John Forté’s Family: All About the Late Musician’s Wife Lara and 2 Kids

John Forté was both an accomplished recording artist and a caring father and husband.

The Grammy-nominated musician died on Jan. 12 in his home in Chilmark, Mass., a town on Martha’s Vineyard, the MV Times reported. Police pronounced him dead at the scene after a neighbor found him in his kitchen.

“It is such a small community, this death hits close to home. It’s the upside and the downside to living on such a small Island,” Chilmark Police Chief Sean Slavin told the outlet, while adding that Forté suffered a “serious health setback” as the result of a seizure about a year ago. No official cause of death has been shared.

Forté met his wife, Lara Fuller, in 2015, and they married two years later. Later that year, they welcomed their first child together, daughter Wren Zazie, and added son Haile Thayer to the family in 2020. Forté frequently posted about how much he loved fatherhood and spending time with his family.

Here’s everything to know about John Forté’s family: his wife, Lara Fuller, and their children, Wren and Haile.

He married photographer Lara Fuller in 2017

Forté met Fuller in the summer of 2015 while they were both on Martha’s Vineyard, as he told GQ in a 2022 profile. The couple later tied the knot on the island on March 3, 2017.

Fuller is a professional photographer who captures couples, children, family portraits and natural settings. She studied photojournalism at Boston University before working as a production assistant and later launched her freelance photography career, per her LinkedIn.

Over the years, Fuller shared several portraits she took of Forté and their two children.

Forté and Fuller shared two children

Shortly after Forté and Fuller became husband and wife, they also became parents. They welcomed their first child, daughter Wren Zazie Forté, on June 8, 2017.

“She arrived 7 lbs and 2 oz,” Forté captioned an Instagram photo of Fuller holding the newborn. “Mom and baby are thriving. So much love, gratitude and deep appreciation for this moment.”

Three years later, they welcomed son Haile Thayer Forté on June 16, 2020. Forté shared the news by posting a picture of the little one sleeping.

“He and his mom are fine and well. WE are well. Wren Zazie is eager to meet her little brother. The sun is shining,” he wrote. “Oh, yeah, I cried… like a baby.”

On his first Father’s Day as a dad of two in 2020, Forté wrote on Instagram, “Immediately after Haile Thayer entered the world, my brother @bsatz reached out. He asked me how I felt. ‘My cup runneth over,’ I said. ‘Wren Zazie… and now HIM!’ Happy Father’s Day, Gentlemen. HAPPY Father’s Day.”

Forté also took several opportunities to praise Fuller’s parenting. For Mother’s Day 2020, he posted a photo of then-pregnant Fuller reading with Wren and celebrated her being a mother.

“Happy Mother’s Day to my friend, my partner and my wife @laratf,” he wrote. “I love her. I love my girl in the worst way. I cele – I celebrate like it’s my birthday. I tell her, no matter whatever they might say. You’d be better served here in the first place. It’s like heaven on earth look at her face.”

He frequently shared photos of his wife and kids

Both Fuller and Forté have shared pictures of each other and their kids. Prior to his death, Forté wished each of his children a happy birthday and posted several pictures of them growing up over the years.

Over the years, Forté shared snaps of the family of four traveling, laughing and playing together. In October 2020, he posted an Instagram picture of the four of them smiling on the beach.

“Pics of our family of four are few and far between. As always, I remain grateful,” he captioned the post.

The family of four spent much of their time on Martha’s Vineyard

Around 2015, Forté — who was born and raised in New York City — gave up the hustle and bustle of city life for Martha’s Vineyard. He moved to the remote island, which lies off the coast of Cape Cod, after falling in love with it when fellow musician Ben Taylor brought him there in 1998, per MV Times.

After meeting Fuller on Martha’s Vineyard and getting married there, they decided to stay. Forté continued pursuing music by building a recording studio in his neighbor’s basement.

He became known throughout the community for performing on the makeshift stage with both local musicians and artists from across the country. In addition to performing at the basement venue, Forté also performed across Martha’s Vineyard with well-known musicians, such as longtime friends Carly Simon and her son, Taylor.