Jason Collins dies at 47: What we know about his husband Brunson Green and their married life

When news broke on May 12 that former NBA center Jason Collins had died after a battle with glioblastoma (brain cancer), tributes poured in remembering his historic impact on sports. Alongside reflections on his courage as the first openly gay active player in a major US men’s professional league, many also turned their attention to the man who stood beside him for more than a decade, his husband, film producer Brunson Green.

Collins and Green had been married for nearly a year at the time of his death, a relationship that began shortly after Collins made headlines in 2013 with a first-person essay in Sports Illustrated announcing he was gay.

Who is Brunson Green?

Green, who grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, built a steady career in Hollywood over nearly three decades. A graduate of Trinity University, he moved into film production and worked across a range of independent and studio-backed projects.

His most recognized credit came in 2011 as a producer on The Help, the adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s bestselling novel directed by his childhood friend Tate Taylor.

The film earned widespread acclaim and awards attention. Green received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, as well as BAFTA and Producers Guild recognition.

Most recently, he produced Colleen Hoover's ‘Regretting You’.

How Green and Collins met

Not long after Collins’ public coming-out, he met Green at a party in Los Angeles in mid-2013. At the time, Collins was in another relationship, but the two reconnected later that year after he became single, reported People.

In interviews the following year, Collins described how quickly he became interested in Green, joking that he conducted a “background check” through mutual friends while Green was traveling abroad.

By mid-2014, Collins confirmed they had been dating for several months and that the relationship was going well. Over time, Green became a constant presence in Collins’ life as the athlete transitioned out of professional basketball and into advocacy and public speaking around LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.

After more than ten years as partners, Collins and Green married in May 2025 in Austin, Texas. Later that year, Collins spoke publicly about the wedding, calling it “perfect” to ESPN at the time.

Standing together during Collins’ illness

In September 2025, Collins’ family revealed he was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. By December, Collins shared that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, describing it as an aggressive and fast-moving cancer in an interview with ESPN. He also spoke about pursuing experimental treatment overseas.

Throughout the ordeal, Collins credited Green with being his primary source of strength, helping research treatment options, accompanying him through hospital visits and ensuring moments of rest and travel amid the strain of medical care.

Even during treatment, the couple took brief trips together in search of normalcy and quiet time.

When Collins’ family announced his death, they described him as someone who “changed lives in unexpected ways.”