Who was The White Lotus star Walton Goggins’ first wife, Leanne Knight? After she died in 2004, Goggins took a trip to Asia, visiting Thailand 20 years before he returned to film the hit TV show

Apr 10 , 2025

Walton Goggins, who lost his first wife to suicide and sought peace of mind in Thailand decades before his turn in The White Lotus. Photos: @waltongogginsbonafide/Instagram, TNS

Goggins married his Canadian wife in 2001, but she grew disenchanted with his work schedule and LA – she died by suicide in 2004, after which Goggins went to Asia, foreshadowing his White Lotus role

The third season of The White Lotus, set in Thailand, reached fever pitch last week with its finale. The last episode put fan-favourite characters Rick and Chelsea – played by the internet’s new heartthrob, Walton Goggins and the enchanting Aimee Lou Wood – in an unfortunate position.

As The White Lotus withdrawal kicks in, cast interviews have been keeping fans engaged, revealing behind-the-scenes stories, reflections on their characters and more.

Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood in The White Lotus season three as Rick and Chelsea. Photo: TNS

In an interview with Vulture, Goggins, 53, opened up about identifying with his character, Rick Hatchett, who visits The Land of Smiles with his girlfriend, Chelsea, seeking revenge for the death of his father. When the Django Unchained actor received the script for the show, he felt an instant connection.

“I thought, the universe brought this to me for a reason, because I understand him, and I love him, and I love people like him,” he said. Turns out, Goggins had history with Thailand. After his first wife, Leanne Knight, took her own life in 2004, he visited the country “looking for peace … for some resolution”. He was dating Nadia Conners, now his wife, at the time. “I was as lost as Rick is lost. I had nothing for my partner. I understood, intimately, Rick’s frame of mind,” he recalled.

So who was Leanne Knight?

What was her background?

Walton Goggins, who was married to Leanne Knight from 2001 to 2004. Photo: @waltongogginsbonafide/Instagram

Not much is known about Leanne Knight, but according to various sources she was born on March 19, 1967, in Fredericton, Canada, to Peggy and Robert Brian “Bob” Knight. They eventually divorced and Peggy later married Arnold Kaun. Her family also includes her brother, Jay. Per The Daily Mirror, Knight had a dog-walking business based in the Laurel Canyon neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

Her relationship with Walton Goggins

Walton Goggins with wife Nadia Conners and son Augustus. Photo: Living Inside

Per Page Six, Goggins and Knight tied the knot in 2001. However, it appears their marital bliss didn’t last, because Knight apparently filed for divorce not long before her death. According to Mamamia, the Justified star’s career was keeping him busy and his wife wasn’t fond of life in and around Hollywood.