Who Is Joel McHale's Wife? All About Sarah Williams McHale

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'Animal Control' star Joel McHale and his wife, Sarah Williams McHale, married in 1996

Neilson Barnard/Getty Sarah Williams McHale and Joel McHale attend ELLE
Neilson Barnard/Getty Sarah Williams McHale and Joel McHale attend ELLE's 24th Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration presented by L'Oreal Paris, Real Is Rare, Real Is A Diamond and CALVIN KLEIN at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California

For years, actor Joel McHale dished on all things pop culture as the wisecracking host of The Soup, but one topic he has remained relatively private on is his decades-long marriage to his wife, Sarah Williams McHale.

After meeting in college, Joel and Sarah wed in 1996, the same year he made his TV debut on the Seattle-based sketch comedy show Almost Live!. Since then, the couple have welcomed two sons — Eddie in 2005 and Issac in 2008 — and Joel went on to star in Community, Stargirl and Animal Control.

Joel and Sarah celebrated their 25th anniversary in July 2021, and she shared a throwback photo from their wedding day on Instagram to commemorate the occasion.

"How is that even possible @joelmchale? All these years with you and I still find you funny…occasionally," she wrote in the caption. "You are the best partner in everything, except introversion. You aren't good at that at all, and yet you understand my need for silent retreats. I love you and am so grateful to be your wife."

So who is Joel McHale's wife? Here's everything to know about Sarah Williams McHale and her relationship with the comedian and TV host.

She's an artist

<p>Stefanie Keenan/Getty</p> Joel McHale and his wife, Sarah Williams McHale, at the Hammer Museum on March 25, 2023.

Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Joel McHale and his wife, Sarah Williams McHale, at the Hammer Museum on March 25, 2023.

Sarah has posted her artwork on Instagram, including mixed media pieces, ink sketches and handmade cards.

In July 2019, she shared photos of herself in the middle of a painting and revealed the final results.

"Painting with an assist from the dogs (In reality I was pushing Bean away with my foot and yelling at him to back away. That's when @joelmchale came outside and took the picture unbeknownst to me.)," she captioned the Instagram post.

She met Joel at the University of Washington

Kevin Parry/WireImage Joel McHale and his wife Sarah Williams McHale arrive in an Audi event on June 23, 2009.
Kevin Parry/WireImage Joel McHale and his wife Sarah Williams McHale arrive in an Audi event on June 23, 2009.

Joel and Sarah both attended the University of Washington, where he majored in history and played football for about a year, according to ESPN.

During WIRED's autocomplete interview video series in December 2020, the actor recounted how he met his future wife and enlisted the help of a friend to ask her out on a date.

"I met her twice ... first time, I was a freshman, and she was a senior. ... I was like, 'that's a very pretty woman,' " Joel said. "Then I did not see her again for, like, three years."

He continued, "I called my friend Kim, and I was like, 'Hey, do you think you could put a good word in for me with Sarah Williams?' And she was like, 'Good luck,' but Sarah took pity on me and allowed me to take her out, and then I wore her down, and she then eventually agreed to marry me."

She wore her mom's dress for her wedding to Joel

Sarah Williams Instagram Joel McHale and his wife Sarah Williams McHale on their wedding day.
Sarah Williams Instagram Joel McHale and his wife Sarah Williams McHale on their wedding day.

When Joel and Sarah married on July 20, 1996, she wore something old and borrowed from her mother and grandmother.

Sarah shared the details in a celebratory Instagram post for her and Joel's 24th wedding anniversary.

She captioned two throwback photos with The Bear star from their special day, "We were young and in love and probably naive, but I am so thankful we found each other and keep choosing each other. I love you! (Dress was my mom's wedding dress from 1967, pop-it beads courtesy of Grandma Ruth)."

She and Joel share two sons

Michael Buckner/Getty Joel McHale with his wife Sarah Williams McHale, and their sons Eddie and Isaac attend the creative arts fair and family day "Express Yourself", on November 11, 2012 in Santa Monica, California.
Michael Buckner/Getty Joel McHale with his wife Sarah Williams McHale, and their sons Eddie and Isaac attend the creative arts fair and family day "Express Yourself", on November 11, 2012 in Santa Monica, California.

Joel and Sarah have two sons: Edward "Eddie" Roy McHale, who was welcomed in 2005, and Isaac Hayden McHale, who was born in 2008.

When it comes to parenting their boys, Joel has praised Sarah as a "supermom."

"She just thinks of things I never do," he told Redbook in 2011. "If I were taking care of the kids, they'd be running around in potato sacks. People would ask, 'Do your kids brush their teeth?' I'd be like, 'Yeah, every year.' So she's brilliant, and she's beautiful."

<p>Stefanie Keenan/Getty</p> Joel McHale and his wife Sarah Williams McHale with their kids Isaac McHale and Edward McHale attend Hammer Museum K.A.M.P. on May 22, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Joel McHale and his wife Sarah Williams McHale with their kids Isaac McHale and Edward McHale attend Hammer Museum K.A.M.P. on May 22, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

The Great Indoors actor revealed in 2018 that when his sons were diagnosed with dyslexia, he realized that he, too, had learning difficulties. Joel opened up about his experience on friend Dax Shepard's podcast, Armchair Expert.

"So my sons are also dyslexic," he said. "One was being diagnosed, and the doctor ... was describing all of the symptoms, and I was like, 'That's what I have. And she goes, 'Oh, I was wondering which one it was because it's passed down.' "

Joel has shared that he and his kids bond by playing video games and planning pranks.

“We have two sons, and I'm the kind of third son. My maturity level is about the same, and I think my sons would agree with that,” he told PEOPLE in 2023. “And to quote Mr. Mom from 1981 with Michael Keaton when he was pulling up to school and they were like, ‘You're doing it wrong.’ That's usually what I get.”

She and Joel have three dogs

Sarah Williams McHale Instagram Joel McHale and his wife Sarah Williams McHale with their dogs.
Sarah Williams McHale Instagram Joel McHale and his wife Sarah Williams McHale with their dogs.

In addition to their children, the couple have expanded their family with three adopted dogs: Beanbag, Cowboy and Harry.

Joel and Sarah often share photos of the furry trio on Instagram. They've also captured adorable snaps of the pups on a holiday getaway with the family and for Sarah's 50th birthday celebration.

In April 2020, she posted an image of herself with Beanbag on Instagram, writing, "Date night at home again #beanbagthedog Thanks for the photo @joelmchale."

She and Joel are big Seattle Seahawks fans

Sarah Williams McHale Instagram Joel McHale and Sarah Williams McHale at a Seattle Seahawks game.
Sarah Williams McHale Instagram Joel McHale and Sarah Williams McHale at a Seattle Seahawks game.

Joel and Sarah are huge Seahawks fans. The pair have attended many games and posted about their outings on social media.

In 2018, the family had a major moment with their favorite team in honor of Isaac's 10th birthday. Sarah shared a photo on Instagram of her younger son wearing a Seahawks jersey and posing with his dad and the team's former quarterback Russell Wilson.

"Somebody turned 10 today! Thanks @dangerusswilson for making Isaac's day," she captioned the picture.

She enjoys spending time outdoors with Joel

<p>Tibrina Hobson/Getty</p> Joel McHale and Sarah Williams attend The Hearts For Hope Gala Benefiting Union Rescue Mission on February 16, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California.

Tibrina Hobson/Getty

Joel McHale and Sarah Williams attend The Hearts For Hope Gala Benefiting Union Rescue Mission on February 16, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California.

During their downtime, Joel and Sarah go mountain climbing and hiking together.

For the comedian's birthday in November 2020, Sarah posted a selfie of the two hiking and a throwback photo of the pair smiling at each other.

She captioned the two images, "Happy birthday @joelmchale! Now and then (1996). You are the best partner in life ...You cook, clean, pick up dog poop and so much more. I love you forever."

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