Simon Wakelin is a British photojournalist and still photographer who works mainly in Los Angeles. Many people know his name because he married actress Tia Carrere, but he also has his own long career in movies, music videos, and magazines.
Quick Bio of Simon Wakelin
| Bio Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Simon Wakelin |
| Birth Date | March 28, 1966 |
| Age (2025) | 59 years |
| Birthplace | London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Photojournalist, Still Photographer, Writer |
| Known For | Film & music-video stills, journalism |
| Education | Concordia University, Montreal |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Ex-Spouse | Tia Carrere |
| Marriage Years | 2002–2010 |
| Children | One child: Jude Wakelin (born 2005) |
Early life and background
Simon Wakelin was born on March 28, 1966, in London, England, and he grew up in the UK. Public sources do not share much about his parents or childhood, so his early years stay private. What we do know is that he later moved abroad to study and to build a creative life.
Because he is not a public-facing celebrity, most of his early story comes from professional bios. These bios focus on his work, not on family details, which helps explain why information about his youth is limited.
Education and move to North America
After finishing school in Britain, Simon Wakelin studied at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, focusing on Classics and English Literature. For Simon Wakelin, living in Montreal was also a first step into the North American media world. This mix of art and language fits his future work, because photojournalism needs both strong visual skills and clear storytelling.
Studying literature can help a photographer in a quiet but strong way. When you learn how stories are built, you start noticing emotion, conflict, and meaning in real life too, and then you can capture those things with a camera.
Career as a photographer
As a professional, Simon Wakelin became known for taking still images on film sets and for shooting promotional work for music artists. He is credited as still photographer on movies like The Death and Life of Bobby Z and Half Past Dead 2. These jobs require patience, fast reactions, and the ability to capture emotion in one frame.
He also worked on music videos, including Basement Jaxx: “Where’s Your Head At?” and Courtney Love: “Mono.” Other credits mention work connected to bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, showing that his camera has been present in big pop-culture moments.
What a still photographer really does
A still photographer works beside the film crew while movies or videos are being made. His job is to create high-quality photos for posters, ads, streaming thumbnails, and press articles. One strong still image can change how people feel about a film before they even watch it.
On busy sets, this means moving quietly, staying out of the way, and catching the best expressions in seconds. It is a behind-the-scenes role, but it shapes the public face of a project.
Key film credits in simple detail
In The Death and Life of Bobby Z, he worked with actors like Paul Walker and Laurence Fishburne. Action movies need fast still shots, because big moments happen quickly and do not repeat often.
In Half Past Dead 2, his stills supported a direct-to-video release, where marketing photos are even more important. People who do not see a long cinema campaign still need a reason to click or buy, and images are the first hook.
Work as a writer and editor
Beyond the camera, Simon Wakelin is a published journalist and magazine editor. He has been head editor at magazines such as HDVideoPro, and he has written special reports for Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and American Cinematographer. That kind of work means interviewing filmmakers, explaining new technology, and turning complex projects into simple, readable stories.
Being an editor also shows trust from the industry. Editors decide what a magazine covers, which voices get space, and how technical topics become clear for readers. This role is a sign of experience, not just talent.
Why his writing matters
Photojournalists often see the film world from a special angle. They are not actors, but they are close to the action. When he writes, he can explain what happens off camera, how creative teams work, and why certain choices matter in a film’s final look.
This mix of photography and writing is rare, and it gives him a wider career than many people in one lane.
Screenwriting and creative projects
Some profiles list Wakelin as an optioned screenwriter. Optioned means a producer has paid to hold the rights to his script, hoping to develop it later. He is credited as a writer for Laced and has other projects listed in development. This side of his career keeps him close to storytelling, not only recording it but also creating it.
Screenwriting fits naturally with his background. After years of watching directors and actors build scenes, it makes sense that he would want to shape stories himself.
Height and appearance
Online searches often include his height. He is listed at 6 feet 4 inches, about 1.93 meters. This makes him noticeably tall in public photos, especially when standing beside actors at premieres or award events.
His appearance is not a big part of his public identity, but height is one of the few personal details widely repeated, so it has become a common curiosity online.
Relationship with Tia Carrere
The phrase “Tia Carrere Simon Wakelin” is popular because they were a Hollywood couple in the 2000s. They met around 2001 while Carrere was working in London, and they married on December 31, 2002, on New Year’s Eve. Carrere was already famous for Wayne’s World, Relic Hunter, and voicing Nani in Lilo & Stitch, while he stayed mostly behind the scenes.
During their marriage, they sometimes appeared together on red carpets, but they kept their home life quiet. Friends and media described them as supportive partners, with Carrere active in front of the camera and Wakelin working just off set, often traveling for jobs.
Life as a mixed-career couple
Their relationship joined two different worlds: a public actress and a private creative worker. This kind of marriage can be tricky, because one partner lives under cameras while the other works behind them. Still, for years they managed to keep a stable family life away from gossip.
Divorce and life after marriage
After about seven years together, Carrere filed for divorce in April 2010, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized on August 12, 2010, and they agreed to share custody of their child. Since then, Simon Wakelin has lived a low-profile life, focusing on his professional projects rather than public attention.
Divorce details stayed mostly respectful and quiet compared to many celebrity splits. This matches both of their styles, especially his habit of staying out of headlines.
Their child: Bianca, now Jude Wakelin
Many old articles call their child Bianca Wakelin, so people search “Simon Wakelin Tia Carrere daughter” and “Simon Wakelin Bianca Wakelin.” Bianca was born on September 25, 2005, in Los Angeles. Her parents raised her mainly away from cameras, in the quiet, creative area of Topanga near L.A.
In May 2025, Carrere shared that her child had come out as transgender and now uses the name Jude. She said Jude is artistic, kind, and loves working with animals, and she is proud that he feels happy and sure about who he is. Jude prefers privacy, so there are very few recent public photos.
How they co-parent
After the divorce, both parents continued to support their child. Co-parenting in Hollywood can be hard because of travel and work schedules, but they kept Jude’s life steady by staying outside heavy media drama.
Carrere has shared that Jude does not like the spotlight, and that choice has been respected over time.
Net worth
“Simon Wakelin net worth” is a frequent search, but there is no verified public number. He is not a celebrity who shares financial details, and he does not run a public company. Some websites estimate his wealth, yet these are guesses. A safer way to understand his income is to look at his steady work across films, music videos, and major magazines, which suggests a comfortable professional life.
In photography and media, reputation is currency. Long-term work with known studios and artists normally means stable pay and repeat projects, even if exact figures are private.
Why he stays private
Even though he was married to a famous actress, Simon Wakelin has always preferred the background. This is normal for many photojournalists, because their job is to highlight others. Keeping his personal world small also helps him protect Jude’s privacy and maintain a stable creative career without constant media pressure.
Some people enjoy fame; others see it as a distraction. His career works best when he can observe quietly and capture real moments, not when he is the story.
Interesting facts and influence
Simon Wakelin has worked with high-level directors and artists, which places him inside major entertainment history. Still photographers help shape how a movie is remembered, because their photos appear on posters, DVD covers, and press kits. His images from projects like Bobby Z or famous music videos are part of how audiences first meet a film or song.
This influence is easy to miss because it happens behind the scenes. But if you have ever been pulled toward a movie by a striking poster or a powerful on-set photo, you have felt the value of his kind of work.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Simon Wakelin?
Simon Wakelin is a British photojournalist, still photographer, and writer based in Los Angeles.
2. What is Simon Wakelin famous for?
He is known for his behind-the-scenes photography on films and music videos, and for being Tia Carrere’s ex-husband.
3. How old is Simon Wakelin?
He was born on March 28, 1966, so he is about 59 years old in 2025.
4. How tall is Simon Wakelin?
His height is about 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m).
5. Do Simon Wakelin and Tia Carrere have a child?
Yes. Their child was born in 2005 and is now known as Jude Wakelin (earlier reports used the name Bianca).
Conclusion
Today, Simon Wakelin is best described as a skilled British creative living in Hollywood: a man who tells stories through photographs and writing. His marriage to Tia Carrere brought public curiosity, but his real identity comes from decades of work in visual media. For readers who want to understand his life fully, the key points are his long career, his respectful co-parenting of Jude Wakelin, and his steady choice to live quietly while making art.
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