Meet Lizzy Caplan’s Parents: Richard Caplan and Barbara Bragman

Lizzy Caplan is an acclaimed American actress best known for her roles in Mean Girls, Cloverfield, Masters of Sex, and numerous other film and television projects.

She was born Elizabeth Anne Caplan on June 30, 1982, in Los Angeles, California. She is 43 years old.

Caplan grew up in the Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles in a Reform Jewish household of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. She was raised with strong Jewish traditions, including celebrating a Bat Mitzvah and attending Jewish summer camp.

The youngest of three children, she has an older brother, Benjamin Ben Caplan, and an older sister, Julie Caplan. Her father, Richard Caplan, is a lawyer, while her mother, Barbara Bragman, was a political aide who passed away from cancer in 1996 when Lizzy was just 13 years old, a loss that deeply shaped her adolescence.

She attended Alexander Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, where she was part of the Academy of Music program and graduated in 2000. Although she initially focused on piano, Caplan discovered a passion for acting during high school and chose not to attend college, instead pursuing acting full-time. She made her on-screen debut shortly after in the cult television series Freaks and Geeks.

Caplan stands at 5 feet 4 inches tall. In her personal life, she married British actor Tom Riley after they began dating in 2015. The couple wed in 2017 and share a son, Alfie Riley, born in 2022. Prior to that, she was in a long-term relationship with actor Matthew Perry from 2006 to 2012.

Richard Caplan

Richard Caplan, Lizzy‘s father, worked as a lawyer (often described as an attorney) in Los Angeles. He and Barbara raised their three children in a nurturing environment that balanced professional ambition with family values.

Richard‘s career in law provided the family with stability during Lizzy‘s formative years. As the surviving parent after Barbara‘s passing in 1996, Richard continued to support his children’s pursuits. Lizzy has occasionally referenced her family dynamics in interviews, including lighthearted stories from her early acting days, such as calling her father during her first on-set experience on Freaks and Geeks to share her bewilderment at the process.

Though private about his personal life, Richard Caplan is consistently recognized in biographies as the paternal figure who helped instill discipline and encouragement in his youngest daughter as she transitioned from high school (Alexander Hamilton High School) to a full-time acting career without attending college.

Barbara Bragman

Barbara Bragman (full name: Barbara Ann Bragman Caplan, born March 22, 1946) was a political aide who supported government officials and political operations. Her maiden name, Bragman, connects to a family with ties to public relations—her cousin (or relative) was the notable publicist Howard Bragman.

Barbara played a key role in Lizzy‘s early upbringing, contributing to the warm, culturally rich Jewish home environment. Sadly, she passed away on May 4, 1996, due to illness (cancer), when Lizzy was 13. This loss has been described as a significant and challenging part of Caplan’s adolescence.

In recent years, Caplan explored her mother’s family history on the PBS series Finding Your Roots, uncovering stories about her maternal ancestors, including previously unknown connections to Holocaust-era events.

Though Barbara’s time with her daughter was cut short, her influence as a dedicated professional and mother remains part of Lizzy‘s story. The family—including Barbara‘s adopted stepfather, Lew Friedman, and biological relatives—reflects a background of resilience and community involvement.

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