Netflix’s resident golden boy Rudy Pankow is returning to our screens soon in Outer Banks Season Four. Known for his breakout role as JJ Maybank—complete with that irresistible “golden retriever energy”—Pankow quickly found himself a fan favourite, catapulting into the Hollywood spotlight.
Naturally, with his rise to fame came an explosion of curiosity surrounding his love life. So, who is Rudy Pankow dating? Let’s get into it.
Is Rudy Pankow in a relationship?
The short answer: yes, he is taken! Rudy Pankow has been in a relationship with Elaine Siemek, whom he met on the set of Outer Banks. Siemek works as an assistant on the show, and the couple has been together since around 2020. Pankow first confirmed their romance in November of that year, sharing an adorable birthday tribute on Instagram that had fans swooning. “You give me butterflies everyday… literally. Happy Birthday PBM❤️,” he wrote.
Since then, the pair has been going strong—despite a few bumps along the way, courtesy of the internet.
Who is Elaine Siemek?
Elaine Siemek is more than just Rudy Pankow’s girlfriend—she’s also a talented film photographer and part of the behind-the-scenes team at Outer Banks. The couple initially met on the set, where sparks flew, leading to their now years-long relationship.
Though they’ve kept their romance relatively private, Siemek does share cute moments from their relationship on her social media, reminding fans just how taken Pankow is. Despite their love, the couple has had to deal with public scrutiny and unfounded rumours.
Why Did Rudy Pankow defend his Girlfriend publicly?
Like many public figures, Rudy Pankow’s love life hasn’t been free from drama. Unfortunately, Elaine Siemek has been on the receiving end of hurtful comments from a small fraction of Rudy’s fanbase. In August 2021, Pankow took to Instagram to defend his girlfriend against online trolls who had been spreading lies and accusations about her.
“Unfortunately, I’m here to call out the disrespect and harassment someone I love dearly is getting on a daily basis,” he wrote. Pankow went on to say that the rumours about Siemek were completely false, adding, “Not only is she not what she is being accused of being, she is the complete opposite and actively is so.”
Did Elaine Siemek cheat on Rudy Pankow?
In October 2022, rumours surfaced that Elaine Siemek had cheated on Rudy, after a fan shared a photo claiming to show her kissing another man. However, Siemek quickly shut down the gossip in her Instagram Stories, clarifying that the timeline of the photo didn’t even match up. “Y’all stupid as hell for thinking that’s me,” she wrote, humorously debunking the claim.
While the couple has faced their fair share of rumours and speculation, they’ve consistently proven their relationship is strong, choosing to focus on positivity rather than letting the noise get to them.
In a recent interview with Cosmopolitan, Rudy Pankow opened up about the hate his girlfriend has received and how it’s impacted him. “I think a lot of people can intertwine a narrative and what they want to believe. And they take it out on someone that doesn’t deserve it,” he said. While Pankow admitted it’s been difficult to watch Siemek go through this, he emphasized how important it is for him to speak up for those he loves.
Reflecting on the experience, Rudy shared that the situation has helped him prioritize what truly matters in his life. “There’s a part of me that was like, What do I truly care about? And that’s how I led my life after that.”
