Full Breakdown
Danny McBride’s Move from Los Angeles to Charleston: Creative Freedom and Family Priorities
7/10/2026, 2:07:23 PM
Relocation to Charleston, South Carolina
In 2017 actor-writer Danny McBride and his wife Gia Ruiz moved their family from Los Angeles to Charleston, South Carolina. The decision, discussed on Rich Roll’s podcast, was framed as a shift away from the “bubble” of Hollywood toward a setting that would better accommodate McBride’s career and parenting goals.
Creative Freedom and Family Environment
McBride said the distance from Los Angeles gave him more leeway on set. While filming *Eastbound & Down* in Wilmington, North Carolina, the lack of a direct L.A. flight meant studio executives rarely visited the location, allowing the production greater autonomy. He also highlighted the lifestyle benefits for his children—son Declan, 14, and daughter Ava, 10—including reduced exposure to social-media platforms and access to outdoor activities such as fishing on a local creek.
Balancing Work and Parenting
According to McBride, fatherhood reshaped his work habits. He now begins his day before his children awaken, using that time for writing and other creative tasks. By the time the kids are up, he has already “started something that’s got my mind working, that has me excited,” enabling him to be present for school drop-offs and later return to his projects. He described the need to “find the balance” between producing television shows and fulfilling his roles as a partner and parent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When we were shooting 'Eastbound,' we were shooting in Wilmington, North Carolina, and the idea that there was not a direct flight, at that time, from L.A. to North Carolina, we noticed that the executives never came to set,” — Danny McBride
- “In my house, I try to limit my kids having access to all this stuff,” — Danny McBride
- “I think maybe that's part of the benefit of being in Charleston is like, we live on a creek and the kids in our neighborhood are into fishing, and they're into, you know, getting out in the water,” — Danny McBride
- “CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP "And then by the time the kids go awake, I already have started something that's got my mind working, that has me excited.” — Danny McBride
