Jennifer Briner and Michael Fishman. | Michael Fishman and his children Aaron, Isabelle, Camille, and Larry. | Source: Getty Images | Instagram/reelmfishman
Michael Fishman's wife and Michael Fishman's kids have shaped him into the man he is today—a supportive partner and devoted father. While most people couldn't understand Michael's family situation, the actor managed to make everything work.
Actor Michael Fishman rose to fame as D.J. Conner on the critically acclaimed ABC sitcom "Roseanne." He starred in various series, such as "Seinfeld" and "The Conners," and many films, such as "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" and "Undrafted."
In addition to his successful career and the numerous awards for which he was nominated and won, the renowned actor maintained a positive relationship with his unique family.
Michael Fishman poses for a portrait on the lot outside of the soundstage for "Roseanne" in 1990 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Is Michael Fishman Married?
Michael was formerly married to makeup artist Jennifer Briner for 19 years. Briner works in the makeup department for the films "Match Me If You Can," "Frank and Penelope," and "Suffer the Children."
Michael met Jennifer when he was a teenager while picking up his brother Matthew from a daycare center where she worked. He proposed to her shortly after they began dating.
The couple tied the knot on October 22, 1990. A month after they exchanged vows, Michael and Jennifer became parents for the first time to their son, Aaron, born on November 19, 1999.
Jenny Briner and her husband Michael Fishman attend the celebration of the TV series "Roseanne" on January 4, 1999, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Jennifer became a stay-at-home mom shortly after Aaron's birth, while Michael continued acting in the "Roseanne" series. Three years later, they welcomed their daughter, Isabelle.
Michael once opened up about his experiences becoming a father at a young age and starting a family. He said that people found it difficult to accept that he had accomplished both milestones early in his life.
Michael and his wife enjoyed a happy and prosperous family life together for several years. But on December 28, 2018, the couple decided to separate after 19 years of marriage.
Michael reportedly stated they were "in the process of splitting amicably" in June 2017, but their separation got delayed when the famous TV show he was on suddenly stopped making episodes.
The couple never revealed the reason behind their split. The decision to part ways was mutual, Fisherman clarified, adding that he and his wife even went to court and filed the necessary documents together.
According to the papers they filed, they wanted joint custody of their daughter both physically and legally. The couple also worked on a private way to divide their wealth, including several cars and bank accounts.
Michael Fishman and Jennifer attend ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration on March 17, 2003, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Three days after announcing their split, Michael stressed on December 30 that he had only filed for legal separation from his estranged wife as he wanted to share his health insurance with her. He explained:
"Among the reasons for not getting a regular divorce is the shared desire to keep Jenny [Briner] covered by my health insurance and allow to slowly unfold our 20 years together in a way mutually beneficial for our family, particularly on behalf of our children."
Given Michael's high regard for Jennifer, the actor had no immediate plans to cut ties with his estranged wife. He also never gave much thought to pushing for a divorce.
Michael has a total of four children.
In a 2019 Instagram post, Michael reflected on the good old days when his children were still small and shared a photo of himself smiling with his kids, in which he noted that time is the "most precious thing."
Michael Fishman at the premiere of ABC's "Roseanne" on March 23, 2018, in Burbank, California. | Source: Getty Images
How Many Kids Does Michael Fishman Have?
Michael has a total of four children. In addition to his two biological children from his marriage to Jennifer, he later adopted Camille and Larry into his family. Fishman said in a 2020 interview with host Tamron Hall:
"I have two biological children from a previous marriage, and at the end of that marriage, I met his (Larry's) older sister, Camille, who a friend of mine kind of said, 'She needs some support and guidance and mentorship.'"
Michael and his biological children have grown close to Camille and Larry since taking them in at their home. The TV star revealed to Hall that Camille asked him if he could be her father after telling him she never had a dad.
Michael said he first discussed Camille's request with Aaron and Isabelle, who agreed to keep their adoptive siblings. Since then, the proud father has shared many sweet photos online, including ones taken at the beach, at home, and during a sunset drive.
The current careers of three of Michael's children are unknown. On the other hand, Michael and Isabelle are co-founders of Altruistic Acres, a charity that works to protect, preserve, and restore the natural environment.
Isabelle Fishman is also a photographer, besides co-founding the environmental group. Her works were featured in various publications, such as People, Yahoo! News, The American Reporter, California Gazette, and USA Reformer.
What Happened to Michael Fishman's Son Larry?
According to Michael, Larry sadly passed away three years ago due to a drug overdose. Michael, who shared his tragic loss with Hall, explained that Larry did not have an issue with substance abuse before his death.
Larry moved to a transition house after living with his sister Camille for a while. He ended up trying substances that Michael described as "bad drugs" that reacted differently in the young man's body.
Michael, who had been very private about Larry's death, wished that he had been able to help him sooner. He hoped sharing his experience would help other families dealing with similar issues.
He said that the essential aspect of the difficult situation was that a person struggling with a drug addiction should be brave enough to admit their hardships and need assistance.
On National Sons Day that year, Michael paid Larry a heartfelt Instagram tribute accompanied by two pictures of the actor, Larry, Camille, Aaron, and Isabelle. "Always in my heart," the actor penned.
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