Richard Dreyfuss’s Son Ben Reveals Estrangement from His Three Children
Richard Dreyfuss, renowned for his role in “Jaws,” has been estranged from his three children for nearly a decade. This revelation comes from his eldest son, Ben Dreyfuss, who recently discussed their complicated relationship.
Background on the Estrangement
Ben, 39, along with his siblings, Emily (42) and Harry (35), has not communicated with their father since 2017. The rift began during the #MeToo movement. Harry, the youngest brother, accused actor Kevin Spacey of groping him in 2008, prompting Ben to publicly support his brother via Twitter.
Ben explained that this tweet led to backlash against Richard Dreyfuss, resulting in the family’s ongoing estrangement. He stated, “My dad blames us for that,” indicating a significant strain on their relationship.
Financial Misunderstandings
In his statements, Ben addressed assumptions regarding their family’s wealth, clarifying that they do not receive financial support from their father. According to him, Richard Dreyfuss does not have the money that many presume. He wrote, “Everyone assumes my siblings and I are wealthy from our dad… but we have no money from him.”
Ben Dreyfuss’s Reflections
On his Substack blog, Ben shared insights about the reactions to his tweets. He found much of the feedback uncomfortable, explaining that it was either overly sympathetic or defensive of his father’s reputation. He acknowledged deleting the tweets due to this discomfort but later expressed regret, feeling it made him appear ashamed.
Ben also revisited a last email exchange with Richard, revealing it was the final communication in which his father responded. He sent numerous emails after this, but none received a reply. The email discussed feelings about nepotism during a family dinner where Ben felt he did not articulate himself clearly.
The Final Email
In the final email from Richard, he accused Ben of claiming that he was withholding money from them. He wrote in capital letters about their misunderstandings and urged Ben to address the issues before they could rebuild their relationship. Richard expressed disappointment, implying that if Ben did not confront the matters at hand, he would not hear from him again.
Recent Developments
Earlier this year, Richard Dreyfuss faced health issues that led to hospitalization for bronchitis, causing him to miss public events. Despite this personal health challenge, the estrangement with his children remains unresolved.
- Estrangement Duration: Nearly 10 years
- Children: Ben (39), Emily (42), Harry (35)
- Last Email Exchange: Approximately two years ago
The Dreyfuss family’s estrangement underscores complex family dynamics, especially amid public scrutiny and personal allegations. The ongoing silence suggests deep-rooted issues that may take time to heal.
