Heather Graham, 54, has been estranged from her FBI agent dad and schoolteacher mom for 30 YEARS – she explains why
Heather Graham has been estranged from her parents for almost 30 years.
The Boogie Nights star, 54, has opened up about her difficult childhood in a new interview revealing she was unhappy at home with her schoolteacher mom and FBI agent dad.
She moved out of the family home at the age of 18 after landing her first movie role – and she’s now admitted she hasn’t spoken to either of them since she was 25.
Heather told the Wall Street Journal: ‘I stopped talking to my parents when I was 25, and I’m estranged from them now.’
She went on to explain her difficult teenage years living at home, saying: ‘Home and school weren’t happy places growing up … My father, James, was an F.B.I. agent.
‘He regularly told me that the entertainment industry was evil and that Hollywood would claim my soul if I became an actress and appeared in anything with sexual content.
Heather Graham has been estranged from her parents for almost 30 years. The Boogie Nights star, 54, has opened up about her difficult childhood in a new interview revealing she was unhappy at home with her schoolteacher mom and FBI agent dad
Graham’s parents Joan and Jim seen in a Facebook post from 2023
The Hollywood star seen in a childhood school portrait shared to Instagram
‘My mother, Joan, was an elementary school teacher…
‘But my parents were part of a generation that didn’t believe in therapy or discussing personal things, so I never felt I could talk to them.
‘To her credit, my mother supported my creative streak and acting ambition.
‘It was a mixed message, though, since my father was strongly against them and my mother didn’t do much to protect me from him.’
Heather was 17 years old when she landed her first big role in License to Drive.
She said living at home became ‘more difficult’ after the movie came out.
So she resolved to become a film star and moved into a shared apartment in West Hollywood and her career eventually took off.
Heather’s sister Aimee Graham is an actress/writer/director.
Heather’s sister Aimee Graham is an actress/writer/director. And Aimee appears to still be close to her parents as she is seen on her mother’s Facebook page
Aimee has worked on the films Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth (2000), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) and Brokedown Palace (1999). Seen in an August 14 Instagram post
Aimee has worked on the films Shriek If You Know What I Did Last Friday the Thirteenth (2000), From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) and Brokedown Palace (1999).
And Aimee appears to still be close to her parents as she is seen on her mother’s Facebook page.
Heather now owns two homes and relies on a close circle of friends for support. She said: ‘My friends are proud of me, and I’m proud of myself. I have really good friends.’
This comes after she shared several photos from her trip to Portofino in Italy.
Heather moved out of the family home at the age of 18 after landing her first movie role – and she’s now admitted she hasn’t spoken to either of them since she was 25
In an Instagram post titled ‘Amo l’Italia in estate’ with a red heart emoji, she could be seen in a green bikini while in a changing room by the shore.
The star had a towel on her head as she displayed her fantastic figure complete with abs and muscular arms.
The beauty was also seen in a pink evening dress as she went out for dinner with her boyfriend.
The looker seemed to be having the time of her life while on the coast of Italy.
Heather was joined on the trip by boyfriend John de Neufville as they posed side by side in many snaps.
The Chosen Family actress and the snowboarder were first linked in 2022, and dating outside of Hollywood has been a welcome change for Heather.
‘Of course, you want someone to understand your crazy schedule, which is different than a normal job, but I like dating someone who’s not in the business, Heather told People in 2023.
‘It puts it in perspective. Sometimes your job becomes so important to you, and then you realize there’s so many other things in life that are happening. It’s not all about the movie business.’
The Twin Peaks star -who previously dated Heath Ledger and Josh Lucas- shared that John considers himself ‘more of a sports guy’ and decided to dive into the rolodex of her films for the first time.
‘Even the ones that I’m so embarrassed of!’ Heather quipped to the outlet. ‘But he always tells me I was great and that he is really impressed. It’s sweet.’
Heather told the Wall Street Journal : ‘I stopped talking to my parents when I was 25, and I’m estranged from them now’
And although the License to Drive actress chose not to marry or have kids, she shared, ‘I don’t feel that I’m missing anything.’
But, Heather feels that her career has stood as a placeholder for children.
‘If you’re meant to have kids, you have kids,’ she admitted. ‘And if you’re not meant to have kids, then the universe gives you someone or something to nurture.
She went on to explain her difficult teenage years living at home, saying: ‘Home and school weren’t happy places growing up … My father, James, was an F.B.I. agent. ‘He regularly told me that the entertainment industry was evil and that Hollywood would claim my soul if I became an actress and appeared in anything with sexual content’
Heather was joined on the trip by boyfriend John de Neufville as they posed side by side in many snaps
‘I do sometimes feel like my projects are little kids; I have started to get more involved in producing and writing and directing.’
And Heather doesn’t take having a long list of films – including Drugstore Cowboy, The Hangover, Bowfinger and Boogie Nights – on her resume for granted.
‘I’m grateful that I’m in some things that people remember and that I still get to keep working,’ she gushed. ‘So many people want to be actors and don’t ever get to work. I got to support myself doing this, so I am grateful.’
Graham at the Places of Bones screening in Los Angeles on August 13