Who Is Gypsy-Rose Blanchard?
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard is an American author, reality television personality and social media creator whose life became internationally known following the 2015 killing of her mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard.
Blanchard pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2016 and received a 10-year prison sentence. She served about eight years before being released on parole from the Chillicothe Correctional Center in Missouri on December 28, 2023.
Her personal life has also remained a major part of public interest. She married Ryan Scott Anderson while incarcerated, divorced him in 2024, and later reunited with her former fiancé, Ken Urker. The couple welcomed their daughter, Aurora Raina Urker, in December 2024.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Gypsy-Rose Alcida Blanchard
- Date of Birth: July 27, 1991
- Age: 35
- Birthplace: Golden Meadow, Louisiana, United States
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Author, reality television personality and social media creator
- Known For: Her life story, criminal case involving the death of her mother, memoir and Lifetime television series
- Height: Not publicly confirmed
- Mother: Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard
- Father: Rod Blanchard
- Daughter: Aurora Raina Urker
- Former Husband: Ryan Scott Anderson
- Former Fiancé: Ken Urker
- Released From Prison: December 28, 2023
- Current Status: Living in the United States and active as a public figure and author
Early Life and Education
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard was born on July 27, 1991, in Golden Meadow, Louisiana, to Rod Blanchard and Clauddine Blanchard, commonly known as Dee Dee.
Her parents separated before she was born, and Gypsy spent most of her childhood with her mother. Rod maintained contact with his daughter in her early years, but the relationship grew more distant after Gypsy and Dee Dee moved away from Louisiana.
Gypsy’s childhood was dominated by her mother’s claims that she suffered from numerous medical conditions. Dee Dee reportedly told doctors and others that her daughter had illnesses including leukemia, muscular dystrophy, seizures and other serious conditions. Gypsy was also presented publicly as having mobility problems and was frequently seen using a wheelchair.
She underwent numerous medical procedures and treatments and was made to use medical equipment, including a feeding tube. Her mother also controlled much of her education and social life.

Gypsy later said she eventually realized that she could walk and that many of the illnesses she had been told she had were not real. Her medical records became important evidence during the criminal investigation following Dee Dee’s death.
Because of the way her childhood was managed, Gypsy did not have a conventional school experience. Her mother removed her from regular schooling while she was still young and told others that her health prevented her from attending.
Gypsy later educated herself in several areas while incarcerated and has spoken about reading extensively during her years in prison.
Career
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s public career began primarily through media coverage of her life and criminal case rather than through a conventional entertainment career.
The 2015 death of her mother brought her story into the international spotlight after investigators discovered that the medical history presented by Dee Dee did not accurately reflect Gypsy’s actual health. Gypsy admitted that she had helped plan her mother’s killing with her online boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn.
Her story subsequently became the subject of documentaries, news reports, television programs, books and scripted entertainment.
In 2017, HBO released the documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest, directed by Erin Lee Carr. The film examined Gypsy’s childhood, her relationship with Dee Dee and the events surrounding the murder.
Hulu later dramatized the case in the 2019 limited series The Act, starring Joey King as Gypsy-Rose and Patricia Arquette as Dee Dee Blanchard. The series was based on publicly known events surrounding the family.
Gypsy did not create The Act, and she later said she did not plan to watch the series. While incarcerated, Gypsy participated in extensive interviews that eventually became the basis for Lifetime’s The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. The three-night documentary series premiered in January 2024 and featured Gypsy discussing her childhood, her relationship with her mother, the murder case and her experiences in prison.
After her release from prison in December 2023, Gypsy quickly became a major social-media personality. Her first public posts attracted millions of views and followers as people followed her adjustment to life outside prison.
Lifetime subsequently launched Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up, a reality docuseries following her life after release. The show documented her relationship with Ryan Anderson, her family relationships, her separation from Anderson, her reunion with Ken Urker and the birth of her daughter.
The series premiered in June 2024 and was renewed for a second season, giving viewers further access to Gypsy’s transition into life as a free woman and later as a mother.
Gypsy also became an author. She co-wrote her memoir, My Time to Stand, with Michele Matrisciani and Melissa Moore. The book was originally published in December 2024 and later released as a trade paperback in April 2026.
In the memoir, Gypsy discusses her childhood, the abuse she says she experienced, her mother’s deception, the murder, her years in prison and her efforts to build a new life after incarceration. The book became a New York Times bestseller.
She also previously contributed to Released: Conversations on the Eve of Freedom, a book containing interviews and writings connected to her life immediately before her release from prison.
Personal Life
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s personal life has received considerable public attention, particularly her relationships and transition into motherhood. Her first widely known romantic relationship was with Nicholas Godejohn, whom she met online. Their relationship eventually became connected to the plan that resulted in the death of her mother in 2015.
While incarcerated, Gypsy later entered a relationship with Ken Urker, whom she met through correspondence. Urker proposed to her in 2018, but their engagement ended in 2019.
Gypsy subsequently began communicating with Ryan Scott Anderson, who had written to her while she was in prison. The two developed a relationship and married in 2022 while she remained incarcerated.
After Gypsy was released in December 2023, the marriage quickly fell apart. The couple separated in March 2024, and their divorce was finalized in December 2024.
Following the separation, Gypsy reunited with Ken Urker in April 2024. Their relationship became public again, and they later announced that they were expecting a child.
Their daughter, Aurora Raina Urker, was born on December 28, 2024. Gypsy and Ken continued to share aspects of their relationship publicly through interviews and social media. They also appeared together on Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up.
In 2025, Gypsy discussed their relationship and said they had attended couples therapy as they worked through communication and family-related issues.
Ken Urker died on October 1, 2026, at a residence in Raceland, Louisiana. He was found unresponsive on his 34th birthday. His death was confirmed by family and reported by multiple major media outlets.
Following his death, Gypsy described Ken as an important person in her life and the father of their daughter. She also said she believed he died from an overdose but stated that she did not know what substance he had taken or whether the overdose was intentional.
The official investigation into his death was still ongoing at the time of reporting, so the circumstances should not be treated as finally established beyond the confirmed death itself.
Social Media Handles
- Instagram: @gypsy.rose
- TikTok: @gypsy.rose
- X: @gypsy.rose
- Facebook: Gypsy-Rose Blanchard
- YouTube: Gypsy-Rose Blanchard
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s Net Worth
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s exact net worth is about $500,000 to $1 million. Since her release from prison, she has developed several potential income sources through television appearances, social-media activity, book sales, interviews and other entertainment-related work.
Her memoir My Time to Stand became a New York Times bestseller, while her Lifetime television projects have also given her a professional source of income.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Gypsy-Rose Blanchard?
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard is an American author, reality television personality and social-media creator whose life became internationally known after the 2015 killing of her mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard. - How old is Gypsy-Rose Blanchard?
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard is 35 years old in 2026. She was born on July 27, 1991. - Where is Gypsy-Rose Blanchard from?
She was born in Golden Meadow, Louisiana, United States. - Why did Gypsy-Rose Blanchard go to prison?
She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for her role in the 2015 killing of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. She received a 10-year prison sentence and was released on parole in December 2023 after serving about eight years. - When was Gypsy-Rose Blanchard released from prison?
She was released from the Chillicothe Correctional Center on December 28, 2023, after serving about 85 percent of her sentence. - Who was Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s mother?
Her mother was Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, whose death in 2015 led to the criminal case that made Gypsy internationally known. - Who was Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s boyfriend?
Her most recent partner was Ken Urker. The two first became romantically involved while Gypsy was incarcerated, separated, and reunited in 2024. Urker died on October 1, 2026. - Who was Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s husband?
Her former husband was Ryan Scott Anderson. They married in 2022 while Gypsy was incarcerated and finalized their divorce in December 2024. - Does Gypsy-Rose Blanchard have children?
Yes. She has one daughter, Aurora Raina Urker, whom she welcomed with Ken Urker in December 2024. - What happened to Ken Urker?
Ken Urker died on October 1, 2026, at a residence in Raceland, Louisiana. He was found unresponsive on his 34th birthday. Gypsy later said she believed he died from an overdose, although the official circumstances were still under investigation. - What is Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s book called?
Her memoir is titled My Time to Stand. It was written with Michele Matrisciani and Melissa Moore. - Was Gypsy-Rose Blanchard in The Act?
No. The Act is a scripted Hulu series based on the Blanchard case. Joey King portrayed Gypsy-Rose in the series. - What documentaries has Gypsy-Rose Blanchard appeared in?
Her story was featured in Mommy Dead and Dearest and Lifetime’s The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. She later starred in the Lifetime reality series Gypsy Rose: Life After Lock Up. - What is Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s height?
Her height has not been reliably confirmed through a sufficiently authoritative public source. - What is Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s net worth?
Gypsy-Rose Blanchard’s exact net worth is about $500,000 to $1 million.
