Luke Wilson has spoken about the challenges and joys of becoming a first-time father, while new details have emerged regarding his relationship with girlfriend Kendall Yates. The 54-year-old actor welcomed a daughter earlier this month with Yates, who is 30.
"It's just what everybody says about it but yeah… I'm very proud to be a dad," Wilson told Entertainment Tonight, admitting he was "trying to do a good job" amid a lack of sleep. He appeared with Yates and their newborn daughter at a press reception for his new Netflix comedy series, The Hawk.
Despite the public attention, Wilson and Yates have maintained a private relationship. An insider told the Daily Mail that they "don't want to be a celebrity couple," leading Yates to deactivate her Instagram account. The couple are described as "homebodies" who "don't keep themselves hidden from loved ones" but also "never choose to be out and about or at events all the time."
Wilson and Yates, who were reportedly introduced through friends, were first linked in January 2023. They have made few public appearances, with one notable exception being the Los Angeles Premiere of Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 in June 2024. They were also photographed in April with Yates visibly pregnant, though the couple did not publicly confirm the pregnancy.
The age difference between Wilson and Yates, who is more than two decades his junior, has drawn comparisons to Wilson's character in the movie Old School. Yates, born in February 1996, grew up in Wimberley, Texas, and graduated from the University of Texas. She began modeling around 2016.
Steve Ellinger, a retired photographer who worked with Yates early in her career, described her as "very friendly and very personable."
In recent years, Yates has focused on an online wellness program, Salted Vanilla Movement, and a newsletter, Breź Wellness, which she co-founded with a friend. She is described as a "naturopathic doctor in training." However, her focus is now shifting to motherhood, with plans to be a stay-at-home mom so she can travel with Wilson while he works.
Wilson, who is from Dallas, Texas, previously expressed his desire to start a family. In 2019, he stated he was ready for fatherhood at age 47. He also reflected on approaching 50, noting a sense of urgency and a feeling of being "panicky about some stuff."
Regarding marriage, sources indicate there is "no rush to the altar," with the couple planning to wed on their own timeline.
