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Douglas Emhoff Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 22, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth13 October 1964

Age60 Years (as of 2024)

BirthplaceBrooklyn, New York City, U.S.

ProfessionLawyer, Businessman, Political Activist

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusMarried

SpouseKamala Harris

FamilySon: Cole MacKin Emhoff; Daughter: Ella Rose Emhoff

Douglas Emhoff Biography

Douglas Craig Emhoff is an American lawyer, educator and public figure best known as the spouse of Vice President Kamala Harris. A longtime entertainment-­

Early life and background

Douglas Craig Emhoff was born on October 13, 1964, in Brooklyn, New York City. He spent portions of his youth in New Jersey, including time living in Matawan and Old Bridge Township, and later attended high school in both New Jersey and California. Emhoff completed his undergraduate studies at California State University, Northridge, and earned a J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. He is Jewish and observed a bar mitzvah in 1977.

Career

Emhoff began his legal career after being admitted to the State Bar of California in April 1990. He focused on entertainment litigation and intellectual property work, representing production companies and corporate clients in disputes. Early roles included an associate position in a litigation group and later work at boutique firms. He founded a Beverly Hills law firm in 2000; that firm was acquired by the larger firm Venable LLP in 2006, where he served as managing director of the West Coast offices.

Over the years Emhoff handled a number of high-profile matters. Notable clients and cases included representation of corporate entities in disputes that increased his visibility in entertainment litigation, and a prominent 2009 victory representing a former national advertising agency client. In 2017 he joined DLA Piper as a partner and continued work in media- and entertainment-related disputes, representing clients such as a real estate broker known from television.

In January 2020 Emhoff took an academic role as a visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center, teaching a spring course on entertainment law disputes. Later in 2020, he stepped away from his role at DLA Piper to avoid a conflict of interest when his wife joined a presidential ticket.

Public profile

Emhoff’s public profile rose substantially after meeting Kamala Harris on a blind date in 2013 and marrying her in August 2014 in a civil ceremony. When Harris became vice president in 2021, he took on the role historically referred to as Second Gentleman, becoming the first man and the first Jewish spouse to hold that position. In that capacity he has focused on expanding access to legal aid, promoting gender equality, and supporting public health initiatives, including visits to vaccine clinics, community health centers and schools to raise awareness about vaccination.

He has also embraced his Jewish heritage in the White House setting, hosting a Passover Seder and participating in Holocaust remembrance efforts. Emhoff has traveled internationally for commemorations, meeting survivors and speaking about family history linked to persecution in Europe. In 2024 he invited descendants of Holocaust survivors to the White House to share their stories.

Personal life

Emhoff has been married twice. His first marriage began in 1992 and ended in 2008. He married Kamala Harris in August 2014 in Santa Barbara, California. He is the father of two children from his first marriage: a son who works in the corporate sector and a daughter who is active as a model, artist and fashion designer. His parents are Michael and Barbara Emhoff, and he has a brother and a sister.

He lives at the Naval Observatory residence in Washington, D.C., and maintains ties to Los Angeles, which he lists as his hometown. Emhoff enjoys golf and fantasy football and is known informally by nicknames including Dougie and Second Dude. Physically, he is roughly six feet tall with brown eyes and salt-and-pepper hair, and he has a tattoo on his left arm bearing the initials of his children and a dragon symbol.

Latest updates

In July 2024 the White House announced that Emhoff had tested positive for COVID-19. He continues to take on public-facing roles related to legal access, gender equality and Holocaust remembrance while maintaining teaching and advocacy connections.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Douglas Emhoff, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Visiting Professor, Georgetown University Law Center

Taught a two-credit spring course titled 'Entertainment Law Disputes' beginning January 2020.

2020
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Career Highlights

  1. Admitted to the State Bar of California (1990)
  2. Founded a Beverly Hills law firm sold to Venable LLP (2006)
  3. Served as managing director of Venable's West Coast offices
  4. Became partner at DLA Piper (2017)
  5. Visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center (2020)
  6. Became Second Gentleman of the United States (2021)
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Douglas Emhoff born?

Douglas Emhoff was born on 13 October 1964.

What is Douglas Emhoff known for?

Douglas Emhoff is known for lawyer, Businessman, Political Activist.

What is Douglas Emhoff’s marital status?

Douglas Emhoff's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Douglas Emhoff married to?

Douglas Emhoff is publicly listed as married to Kamala Harris.