Actor Luke Wilson has become a father for the first time at age 54, welcoming a baby daughter with his girlfriend, Kendall Yates. The news was first reported by People on Wednesday.
Wilson, who has been in a relationship with Yates for over three years, confirmed the arrival of their child in an interview with Entertainment Tonight at the premiere of his upcoming project, "The Hawk." "It’s just what everybody says about it, but I’m just trying to do a good job. I'm very proud to be a dad," Wilson stated.
The couple recently made their first public appearance with their infant daughter at a press reception for Wilson's new Netflix comedy series in Newport Beach, California. According to reports, they were seen holding the baby in a carrier and introducing her to guests and castmates.
Wilson and Yates were last publicly seen together in April, at which time Yates appeared to be visibly pregnant, though the couple had not publicly confirmed the pregnancy. Their sole public outing as a couple was at the Los Angeles premiere of "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1" in June 2024.
Wilson, brother to actor Owen Wilson, had previously expressed a desire to become a father. In a 2019 interview, he mentioned being ready for fatherhood at age 47. Ahead of his 50th birthday in 2021, Wilson spoke to People magazine about approaching midlife, noting a sense of panic and increased forgetfulness, which he linked to the concept of a midlife crisis.
Before his relationship with Yates, which began in early 2023, Wilson dated several well-known figures. He was linked with Gwyneth Paltrow for about a year in 2001 and dated Drew Barrymore from 1997 to 1999. Barrymore has spoken about their past relationship, describing it as an "open relationship" during their youth when they met while filming the 1997 movie "Best Men."