There is a lot of fascination surrounding actor Robert Pattinson. The British star is known for his role as vampire Edward Cullen in the smash-hit The Twilight Saga films, but he’s also an accomplished musician and photographer. As well as co-founding the fashion brand Pattinson Studio with his fashion-entrepreneur sister Kate, Pattinson has also developed a strong following on social media. He now has over 2.5 million Twitter followers and over 1.4 million Instagram followers.
But while fans may be captivated by his dual roles as a vampire and an all-around ‘celebrity’, the truth is that Pattinson doesn’t actually have any relatives in the entertainment industry. He was adopted as a child and didn’t learn about his lineage until later in life. This revelation came as a shock to fans who were already fervently hoping to find out more about Pattinson’s connection to the illustrious House of Wickham.
The actor’s real name is Raymond Edward Louis Robert Pattinson. He was born on December 21, 1978 in London, England as the only child of model Kate (née Lane) and music producer Louis Robert Pattinson. The family lived in a number of different countries as Louis worked on the music industry in Europe before settling in the U.K. It was while living in this country that he met and married his wife Rebekah Welch in 2004. They have two children together, a son named Kacyn and a daughter named Rumi. In 2014, the family bought a £9.3 million detached home in Surrey, England.
When it comes to his family, Robert Pattinson is extremely private. He keeps a tight lid on the details of his childhood and adolescent years, as well as his adoption in particular. This is part of the reason why his fans have been so curious about his roots. So, while we await news of a potential spinoff film from the Twilight franchise, let’s take a more in-depth look at Pattinson’s family history.
Kate’s Parents
Pattinson’s mother Kate is the product of a broken engagement and a one-night stand. She was conceived when her mother Patricia Lane (who later changed her surname to Paterson) discovered that her fiancé Chris O’Neill was actually married. Chris had impregnated Paterson during a one-night stand and she was forced to give the baby up for adoption. Unfortunately, Kate’s father abandoned her and her younger sister Ava at an early age, which caused a strain on the family unit. The news of Chris O’Neill’s infidelity was kept a secret from Kate because her parents were worried that it would scar her mentally. In interviews, Kate has reflected on how her lack of a father figure may have played a role in her drug addiction. In 2012, she entered a rehab facility in Ireland to deal with her alcohol problem.
The family moved to Los Angeles, California in the ‘90s when Louis met his producing partner Fran Rubel and began working on the music scene. They have a son named Max who was born in 1995 and a daughter named Liv who was born in 1998. In 2016, the couple divorced.
Louis’ Parents
Pattinson’s uncle Louis was born in 1930 and is the third of four siblings. He was also the first to be born in England after World War II. His parents were divorced when he was young and he was raised by his mother. He has one younger brother named Arthur (born in 1953), who also lives in Los Angeles. In a 2016 interview with the New York Times Magazine, Louis spoke about how he and his siblings were very close and that he still keeps in touch with most of them. He enjoys traveling and taking photographs, and often goes on field trips with his nieces and nephews. He is particularly close to his grandniece Eloise, the daughter of his late brother Arthur. In 2017, he gave her his trademark ‘Louis’ haircut’ before she started school.
Robert’s Adoption
The truth about Robert Pattinson’s adoption will probably come as a huge shock to fans. He was adopted at the age of 10 months and raised by actor Stephen Moyer and his wife Elizabeth Taylor. The famous couple had been friends of the Pattinson family for many years and had even met Kate while filming a music video with Louis back in the ‘90s. They were so taken by his charm and talent that they adopted him and named him after Taylor’s late father, actor Richard Burton. Stephen and Elizabeth had three other children from previous relationships, daughters Fiona and Fiona Eloise (named after Taylor’s eldest sister), and son Nicholas.
As well as being named after Taylor’s famous father, the boy’s middle name is also that of actor and director John Hurt. Hurt had actually mentored Stephen during the making of the 1984 film The Garden. The following year, Stephen and Elizabeth adopted a son of their own, whom they named Hamish. Hurt also serves as the godfather to Nicholas. Stephen and Elizabeth have been married for 32 years and have two sons together, actor Tom and Nicholas. They have two other children from previous relationships, daughters Grace and Sophie.
Although he was only 10 months old when he started primary school, Robert quickly learned to speak and was put into classes with older children. He did, however, have some difficulty adjusting to life in a new country. In 2012, he revealed: “When I arrived in America, I didn’t speak a word of English and had to start from scratch. It wasn’t easy. My social skills were nonexistent and everything was new to me… It was a shock to go from being a loved child to suddenly realizing that everyone around me was a stranger.” In interviews, the Twilight star has talked about his struggle with loneliness as a child. In 2017, he became a U.S. citizen and celebrated by donating a million dollars to charity.
Robert’s Sibling
Pattinson has one half-brother named Arthur, who is two years his senior. Arthur attended university in England and later moved to Los Angeles, where he works as a financial advisor. In September 2016, Arthur was found not guilty of assault and battery, following a case in which he had allegedly thrown boiling water over a woman. In July 2017, he settled a lawsuit with the family of the woman, who had accused him of elder abuse.
Arthur also has a son named Max who is 22 years old and a junior at the University of Southern California. His mother is Kate’s sister Ava, who is two years his senior. Ava was born in England and moved with her family to Australia as a child. She then attended university there and later began working at a law firm in Los Angeles. In August 2017, she began a new job as a legal secretary. It is presumed that Max and Ava have at least one other sibling they have yet to acknowledge or reveal information about. In 2017, Max and his sister Ava bought a £1.7 million home in London.
Robert’s Personality
Robert Pattinson’s charm and good looks immediately drew attention to him as a child. His friends and family have described him as both funny and self-assured. His sister Kate said in 2016, “He’s always been independent and strong-willed, and that’s never changed.” One of his closest friends is English actor Rupert Everett, with whom he maintains a close relationship. The two worked together on the film Adorable in 2011. The day before filming began, they had written a scene together in which they played husband and wife. Robert and Rupert are also reportedly romantically involved and have been spotted kissing in public. In interviews, Rupert has described Robert as a “wonderful, wonderful boy.” The actor has spoken openly about his bisexuality, claiming that he has “never been particularly interested in men” and that “the fairer the skincolor, the hotter they seem to be on my lips.”
Filmography
As well as being a versatile actor and producer, Louis Robert Pattinson is also a photographer and film director. In 2014, he and his family founded a production company, Swan River Films, which focuses on ‘edgy, sexy, romantic thrillers’ according to its website. The company was born out of a frustration with the limitations of major Hollywood studios. When asked about his future projects in 2015, Pattinson said, “It’s funny, I always get asked about my work, and I always say the same thing. I never make movies just for the money. I make them because I feel like there’s a story to tell, and that’s what’s most important to me.”