It was only a matter of time before Rob Pattinson was going to bemoan the loss of a family member. The “Twilight” hunk, whose actual name is Robert Pattinson, is the son of actor Roger Pattinson and novelist Kate Houghton. He lost his father when he was just 15 years old and has been in a caretaker role ever since. He grew up with his mother and siblings (including an older brother named Jamie) in England before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. After filming the “Twilight” movies, he returned to England and has been living in a houseboat since 2012.
The heartbreaking news of Rob’s brother Jamie’s death on Tuesday was confirmed to Us Weekly on Wednesday by Pattinson’s rep. In a statement, the rep said:
“It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Jamie, Rob’s younger brother. He passed away on Tuesday, April 17th, at the age of 45. Rob was with his family when he suffered cardiac arrest and subsequent brain damage. In the ensuing weeks, his health declined and he passed away. We would like to thank everyone for their support and kind thoughts during this time.”
Pattinson previously opened up about his difficult childhood in a 2015 interview with Oprah Winfrey. “I feel like I’ve been given this incredible gift in life. But at the same time, I also feel like I’m in this really awkward position because I don’t really know how to deal with all this attention,” he said at the time. “I come from a really normal, working-class family—Dad’s a postman and Mum’s a cleaner—and I really didn’t expect any different.”
The actor also revealed that he was bullied as a child and had suicidal tendencies. “I worried about dying for a really long time,” he said at the time. “Even now, I still get really anxious if I don’t get my daily vitamin C. … I definitely think there is a lot of stuff in the past that comes back to haunt you.”
Following his brother’s heartbreaking passing, Rob took to Instagram to share further condolences. “[W]e lost one of our own tonight,” he wrote in a caption alongside a photo of himself with his brother. “Jamie was a loving husband, father, and brother. He was a beautiful person and will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Emily, his children Ella, Moses, and Simeon, and his parents. He will be sorely missed.”
The “Twilight” star later added: “I love you bro. You will be missed.”
Other stars, too, have paid tribute to the late actor on social media. “[S]orry to hear about your loss,” wrote “Westworld” star Jeffrey Wright on Twitter. “Thoughts and prayers with you.”
Rapper Travis Scott also expressed his grief at the news of Jamie’s death. “[T]his is such a tragic loss,” he wrote. “[H]ope [you’re] feeling all the love and support right now.”
And “Fuller House” star Anna Gunn shared: “The whole world is feeling [this] loss right now. Sending lots of love and light to you and your family.”
Rob Is Looking For True Love
With yet another brother gone, it’s clear that Rob needs some loving companionship. It would be easy for the “Twilight” heartthrob to surround himself with Hollywood’s finest, famous faces—after all, he has a lot of money and fame—but he would rather settle for someone a little less famous but a lot more relatable.
“I just want to be surrounded by people I feel safe with,” he told Winfrey. “I don’t want to be with someone who is going to hurt me or break my heart.”
And it seems like he has found that person. The English actor recently began dating musician Taylor Swift and their whirlwind romance was documented on Instagram. He also spent time with Swift at her home in the Hollywood Hills.
“I feel like we’re both kind of struggling to make it as musicians in this world,” he told Swift in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “And so, I think we definitely have a lot in common.”
Pattinson is the latest in a line of famous brothers who have had tragic circumstances in the family. He isn’t the only famous nephew, either. Taylor Swift’s younger brother, Jake, is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who performs under the moniker “JR”. He’s best known for the hit song “I Love You” and released his debut album “Red” in 2018.
In 2014, Taylor’s father, Scott, passed away after a battle with brain cancer. In the same year, Rob’s other brother, Alex, killed himself in a tragic accident.
The ‘Twilight’ Family
Rob’s fame didn’t arise overnight. He began appearing in music videos as a teenager and later earned a place in every “Twilight” movie. Of course, it didn’t hurt that he was dating the hottest girl in school. Kate Houghton introduced the 16-year-old to the world when she penned the best-selling novel “Twilight” in 2004. The book, which was later made into a movie of the same name, went on to become a worldwide phenomenon and spurred the “Twilight” franchise, based on the novels by Houghton.
After their school days were done, Rob and Kate developed a close bond and got married in 2006. They had their first child, Scout, in 2008 and a son, Titan, in 2013. (Their daughter, Kali, was born in 2010.) Although the couple initially chose to keep their family life low-profile in the media, they eventually grew comfortable enough around the media and opened up about their personal life.
“We’re really proud of what we’ve created,” Rob said of his family in a 2011 interview with Elle magazine. “It’s a big commitment to have children when you’re not married. It means giving a lot to someone else.”
The actor also credited his fame for allowing him to provide for his family. “I think it’s changed my life for the better,” he told Winfrey. “I got to a place in my life where I could actually take care of my family and not have to worry about money so much.”
A Tragic Start To An Actor’s Career
The story of Rob’s acting career is one of tragedy. In addition to the loss of his father, he also lost his stepfather, Peter, when he was just 17 years old. Peter’s death was a huge blow to Rob, who told Winfrey that it was “traumatic” and made him consider suicide.
“It was a really dark period,” he said. “I felt like I’d lost my best friend.”
The actor eventually forged ahead and began appearing in films. While he was struggling to find success, he made a name for himself by portraying famous figures in films—from John Lennon to Paul McCartney (“Imagine”), to Elton John (“Rocketman”) and Lenny Kravitz (“Biker Boyz”).
Pattinson also drew attention for his role opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in the 2015 film “The Fall of Man”. The film, based on Dan Brown’s 2003 novel of the same name, explores the life of legendary criminal scientist Robert Langdon and his efforts to prevent the world from ending in 2012. On the big screen, Langdon is played by Benedict Cumberbatch, and the role marks the English actor’s first collaboration with Brown. In the film, Langdon is dubbed “the world’s premiere crime fighter” and, at the end of the film, he singlehandedly defeats Lord Voldemort, the evil mastermind from the Harry Potter series. After the movie’s premiere, the New York Times wrote: “[I]t is hard to imagine a more perfect match: two actors with an undeniable charisma and presence, who also happen to be a brilliant scientific minds.”