Stuntman and Husband of Riley Keough

Anyone who has watched Mad Max: Fury Road knows the kind of grit and physicality that goes into every stunt, and Ben Smith-Petersen is one of those performers who turns that chaos into art—and he’s also the husband of actress Riley Keough. This profile traces his career from Australian circus trapeze to blockbuster films, and explores the relationship that started on a desert set.

Full Name: Ben Smith-Petersen · Profession: Stuntman, Actor · Spouse: Riley Keough (m. 2015) · Children: 1 daughter · Notable Works: Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga · Nationality: Australian

Nine facts, one pattern: Ben Smith-Petersen has built a quietly impressive career behind the scenes of some of the biggest action films of the past decade.

Who Is Ben Smith-Petersen?

Ben Smith-Petersen is an Australian stuntman and actor who has worked on major Hollywood productions. He is widely recognized as the husband of actress Riley Keough, but his own career stands on its own merits.

Early Life and Background

• Details of his birth and upbringing are sparse, but he is Australian and reportedly began performing as a trapeze artist in an Australian circus before transitioning into stunt work (IMDb biography).
• He holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which adds to his physical versatility (Harper’s Bazaar).

Career Highlights

• His first major stunt credit came on The Great Gatsby (2013) and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) (Elle).
• He performed stunts in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and later in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) (Harper’s Bazaar).
• He was part of the stunt ensemble that won a SAG Award for Outstanding Action Performance for Mad Max: Fury Road (Elle).
• Additional stunt work includes The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Suicide Squad, Barbie, and Daisy Jones & the Six (acting cameo) (Elle).

Personal Life

• He married Riley Keough on February 4, 2015 (IMDb).
• The couple has one daughter, Tupelo Storm Smith-Petersen, born in 2022 (IMDb).
• They reside in Los Angeles and are often seen supporting each other at events.

How Did Riley Keough Meet Her Husband?

The love story between Riley Keough and Ben Smith-Petersen began on the set of Mad Max: Fury Road in Namibia in 2014.

Meeting on the Set of ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’

• Keough played Capable, while Smith-Petersen worked as a stunt performer. They met during production and quickly connected (Elle).
• According to Keough, the attraction was immediate: “It was very instantaneous” (Elle).

Their Early Romance

• They got matching tattoos on the third day they hung out (Elle).
• Within two months they moved in together. Six months later they were engaged, and they married a year after that (Elle).

Engagement and Marriage

• The couple married on February 4, 2015, in a small private ceremony.
• They have kept most details of their wedding private, consistent with their preference for a low-profile life.

The implication: Their relationship moved fast, but a decade later they remain one of Hollywood’s most grounded couples.

Is Riley Keough Still with Her Husband?

Yes, Riley Keough and Ben Smith-Petersen are still married as of 2025, with no reports of separation.

Current Relationship Status

• They have been together since 2014 and married since 2015 (IMDb).
• Keough has described their partnership as a team effort, especially in co-parenting (Elle).

Public Appearances and Social Media

• The couple occasionally appears together at red-carpet events and shares moments on Keough’s Instagram.
• Smith-Petersen maintains his own Instagram handle @isitmeurlooking4, though he posts infrequently.

What Does Riley Keough’s Husband Do?

Ben Smith-Petersen’s primary profession is stunt performance, though he has also taken on acting roles.

Stunt Work and Acting Roles

• He works as a stunt performer for film and television, specializing in practical stunts (Harper’s Bazaar).
• He has acted in supporting roles in Spark and Light, Manodrome, and The Dead Thing (Harper’s Bazaar).

Notable Filmography

• Stunt credits include Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa, Barbie, Suicide Squad, The Suicide Squad (utility stunts and stunt double for Jai Courtney) (DC Extended Universe Wiki).
• He also worked on The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Elle).

Other Ventures

• He holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and actively participates in the jiu-jitsu community (Harper’s Bazaar).
• His background includes trapeze performance in a circus, which likely contributed to his agility and fearlessness in stunts.

Do Riley Keough and Ben Smith-Petersen Have Children?

Yes, the couple has one daughter.

Daughter Tilly

• Their daughter, Tupelo Storm Smith-Petersen, was born in 2022 (IMDb).
• The couple refers to her as Tilly in public, but her full name has not been officially confirmed by the family.

Balancing Family Life

• Keough has spoken about how Smith-Petersen is a supportive co-parent and that they operate as a team (Elle).
• They keep their daughter’s life largely private, sharing only occasional family moments on social media.

The pattern: Unlike many celebrity couples, they prioritize normalcy—a conscious choice that may shield their child from the intense Presley spotlight.

Summary: The Real-Life Action Hero Behind the Presley Legacy

Ben Smith-Petersen has carved out a career that most stunt performers would envy, working on major franchises and earning industry recognition. But his biggest role may be away from the cameras: co-raising a family with Riley Keough while navigating the intense public interest tied to her Presley lineage. For fans of action cinema and celebrity stories alike, the takeaway is clear: he is a professional in his own right, not just a spouse. For the couple, the choice to live privately and raise their daughter outside the tabloid glare may be their most impressive stunt yet.

For similar actor biographies, see Gaten Matarazzo Movies and TV Shows and Anya Taylor-Joy Movies and TV Shows.