Dax Shepard Opens Up About Growing Up With a Single Mother

Dax Shepard has opened up about his childhood and his relationship with his parents during a recent episode of the Armchair Expert podcast.

While interviewing actor Taron Egerton on the Aug. 10 episode, Shepard recalled feeling uncomfortable when other men paid attention to his mother. He said that, as a child, he disliked seeing his mother wear revealing clothing in public because he worried about how other men would react.

Egerton said he experienced similar feelings because his mother was attractive. He recalled feeling anger and insecurity as a boy and wanting more of his mother’s attention.

The actors also discussed how being raised by single mothers can sometimes create complicated family roles. Shepard said sons may take on responsibilities that go beyond those normally expected of a child because they help fill an emotional gap in the household.

Shepard also spoke about his difficult relationship with his father, who died in 2012 from lung cancer. He said the two were more alike than he wanted to admit and often responded to emotional pain in similar ways.

Egerton said his relationship with his father was relatively stable during his childhood but became more difficult as he grew older. He said they have not spoken for several years, while stressing that he still loves his father but believes they do not have a healthy relationship.