All About Billy Crudup and Mary-Louise Parker's Son William Atticus Parker

Billy Crudup and Mary-Louise Parker are the proud parents of a son, William Atticus Parker.

The Morning show star and Weeds the actress became first-time parents after welcoming William on January 7, 2004. At the time, Crudup and Parker had recently split after eight years together. Crudup left Parker when she was seven months pregnant for his Scenic beauty costar Claire Danes.

Despite the circumstances of their split, the couple put their differences aside “for the sake of the child” and retained custody out of court, Parker’s rep told PEOPLE in 2004. “They’re figuring out a way to live together,” a friend of the Crudups added at the time.

In the years since, Crudup and Parker have continued to co-parent their son, even teaming up to star in one of William’s student films in 2019.

The exes also expressed support for each other regarding their personal lives. When Crudup married Naomi Watts in June 2023, Parker said Guard: “I wish them well. And I absolutely sincerely wish them the best of luck because he is the father of my son. So I’m happy for them. I’m happy they found each other.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Billy Crudup and Mary-Louise Parker’s son, William Atticus Parker.

He was born in 2004

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William was born in New York on January 7, 2004, two months after Crudup and Parker divorced.

Parker said in 2009 More magazine about her breakup with Crudup, “I’ve never commented on the situation and I won’t because it’s not fair to my son.” On the cordiality with her ex, she added: “Your love for your child should overshadow any other feelings you have for the other person.”

It was named after a famous character

William took his first name from his father, who was born William Gaither Crudup. But his middle name has a literary inspiration: Atticus Finch from To kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee.

“I just want him to be happy and kind, that’s why I gave him that middle name,” she told Mail on Sunday‘with Your magazine in June 2007.

He got a shout-out at an awards show when he was just a few days old

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In 2004, Parker won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series, Miniseries or TV Movie for her role in the HBO film Angels in America. The event took place just two weeks after William was born, and she gave him a humorous welcome in her speech.

After thanking director Mike Nichols and writer Tony Kushner, Parker said, “And Janel Moloney just told me she’s going to pay me $1,000 if I thank my newborn son that my breasts look so good in this dress. So get out your checkbook! William Atticus Parker, thank you very much from your mother.”

He has acting credits

William Atticus Parker and Billy Crudup in the press room during the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards on January 14, 2024 in Santa Monica, California.

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William appeared in small, often uncredited roles in several projects, including those starring his mother. He had roles in TV movies Christmas in Conway (2013) and Compatibility (2018) and in the series Mr. Mercedes and Colin in black and white, all of which starred Parker. William also starred in two films that he directed himself.

Crudup spoke about his then 15-year-old son’s rising film career The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2019. “He’s in school right now, so he’s not a professional actor,” he said. “But he loves art. Both his mom and I are in business.”

He is a director

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Although William has acted before, his true passion is filmmaking. He directed two feature films: Wink (2022) and Gloomy (2023). The cast consisted of famous actors: Wink starring Justin Marcel McManus, Carmen Ejogo, John Turturro and Susan Sarandon, who is also William’s godmother. The cast Gloomy features Whoopi Goldberg, Jeffrey Wright and Alec Baldwin.

Deadline reported that both films were made on a micro-budget. William said of the release of his second feature: “Gloomy is a darkly comic and magical characterization of grief. It’s a story I’ve wanted to tell for a while and I’m so glad I got to do it with this wonderful cast and crew.”

The 19-year-old also has his own production company, River Styx Productions. According to the website, William’s directorial inspirations include Jordan Peele, Donald Glover, Ari Aster, Spike Lee and more.

His parents acted in one of his films

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During an interview with Ellen DeGeneres in 2019, Crudup said that he and Parker starred in one of William’s film class projects. “I’m sure you’ll see it at some point,” Crudup joked. “It was a seven-minute experimental film called Parchment.”

He then described his teenage son’s directing style.

“I used to record it when I was coming home on weekends and stuff from work here [in Los Angeles]”, said the actor. “So, needless to say, I didn’t want to go from a paid work gig to an unpaid work gig where I’m directed by my 15-year-old, who says things like, ‘Well that’s a stupid choice, Dad. Do it better.’ ”

Crudup said William would also wake him up for reshoots. “I was delighted that the character I play was aggressively angry and confused throughout,” he added.

He has a younger sister

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William has one sibling through his mother. In 2007, Parker adopted a daughter, Caroline “Ash” Aberash Parker.

In 2009, Weeds said the actor ALRIGHT! a magazine that William and Caroline immediately agreed with. “They are brother and sister. They were always brother and sister,” she said. “They’re really cute together, and sometimes they hurt each other. They’re like me and my brother, actually.”

Ash also contributed to William’s film Gloomy. According to Deadlineshe wrote and recorded a song for the film.

He walked the red carpet with his parents

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William has joined his parents at awards shows and premieres for years.

In 2021, he and Caroline attended the Tony Awards with Parker. That year, she won the Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Sound from within.

A few years later, William joined Crudup at the 2024 Critics Choice Awards, where the actor won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Morning show. During his speech, Crudup thanked his “amazing son.”

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Source: HIS Education