kids

Owen Wilson's daughter was born in 2018. He's never met her.

Actor Owen Wilson is paying US$25,000 (AU$36,500) a month in child support for his five-year-old daughter Lyla, who he has never met.

According to court documents obtained by Radar Online, Wilson demanded a DNA test after learning his on-again, off-again girlfriend Varunie Vongsvirates was pregnant. Vongsvirates, who he had dated casually for five years, filed a paternity petition in May 2018, about five months before Lyla was born.

Responding to the petition, Wilson marked 'none' when asked whether he wanted visitation rights and claimed he was not sure if he was the parent.

Owen Wilson talks about his son's Ford and Finn on Ellen. Post continues below.


Video via Ellen.

After Lyla's birth in October 2018, a DNA test confirmed he was her father. He did not ask for visitation rights after his paternity was confirmed.

Wilson, 54, and Vongsvirates, in her late 30s, eventually settled on a $25,000 monthly child support payment, plus a one-off payment of $70,000 to cover a labour coach, night nurse and Vongsvirates' legal fees.

Lyla is also to be covered under Wilson's Screen Actors Guild medical insurance.

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The court document also states that Vongsvirates and Wilson shall "not make disparaging and/or derogatory remarks about the other party, or their significant others, if any, in the presence of the minor child".

Despite that, in November 2019, Vongsvirates told the Daily Mail it was ironic that Wilson plays father roles in movies when he'd never met his own daughter.

"You should see your daughter, she's incredible, you're really missing out, and she looks just like you," she said when asked if she had a message for the actor.

Vongsvirates regularly shares photos of her daughter on Instagram and responds to supportive comments from followers.

On Lyla's third birthday, she shared a sweet message for her daughter on Instagram, writing: "Happy 3rd birthday to my wild child! I love you so much."

She shared another sweet birthday snap for Lyla's fourth, and in October this year, Lyla celebrated her fifth birthday. 

She is still reportedly yet to meet her father.

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"He helps financially, but it's never been about that. Lyla needs a father... He's playing a father in his new movie, and he's never met his own daughter," Vongsvirates has previously said.

Despite his lack of contact with Lyla, Wilson has maintained close relationships with his two sons and their mothers.

In January 2011, Wilson's then-partner Jade Duell gave birth to son Robert Ford, now 11.

In January 2014 he welcomed Finn, now eight, with Swedish personal trainer Caroline Lindqvist. The pregnancy announcement attracted intrigue because Lindqvist was mid-divorce (separated but technically still married) with plastic surgeon husband Ritu Chopra at the time.

On Ellen in June 2017, Wilson spoke proudly and intimately of his sons, calling Ford "a little stuntman in training", and sharing a personal video of the child's antics in a swimming pool.

He shared how much little Finn idolises his older brother.

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"It's unbelievable. I mean, anything Ford says is just, like, the funniest thing ever, and I can make and joke and it's, like, crickets. It's like nothing from those guys," Wilson told DeGeneres.

He shared a story from a family trip that made he see "how they're going to be as teenagers".

"We went to Sequoia National Park, and they have the biggest tree in the world. I'm like, 'Guys, this is the biggest tree in the world,' and Ford's like: 'I've seen bigger'.

"And I'm like: 'Well, no, Ford, actually you haven't seen bigger. This is the General Sherman tree. This is the biggest tree.' And he's like: 'If you say so.' And I’m like: 'No, it's not if I say so! There's the plaque right here!' And he's like: 'I can't read'."

When asked on Jimmy Kimmel Live! if he was a strict parent, Wilson said: "I'm pretty strict about manners and everything. But, yeah, you know, I'm not unreasonably strict. I guess I'm a little old-fashioned. 

"You know, I've said to both of them, 'I don't care what Uncle Woody and what Uncle Willy do, there's no smoking pot in this house'. My house, my rules."

Wilson has never publicly spoken about his third child or relationship with Vongsvirates, so it's unlikely the notoriously private actor will speak out now.

This article was originally published on December 6, 2019 and has since been updated.

Feature Image: Getty.

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