
From Beverley Callard's Knee to Spencer Matthews: What Stars Were Forced to Quit 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here' on Medical Grounds
April 24, 2026

"The Divergent" series actress Ashley Judd is in a romantic relationship with primate researcher and Harvard assistant professor Martin Surbeck.
Actress Ashley Judd's partner is not an actor, and he's not in show business, but he has led her into hair-raising adventures in some of the most isolated and dangerous places in the world that rival any action film.
Fans became aware of Ashley Judd's romance after she had a misadventure in the jungle in 2021 that nearly cost her her life. Here is all we know about the man who holds Ashley Judd's heart.

Ashley Judd at the 90th Annual Academy Awards in 2018, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Ashley Judd has kept Martin Surbeck out of the limelight, and he rarely accompanied her to entertainment industry events. We know that he has accompanied Judd and her father to Red Sox games at Fenway Park, so the family approves of him.
The actress also revealed that Sturbeck is a Swiss citizen and is learning to enjoy baseball. Judd, a well-known actress, is the daughter of country singer Naomi Judd, who passed away on April 30, 2022.
Judd's leg was broken in four places, and her companions had to run back to base camp for help and to fetch Surbeck.
Judd confided that Surbeck wasn't present at the time of her accident and rushed to the jungle to be at her side when he heard what had happened.
Martin Surbeck often travels to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where he studied primates, especially bonobos. Surbeck is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University.
Surbeck established a bonobo research site at Kokolopori, which combines the study of the primates and their behavior in the wild. He works to protect the animals in collaboration with the Bonobo Conservation Initiative. He revealed
"These animals are fascinating to watch, and they're interesting because we don't know that much about them. So I spent a year in the Congo, habituating bonobos to humans."
Surbeck studies the lives and behavior of primates to understand the changes brought about by social and environmental pressures, both in behavior and biology, and the fulfillment of a childhood dream to work with animals.
Initially, Surbeck's graduate work had focused on studying social insects and birds, and then he was offered the opportunity to go to the Congo and work with primates.
Surbeck confided that contact with the animals in their native habitat is deeply fulfilling, not only as a scientist but at an emotional level.
Twice a year, Ashley Judd joins Surbeck's team in the jungle while he studies the bonobo as part of his team, and in February 2021, she suffered an accident that nearly proved fatal. Judd was walking in the jungle went the light in her helmet went out. She hurried to catch up and fell. She revealed:
"I was looking ahead, not at my feet... I think my toe got stuck in a root, and then I tripped over a fallen tree. I knew my leg was breaking as I was falling."
Judd's leg was broken in four places, and her companions had to run back to base camp for help and to fetch Surbeck. He stayed by her side throughout the horrific trial to get her through the impenetrable jungle to get medical help.
Carried through trails and on a motorbike while holding her leg together so she wouldn't bleed to death, the actress gained a new perspective on the challenges that face the ill and the injured in developing countries.
The information in this article is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, and images contained on news.AmoMama.com, or available through news.AmoMama.com is for general information purposes only. news.AmoMama.com does not take responsibility for any action taken as a result of reading this article. Before undertaking any course of treatment please consult with your healthcare provider.

From Beverley Callard's Knee to Spencer Matthews: What Stars Were Forced to Quit 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here' on Medical Grounds
April 24, 2026

Beverley Callard, 69, Stuns Fans With Truth about Her 'I Am Celebrity' Exit – Video
April 23, 2026

Martin Short Was Married to His Late Wife for 30 Years — Now He Has Reportedly Found Love Again with an A-List Actress
February 25, 2026

'Emily in Paris' Actor Passed Away at 69 Following ALS Diagnosis – Who Was He?
May 28, 2026

'Coronation Street' Legend, 62, Unveils Simple Trick That Helped Her Lose 3 Stone — Photos
April 28, 2026

Meghan Markle's Father Recovers From Emergency Amputation — Where Is His Daughter Amid His Health Crisis?
February 26, 2026

'America's Got Talent' Host's Wife Opens up About Years-Long Health Struggle – Fans Show Support
April 07, 2026

US Citizen Diagnosed with Ebola as WHO Declares Emergency – What We Know About the Virus
May 19, 2026

Christina Applegate Makes First Public Appearance in Almost Two Years
February 26, 2026

Martin Short's Only Daughter Dies at 42 – What Happened
February 25, 2026

'This Morning' Star Ashley James, 39, Ignites Buzz with Easter Swimsuit Post — Photos and Videos
April 09, 2026