Dave McCary stands as the steadfast partner behind Emma Stone’s radiant Hollywood journey, blending quiet creativity with unwavering support. As Stone, 37, makes history with seven Oscar nominations for Bugonia at the 2026 ceremony, her husband of five years remains her grounding force, far from the spotlight he shuns.
SNL sparks lasting love
Their romance ignited in December 2016 on the Saturday Night Live set. Stone hosted, starring in McCary’s “Wells for Boys” sketch as a doting mom. The chemistry clicked instantly, evolving into a private courtship by late 2017. McCary proposed at SNL’s New York offices, sharing the news on Instagram in 2019 with a romantic ring photo. An insider told Page Six, as cited in multiple reports, of the dreamy moment that sealed their path. They married secretly in September 2020 during the pandemic and welcomed daughter Louise Jean McCary on March 13, 2021. A source shared with PEOPLE at the time, “Emma and Dave have a great marriage, and both wanted a child.”
Golden Globe gratitude
At the 2024 Golden Globes, Stone won Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for Poor Things and honored McCary first. “This is amazing, thank you. Dave, I have to start with you really quickly,” she said. “I love you very much. Thank you for everything!” Motherhood reshaped Stone’s world, as she revealed in her August 2025 Vogue cover story. “There’s nothing I feel luckier about,” she told the publication of 4-year-old Louise. “She’s the greatest gift of my life, for sure.” It “streamlined everything. It’s a clichéd thing to say, but it changes everything. And simplifies everything,” Stone added, noting it “unlocks different things” in her acting while prompting deeper role reflections. Her Superbad co-star Martha MacIsaac praised Stone’s parenting grace: “Hood can so difficult and she managing it with grace,” noting her “medical advice is very sound.”
Creative anchor
McCary, 39, joined SNL’s 39th season in 2013 as a writer, segment director, and Good Neighbor comedy troupe co-founder. He directed Brigsby Bear, starring Kyle Mooney, and earned Emmy nods before leaving in 2021 for indie fare. The pair debuted publicly at the 2019 SAG Awards and recently charmed at the March 1, 2026, SAG Actor Awards, Stone in vintage-glam lavender. Stone once told Vogue of balancing fame and family, “There’s the person who comes here, and then there’s the person I am with all my friends and family.” To Louise, she echoes Taylor Swift: “I love you bigger than the whole sky, my girl.” Their rare 2024 Oscars PDA underscored enduring tenderness. McCary’s low-profile devotion proves love thrives beyond acclaim, anchoring Stone’s seven-nomination milestone.
