Hollywood is weird. One day you’re watching a high-stakes shootout in a Neo-Western, and the next, you’re scrolling through Instagram seeing the same actress talking about cattle ranching or a tech startup.
Cassidy Freeman has always been that kind of enigma. Known for playing the steel-spined Tess Mercer on Smallville and the equally formidable Amber Gemstone on The Righteous Gemstones, she doesn't exactly follow the typical "starlet" blueprint. And honestly, her personal life is just as grounded.
When people search for Ben Ellsworth Cassidy Freeman, they’re usually looking for the story behind the man she married in 2019. It wasn't a "red carpet debut" kind of romance. It was something far more interesting—a partnership between a veteran actress and a tech founder who basically overhauled how the restaurant industry works.
Who Exactly is Ben Ellsworth?
Most celebrity husbands are either other actors or "mysterious businessmen." Ben Ellsworth is neither. He's a chef-turned-entrepreneur from Charleston, South Carolina.
Actually, his backstory is kinda wild.
Before he was the CEO of Gigpro, Ben spent over twenty years in the trenches of the hospitality world. He worked his way up from being a college dropout slinging fries at a comedy theater in Georgia to becoming the executive chef at Mercato in Charleston.
But here’s the kicker: Ben has been incredibly open about his struggles with sobriety. He nearly drank himself to death before getting clean in 2017. He often says that if he hadn't found recovery, his brain wouldn't have been clear enough to spot the "Aha!" moment that led to his company.
"I was staring at a pile of dishes... the dishwasher didn't show up. My phone went off with an Airbnb notification. I thought, 'A stranger can book a room in my house with two clicks, but I can't fill a shift?'" — Ben Ellsworth, Charleston Magazine.
That moment birthed Gigpro, an app that functions like the Uber of the kitchen world. It connects understaffed restaurants with hospitality pros looking for extra shifts.
The Wedding: A Quiet 2019 Milestone
If you're looking for glossy magazine spreads of their wedding, you won't find many. Ben Ellsworth and Cassidy Freeman tied the knot in 2019.
By the time they married, Cassidy was already a household name for fans of Longmire and Smallville. She had previously been married to Justin Carpenter (back in 2012), but her life with Ben seems to represent a different, perhaps more settled, chapter.
They don't live in the center of the Hollywood bubble. You’re more likely to find them balancing life between the filming schedules in South Carolina (where The Righteous Gemstones is shot) and the rugged landscapes Cassidy grew up loving.
The Family Connection
Cassidy isn't just an actress; she's part of a creative dynasty. Her brothers are Crispin Freeman, a massive name in the voice acting world, and Clark Freeman, a musician and actor.
Family is everything to her.
She’s spoken often about her parents—high-powered Chicago attorneys who eventually bought a cattle ranch in Montana.
That ranching background is likely why she fits so well with someone like Ben. They both understand hard work that involves your hands, whether it's searing a steak or fixing a fence.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Their Dynamic
There’s a misconception that "Hollywood people" only marry other "Hollywood people" for the networking. With Ben Ellsworth and Cassidy Freeman, it feels more like a collision of two people who are both "doers."
- Ben is the disruptor: He took a broken industry (hospitality staffing) and built a solution from scratch.
- Cassidy is the chameleon: She moves from sci-fi to prestige comedy to indie thrillers without breaking a sweat.
She’s also a mom now. In recent interviews, like her 2025 appearance on The Sackhoff Show, Cassidy talked about the "beautiful chaos" of balancing motherhood with a career that often takes her away for weeks at a time. Ben’s role as a founder probably gives them a unique flexibility that a two-actor household might lack.
Why They Still Matter in 2026
In an era of over-leveraged "influencer" couples, the Ellsworth-Freeman pairing is refreshing. They represent a shift in how we view celebrity. It’s less about the "who are you wearing" and more about "what are you building."
Ben’s company, Gigpro, has expanded into dozens of markets across the Southeast and beyond. Meanwhile, Cassidy’s performance as Amber Gemstone has turned her into a cult favorite, proving she has the comedic timing to match her dramatic chops.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Entrepreneurs
If you’re following this couple for inspiration, there are a few real-world takeaways from their journey:
- Look for "unfilled shifts" in your own life. Ben Ellsworth didn't set out to be a tech mogul; he just wanted a dishwasher. If you see a repetitive problem, that's usually where the money (and the purpose) is.
- Privacy is a choice. You can be a lead on an HBO show and still have a private, meaningful marriage. You don't have to post every meal to stay relevant.
- Recovery is a superpower. Ben’s transparency about his sobriety shows that hitting rock bottom isn't the end—it's often the prerequisite for building something that actually helps people.
If you’re looking to keep up with them, Cassidy remains active on Instagram, mostly sharing behind-the-scenes looks at her work and her love for her dogs. Ben continues to lead Gigpro, focusing on making the hospitality industry more sustainable for the workers who keep it alive.
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They’re a reminder that even in the world of TV and tech, the most successful projects are the ones built on a solid foundation.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Watch: Check out The Righteous Gemstones on Max to see Cassidy's latest work.
- Research: If you're in the service industry, look up Gigpro to see if they've launched in your city yet.
- Follow: Check out the official Instagram accounts for Cassidy Freeman for updates on her upcoming film projects with former co-stars.