Yer a dad, Daniel Radcliffe!
The Harry Potter actor became a father in April 2023 when he and his girlfriend Erin Darke welcomed their first son together. A few months later, Radcliffe gushed over his infant son, telling Extra that fatherhood was the “best thing.”
“He’s very cute,” he said of his then 3-month-old baby boy. “We’ve moved into a less screaming phase and he’s now giving us little smiles and giggling.”
“It’s been a crazy few months, as anyone who’s been through parenthood would attest,” Radcliffe continued. “But it’s also the literal best thing that’s ever happened, so it’s great. I feel very lucky to be able to have this time with him. It’s awesome.”
From his surprise birth to his major milestones, here’s everything to know about Daniel Radcliffe’s son.
Radcliffe confirmed he was expecting a baby a month before he was born
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In March 2023, a rep for Radcliffe confirmed to PEOPLE that the actor and his girlfriend of over a decade were expecting their first child together.
A year earlier, Radcliffe told PEOPLE that he and Darke were “really happy” together.
“I’ve got a really nice life,” he said. “I’ve been with my girlfriend for a decade, pretty much.”
Radcliffe’s son was born in April 2023
A month later, Radcliffe and Darke were seen walking through New York City pushing a stroller. A rep for the actor confirmed to PEOPLE that the two had welcomed their child, but no further details were known at the time.
However, a few months later in July 2023, Radcliffe confirmed the news himself in a conversation with Entertainment Tonight, revealing his child’s sex.
“It’s great. It’s crazy and intense, but he’s wonderful and Erin is amazing — it’s a real privilege also to have this time with him,” Radcliffe told the outlet. “I was always going to take some time off, which not everyone is able to do, and so I’m able to kind of just be here with him a lot, which is lovely.”
In an interview with E! News a few days later, the actor joked that his son was already talking, before clarifying that he was just being expressive at his young age.
“Yeah, he’s fully talking at three months old, he’s very advanced,” he joked, before clarifying, “He’s smiling and that’s all I need. That’s awesome. Some people have to wait a lot longer for that so I’m really happy with that.”
Radcliffe previously said he wants his child to grow up around film sets
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Six months before he welcomed his son, Radcliffe told Newsweek that while he “wouldn’t want fame for [his] kid,” he would be happy if his future children grew up around film sets.
“I want my kids, if and when they exist…I would love them to be around film sets,” he said. “A dream would be for them to come onto a film set and be like ‘God, you know, I’d love to be in the art department. I’d love to be something in the crew.’ Some part of this, but not from that.”
He added that being present on film sets in moderation could be good for a kid as an encouraging place for them to learn.
“I think if you can get a situation where you’re on film sets without necessarily [thinking] ‘oh, this is gonna be a big deal in your life,’ that’s great,” Radcliffe said. “Film sets are wonderful places. I think a lot of the time it can be wonderful for kids. But it’s really the fame side of it that should be avoided at all costs.”
He said he’d be “more selective” with his roles going forward so he could be present with his son
While speaking to Entertainment Tonight in July 2023, Radcliffe admitted that he planned on being more selective with his roles going forward so he could spend quality time with his son.
“I think it certainly will,” he said on whether his son played a difference on his career. “It hasn’t really yet affected things, but I really like spending time with him, and I think I’m gonna miss him when I go back to work later in the year.”
“So, I will definitely be I think a bit more selective — not more selective, I’ve always been selective, but I think I’ll probably work a little bit less for the next few years,” he continued, adding, “I’ll never be stopping. I don’t think that’s good for me either.”
Radcliffe’s son joined his parents on the picket lines during the SAG-AFTRA strike
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Weeks after addressing the birth of his son publicly for the first time, Radcliffe brought him to the picket lines of the SAG-AFTRA strike in July 2023. He and Darke joined their fellow union members striking in N.Y.C., while Radcliffe carried their son on his chest.
He’s learning to speak
In June 2024, Radcliffe shared another sweet update on his now-toddler son at the 2024 Tony Awards, where he took home his first win for Merrily We Roll Along on Father’s Day.
“He’s great,” Radcliffe said of his son on the carpet. “He’s talking and saying, you know, nonsense, but very, very charming nonsense.”
The actor added that due to his busy schedule, he wasn’t able to spend as much time with his son on his second Father’s Day, but had plans to celebrate big the following day.
“I’m going to be doing most of my celebrating of Father’s Day tomorrow,” he said. “I saw him in the morning and then went to [Tonys] rehearsal and then went back and saw him again. And then I had a matinee today, so I haven’t done a ton of hanging out with my son on Father’s Day, but I will be doing that tomorrow, and I’m very excited about it.”
