Jerry O’Connell can’t get enough of his twin daughters, Dolly and Charlie, whom he shares with his wife, Rebecca Romijn. The Talk host said he’s learned so much about being a dad since welcoming his kids, but the most important thing his children have taught him is to be “more patient.”
Jerry got a big lesson on fatherhood while in lockdown with his family amid the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking with Closer in August 2020, the Stand by Me star said patience was his biggest virtue, noting how he spent more time than ever at home with his kiddos.
“I will say this – I was not expecting I would have to spend as much time with my children when I had kids,” Jerry exclusively shared. “I didn’t know that this pandemic thing was going to mean that I had to be with my children all the time. They didn’t tell me about that.”
Reflecting on some of the ups and downs of lockdown, Jerry joked about wishing he could have asked his own mother and father for advice. “It’s so funny being a parent during this pandemic,” he continued. “It’s not like I can be like, ‘Hey mom and dad, what did you do during the great pandemic of 1975?’ No one has been through this … we’re all going through this for the first time [and] we’re doing it together.”
Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip O’Connell
Jerry and Rebecca experienced parenthood when the Femme Fatale actress gave birth to their twins on December 28, 2008. Rebecca’s rep confirmed the news at the time, telling People, “Mother, father and both girls are all home and doing well.”
As Dolly and Charlie have grown up, Jerry and Rebecca have given many glimpses inside their family life at home. Aside from gushing over their kids in interviews, Jerry’s Instagram page is filled with the cutest photos of his daughters.
“Love being a dad. Happy Father’s Day, everybody!” the proud papa captioned a selfie with his girls while celebrating the special holiday in June 2021. Jerry previously uploaded a snap of the two enjoying ice cream in April, writing, “Friday Happy Hour.”
In August, Rebecca revealed her kiddos weren’t little girls anymore as she uploaded a photo of them going back to school. “Slight dress code violation but [the] first day of 7th grade went without a hitch,” she quipped in the caption.
Are Jerry O’Connell’s Kids Interested in Acting?
With Dolly and Charlie quickly growing up, it’s hard not to wonder if they will follow in their parents’ acting footsteps. Speaking with Closer in August 2020, Jerry said he would absolutely support his girls if they pursued showbiz careers, saying they’re already enrolled “in drama classes.”
“Trust me, I would love for them to be acting,” he gushed. “I would love for one of my kids to be the next Hannah Montana and put a wig on and run around and be the next Debby Ryan … but it’s really up to my kids.”
Though Jerry has a tight-knit bond with his girls, he did explain some changes in their personalities after they became teenagers.
“Normally, this is the age — I know, because I’m sort of experiencing it — where they want me to drop them off at school two blocks away so their friends don’t see me,” he told People in December 2020. “They want to be dropped off at the mall and hang out there for four hours, but they don’t want their friends to see me when I pick them up.”
Jerry O’Connell and Rebecca Romijn Celebrated Daughters’ 16th Birthday
In September 2024, Rebecca shared photos from Dolly and Charlie’s 16th birthday party on Instagram. Doting dad Jerry adorable wore a shirt that said “security” on the front at the bash.
“Happy Sweet 16 Dolly and Charlie. Magical night. We love you,” Rebecca captioned one post.
During an episode of The Talk, Jerry revealed that he went all out for the party, getting catering and an ice cream truck.
“Me and some of the other dads have security shirts,” he shared. “We’re going to walk around the party and make sure there’s no close dancing. We’re going to watch them, make sure there’s room to park. It’s actually super stressful.”
He also shared that his daughters had reached another milestone — learning how to drive.
“For the first time, the other day, one of my daughters drove on the highway,” Jerry said. “That was a big deal.”
“She yelled at another driver. I was really proud of her,” he added. “She’s doing well!”
