Shivangi Sinha
In 2011, news that 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison had married a 16-year-old Courtney Stodden sparked widespread controversy. Their significant age gap became a major topic of debate and drew intense media scrutiny as well as public criticism. Despite the backlash, Doug consistently stated that their marriage was built on genuine love and mutual consent. Lifetime’s ‘I Was a Child Bride: The Courtney Stodden Story’ is based on these events, with Doug Savant portraying Hutchison’s character. The film draws heavily from Doug’s numerous public statements, interviews, and available public records, using them as the foundation for developing his on-screen persona.
Doug Hutchison Started His Career in Theatre Before Moving on to TV and Movies
Doug Anthony Hutchison was born on May 26, 1960, in Dover, Delaware, to Deloris and Richard Hutchison. He spent his early years in Dover before his family relocated to Madison Heights, Michigan, where he attended Bishop Foley High School. His upbringing seemingly involved several moves, as he eventually graduated from Apple Valley High School in Minnesota. He later enrolled at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis–St. Paul. However, his true calling lay in New York City, where his passion for acting took root. There, he began shaping his career, pursuing opportunities that would ultimately launch him into the entertainment industry.
Doug enrolled at the Juilliard School in New York City, where his passion for theatre truly began to flourish. He performed in stage productions like ‘Sing Me Through an Open Window’ and Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’ before driving towards television and film. He became well-known for his work as Eugene Victor Tooms in ‘The X-Files’ and Horace Goodspeed in ‘Lost.’ He further went on to star in ‘Law & Order: SVU’ and ’24.’ On the big screen, Doug can be seen in ‘The Lawnmower Man (1992),’ ‘A Time to Kill (1996),’ ‘Con Air (1997),’ ‘Batman & Robin (1997),’ and the 1999 film ‘The Green Mile,’ which remains one of his most iconic roles.
He built a versatile career across film, television, and theatre and left a mark with his intense performances. He is best remembered for playing Percy Wetmore in ‘The Green Mile’ in 1999, a role that showcased his talent for portraying complex antagonists. On television, he gained recognition as Eugene Victor Tooms in ‘The X-Files,’ Horace Goodspeed in ‘Lost,’ and Davros in ’24.’ His other notable film credits include ‘Con Air,’ ‘A Time to Kill,’ ‘The Salton Sea,’ and ‘I Am Sam.’ Doug also appears in ‘Punisher: War Zone’ and ‘Days of Wrath,’ proving his range in both mainstream and independent projects.
Doug Hutchison’s Marriage to Courtney Stodden Caused a Tabloid Frenzy
In 1999, Doug married actress Kathleen Davison, but they divorced in 2002. This was the same year he got married to Amanda Sellers, but that lasted only till 2005. On May 20, 2011, Doug Hutchison was thrust into the national spotlight when it was revealed that he had married 16-year-old Courtney Stodden with her parents’ consent. At the time, he was teaching an acting class that she attended remotely from Washington, and he claimed he was initially unaware of her true age. Doug maintained that their communication had been monitored by Stodden’s mother, Krista Keller, and that her parents fully approved of the relationship.
Doug alleged that the communication had started via email when Stodden reached out to him and Kristy confirmed the same at the time. He shared that the news of the marriage cost him his manager and strained his familial relationships. The years that followed were filled with tabloid coverage, including their appearance on ‘Couples Therapy’ in 2012. Doug was simultaneously involved in her career as a manager. She later alleged that he isolated her from everyone else. News of Doug and Stodden’s separation first surfaced in 2013, but the couple reconciled in 2014.
In 2016, Doug and Stodden announced they were expecting their first child, but sadly, news of a miscarriage soon followed. That same year, they renewed their vows. By 2017, reports suggested another rift between the two, though they continued living together. In March 2018, Stodden filed for divorce. Shortly after, on April 8, 2018, Doug appeared on the Erick & Deer the Goat YouTube channel and shared that he had returned to Detroit, Michigan. He expressed plans to collaborate with Erick Brown on community projects aimed at spreading peace and publicly voiced support for The Rock Club Foundation.
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Doug Hutchison is Making Appearances on Screen Even Today
In 2019, Doug Hutchison was cast in the TV series’ iZombie’ as Hal, followed by a role in ‘Hope for the Holidays’ in 2020. His upcoming project, ‘Escape from Black Water,’ is currently in production and expected to be released soon. In recent years, he has kept a notably low profile, seemingly choosing to stay out of the public eye. He has not publicly responded to Stodden’s 2021 allegations that he groomed and took advantage of her. While there is a social media profile under his name, it remains unclear whether it is his official account or simply a spoof.
