‘My So-Called Life’ Wild Child A.J. Langer Went from Actress to Aristocracy
What To Know
- A.J. Langer, known for playing Rayanne Graff on ‘My So-Called Life,’ transitioned from acting to British aristocracy after marrying Charles Courtenay, the 19th Earl of Devon.
- The couple met in 2002, married in 2005, and had two children.
- Langer and Courtenay are now separated.
Back in the ’90s, the gone-too-soon teenage melodrama My So-Called Life quietly left a massive imprint on a generation. The show starred Claire Danes as Angela Chase, a 15-year-old beauty swathed in a protective armor of teenage angst, her friends, and her crush, Jordan Catalano, played by Jared Leto.
Among her close friends (and biggest betrayers) was Rayanne Graff, played to manic pixie perfection by A.J. Langer. Part best friend in the entire world, part teenage walking disaster waiting to implode at the exact wrong moment, Rayanne was the coolest trainwreck to ever emerge from ’90s primetime.
So it is only fitting that the quirky queen of ’90s teenage angst would eventually become real royalty.
ABC / Courtesy: Everett Collection
After ABC cancelled My So-Called Life after a single (yet impressionable) first season, Langer bumped around Hollywood for a bit, starring in single episodes or guest appearances in hit shows of the era, like Coach, Seinfeld, Baywatch, and Diagnosis Murder, as well as the occasional offbeat pic, like Escape from L.A. and Meet the Deedles.
In the 2000s, Langer found T.V. success briefly in the short-lived series Three Sisters, quirky crime drama Eyes, and a handful of episodes on Private Practice. But the stories of the small screen were nothing compared to her personal life,
In 2004, Langer fell in love and married Lord Charles Peregrine Courtenay, 19th Earl of Devon (a British barrister and hereditary peer) in 2004, with a formal wedding in April 2005.
Castle Rock Entertainment / Courtesy Everett Collection
The two met at a bachelor party in 2002 at a Las Vegas bar, and according to the actress, it was love at first sight: “We caught eyes and smiled. The kilt was a novelty. The smile was all I needed,” Langer told People.
“We instantly got on like a house on fire,” said the Earl of Devon, a.k.a. Charlie. “We went out to a nightclub — I wasn’t allowed in because I was wearing a skirt! So we spent a bit of time walking around the streets and got to know each other really, really well.”
According to Courtenay, he had no idea she was famous. Courtenay didn’t tell Langer the full truth about his family, “just to get to know someone and really like them irrespective of all of this.”
The couple wed in 2005, officially making the actress Lady Courtenay. They welcomed two children and settled in Los Angeles, a world away from ancestral titles and turrets, until the passing of his father changed everything.
In 2015, Langer became the Countess of Devon when her husband succeeded his father as the 19th Earl, trading Hollywood for heritage as the family relocated from Los Angeles to Powderham Castle in England. In 2022, she welcomed Mary Berry into her home and gave a tour of the castle for Mary Berry’s Country House Secrets.
Sadly, the couple filed for divorce after almost 20 years of marriage in 2023. As reported by People, Courtenay confirmed the split from Langer in an official statement from Powderham Castle:
“After much care and consideration, Charles Courtenay, the Earl of Devon, and Countess of Devon, Allison Joy Courtenay, have made the decision to separate and to divorce,” the statement read. “Charlie would like to express his gratitude for his partnership with A.J. and all that they have created together as parents, friends, and partners both in Los Angeles and at Powderham. The well-being of their wonderful children is the highest priority, as he and A.J. focus upon coparenting in the years ahead.”
As of February 2024, the couple filed to dismiss their divorce application “without prejudice,” meaning they remain separated rather than formally divorced.
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