Oliver Hudson Shares That He’s Connecting More with His Estranged Father, Bill Hudson

Oliver Hudson; Bill Hudson.
Credit:

Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty; Albert L. Ortega/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Oliver Hudson stated that he and his estranged father, Bill Hudson, are currently “getting along great.”
• The actor mentioned they frequently text and have had emotional meetings to deepen their understanding of each other.
• Oliver and his sister, Kate Hudson, were raised by their mother, Goldie Hawn, and her long-time partner, Kurt Russell.

Oliver Hudson recently discussed his evolving relationship with his estranged biological father, Bill Hudson. The actor shared insights on their newfound connection during an interview with Us Weekly.

“We’re getting along great right now,” said Oliver, 49, referring to his 76-year-old father. “I text with him almost every other day now. We’re talking about a few little projects together. Yeah, it’s been great. I think it’s important, very important.”

Oliver grew up with his mother, Goldie Hawn, and her partner, Kurt Russell. Hawn has a daughter, Kate Hudson, with Bill, while also raising Russell’s son, Wyatt, and daughter, Boston.

The actor revealed that his reconnection with Bill was influenced by an Instagram post he made in 2015, featuring a childhood photo of the two. In the post, he candidly referred to it as “Happy abandonment day….”

“I posted something and I was trying to be funny, and it was a bit dark, and it just set off this firestorm that I wasn’t expecting,” Oliver explained. “But it definitely brought us together.”

Oliver Hudson, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Describing their recent meetings, Oliver noted, “We’ve had amazing conversations, amazing lunches, throwing back some beers and crying and sort of understanding each other more and more. It was really beautiful, honestly, to sit down with him and look at my reflection, in a way.”

He elaborated on the significance of their reunion: “Bill made me; I’m half of that dude, and I don’t see that in Kurt, to be fair, because he’s not biological. So when I look at my dad, he looks a lot like me.”

Oliver characterized the reconnection as “a really nice reunion.”

Oliver Hudson and Kate Hudson.

Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Furthermore, Oliver expressed admiration for Kurt Russell, who has played a crucial role in his upbringing. “Obviously Kurt’s not my blood father, but I have a lot of his mannerisms. Pa’s just got so much life force in him,” he shared. Oliver credited Kurt with fostering his independence and resilience, emphasizing, “He made me the man that I am, 100 percent.”

As a father himself to three children—Wilder, Bodhi, and Rio—Oliver reflected on parenting, noting, “You can’t help but mirror all the great things that your parents gave to you.” He added, “We’re all trying our best, and we’re never gonna get it *right* right. That’s not a possibility.”

Bill Hudson has been largely absent from Oliver and Kate’s lives following his divorce from Goldie Hawn in 1982. In 2024, Kate commented on their relationship, stating, “There’s nothing new there but love. I love him… I just don’t overthink it. It’s a 40-year-old issue.”