Blake Anderson Hanley has followed two career paths that rarely appear together in a biography. He is a musician known for his work with Ghost Lion and a trained attorney with professional ties to South Florida. Some readers first discover him through his former marriage to actress Emily Wickersham, but his own background offers plenty to explore.
His story moves between songwriting, live performances, legal education, and community service. These different interests have shaped a career that extends beyond entertainment. Looking at each part of his life helps explain who he is and why his name continues to attract interest.
Quick Bio
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Blake Anderson Hanley |
| Also Known As | Blake Hanley |
| Nationality | American |
| Hometown Area | Palm Beach, Florida |
| Main Professions | Musician, songwriter, and attorney |
| Music Project | Ghost Lion |
| Musical Roles | Singer, guitarist, songwriter, and producer |
| Musical Style | Indie pop, rock, electronic, and global influences |
| Known Album | Nuclear Island |
| Undergraduate Education | Palm Beach Atlantic University |
| Law School | Southwestern Law School |
| Florida Bar Admission | May 23, 2018 |
| Former Spouse | Emily Wickersham |
| Reported Family | Partner Mumbi O’Brien and daughter Muoni |
Who Is Blake Anderson Hanley?
Blake Anderson Hanley is an American musician and lawyer whose public career connects creative work with legal service. In music, he is associated with Ghost Lion, a project built around expressive songs and a broad mix of sounds. His legal background includes work with the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County.
He also became known to television audiences through Emily Wickersham, who played Ellie Bishop on NCIS. Their relationship brought attention to his personal life, although his music and professional training developed separately from her acting career.
Early Life and Connection to Florida
Hanley grew up in the Palm Beach area of Florida. Music became part of his life early, and a local interview reported that he began writing songs when he was ten. That childhood interest eventually developed into recording and performing his own material.
He later lived in Los Angeles for almost a decade before returning to South Florida. Both places appear in the story of his adult life. Los Angeles was home during his marriage and legal studies, while his return to Florida brought a new period of professional work and public performances.
Building a Music Career with Ghost Lion
Ghost Lion is the music project most closely connected with Hanley. He has worked as its singer and guitarist, with songwriting playing a central role in his contribution. The group’s earlier history also includes the name Kin Cayo.
Music coverage from 2016 introduced Ghost Lion as a four-member group featuring Hanley, Enrique Lara, Mike Torres, and Chris Kapica. Early songs included “Broken Glass,” “Way Up,” “Wolves,” and “Shot the Sun Down.” These releases helped establish the project’s identity before Hanley’s later appearance at SunFest brought him further local attention.
What Makes Ghost Lion’s Music Different?
Ghost Lion draws from several musical traditions. Its sound includes indie pop, electronic music, calypso, cumbia, and folk influences. Rather than relying only on a standard rock arrangement, the project brings together guitar, electronic sounds, percussion, and varied rhythms.
Its lyrics often explore personal subjects, including fear, loneliness, relationships, and the search for connection. That combination gives listeners two ways into the music: through its melodies and through the feelings behind the words. Hanley’s interest in emotional honesty is also reflected in how he has discussed the meaning of the band’s name.
The Meaning Behind the Name Ghost Lion
The name Ghost Lion comes from a personal contrast Hanley has described. Friends called him “Ghost” because he sometimes faded into the background. He added “Lion” to represent the courage he wanted to develop.
That explanation gives the name a clear connection to performing. Sharing a song can mean bringing private thoughts into a public space. For Hanley, the name reflects the tension between wanting to remain unseen and wanting to express himself openly through music.
Nuclear Island and His Songwriting
The album Nuclear Island offers a fuller picture of Ghost Lion’s musical approach. Its thirteen songs explore subjects such as heartbreak, identity, relationships, and spiritual questions. Tracks including “Got It” and “Sinking Stones” are part of that body of work.
These subjects make the album personal without limiting it to one event in Hanley’s life. Songs about uncertainty or loss can mean different things to different listeners. His songwriting gives those feelings a place within music that also draws on lively rhythms and layered sounds.
Performing at SunFest
Hanley performed with Ghost Lion at SunFest in 2019. The appearance was a notable moment for a songwriter who had grown up in the Palm Beach area. It placed his music before a large local audience that included people hearing the band for the first time.
He spoke at the time about feeling nervous when performing personal songs. That detail adds a human side to the festival appearance. A confident-looking stage performance can still involve uncertainty, especially when the material comes from experiences that matter deeply to the person singing it.
Education and Legal Qualifications
Hanley’s professional background also includes a strong commitment to education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Palm Beach Atlantic University before completing his legal education at Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles.
His Florida Bar profile records his law school year as 2016 and his admission to the state Bar on May 23, 2018. The directory lists him as a member in good standing and eligible to practise law in Florida.
His Work as an Attorney
Hanley’s legal experience includes work as a domestic violence attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County. This part of his career involved public-interest service and assistance for people facing difficult personal circumstances.
His background also extends to property and estate matters. A professional profile describes his work with the Heirs’ Property Project, including property rights, estate planning, probate, and ownership records. The Florida Bar lists his firm association as The Grantham Law Firm & Standard Title in West Palm Beach.
Marriage to Emily Wickersham
Blake Anderson Hanley married Emily Wickersham on November 23, 2010. Their wedding took place on Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys. During their marriage, Wickersham became a familiar television presence through her role on NCIS.
The couple divorced in December 2018, after approximately eight years of marriage. A detailed reason for their separation has not been reliably established in public reporting. Their marriage remains part of both biographies, but speculation about its ending adds little to the known timeline.
Mumbi O’Brien and Fatherhood
Later reporting described Hanley’s relationship with Mumbi O’Brien, an artist and costume designer. Published accounts also reported that they welcomed a daughter named Muoni, referring to family posts he had shared publicly.
This gives readers some information about his family life after the divorce. However, the available reporting does not confirm every detail of his present relationship status. Describing O’Brien as his reported partner avoids assuming a wedding date or other personal information that has not been clearly established.
What Is Blake Anderson Hanley’s Net Worth?
There is no reliably confirmed public figure for Blake Anderson Hanley’s net worth. Although some websites publish estimates, those numbers do not provide a dependable picture of his finances.
His professional activities show experience in music and law, but a job title or recording catalogue cannot reveal someone’s total wealth. Without reliable financial records, an exact estimate would be guesswork.
Conclusion
Blake Anderson Hanley has built a career that includes both creative expression and legal work. Ghost Lion reflects his interest in songwriting and performance, while his legal background shows experience with community needs, personal disputes, and property matters.
His former marriage to Emily Wickersham remains a reason people search for him. Yet his education, music, and professional experience offer a broader understanding of his life and the different directions he has pursued.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Blake Anderson Hanley?
Blake Anderson Hanley is an American musician, songwriter, and Florida attorney associated with Ghost Lion. He was previously married to actress Emily Wickersham.
2. What is Blake Anderson Hanley’s band called?
His music project is called Ghost Lion. It combines indie pop and rock with electronic sounds and influences from several musical traditions.
3. Is Blake Anderson Hanley a qualified lawyer?
Yes. He attended Southwestern Law School and was admitted to the Florida Bar on May 23, 2018.
4. When did he divorce Emily Wickersham?
Hanley and Emily Wickersham divorced in December 2018. They had married in November 2010.
5. Does Blake Anderson Hanley have children?
Published reporting states that Hanley and Mumbi O’Brien have a daughter named Muoni.
