All About Olivia Wilde’s Parents, Andrew and Leslie Cockburn

Olivia Wilde dared to live life to the fullest, thanks to the example of her parents, investigative journalists Andrew and Leslie Cockburn.

Andrew and Leslie are both award-winning journalists who have covered some of the most dangerous subjects and reported from war zones around the world while being caring parents to their three children. Olivia grew up always knowing her parents were watching over her, giving her the confidence to try new things.

“That’s the spirit they’ve had throughout my personal life and my career: letting me be who I am, but always keeping a watchful eye on me making sure I’m okay,” she told Irish Independent in 2010

Although Olivia has had a successful and critically acclaimed career as an actress and director, she remains humble when it comes to her family. “I’m the least interesting person at the table, and I’m really good at it,” she said Ella in 2016.

Here’s everything you need to know about Olivia Wilde’s parents, Andrew and Leslie Cockburn.

They got married in 1977

Andrew and Leslie Cockburn.

Olivia Wilde on Instagram

Andrew was born on January 7, 1947 in the suburbs of London, while Leslie was born on September 2, 1952 in San Mateo, California – some 5,400 miles away.

The two first met at London’s Zanzibar club when Leslie was in the English capital finishing graduate school, she recalled in a 2009 interview with C-SPAN. Although Andrew grew up in Ireland, he returned to London when he was 17 for work.

The two married in 1977 and had three children: eldest daughter Chloe in 1979, actress Olivia in 1984 and only son Charlie in 1993.

Andrew grew up in Ireland, and Olivia spent her summers there as a child

Olivia Wilde and her mom Leslie.

Olivia Wilde on Instagram

Although Andrew was born north of London, he grew up in East Cork, Ireland, where technology was not yet a part of life. He told C-SPAN that his horse was his means of transportation since they didn’t have cars. Andrew also revealed that he grew up without a phone or a refrigerator.

After having children, Andrew and Leslie connected their children to their Irish roots by spending summers in Ardmore, a village in the south of Ireland. Olivia later recalled that she felt like “the luckiest kid in the world” because she felt like she had grown up there.

“Ireland was a lot more inspiring to me as a kid, a lot more fun, and the people had such an incredible effect on me, and I credit a lot of my growing up as a kid and a lot of my luck with the people I was surrounded by in Ireland,” she said. Irish Independent.

They are investigative journalists, writers and producers of documentaries

Leslie Cockburn in San Francisco, California on Thursday, September 26, 2013.

Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty; Larry Busacca/Getty

Olivia isn’t the only big name in her family. Andrew and Leslie are renowned journalists, writers and documentarians who have covered some of the world’s biggest and most pressing issues.

The two collaborated on several documentaries for PBS first line, as well as a feature documentary film American casino 2009, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Andrew also won a Peabody Award for the 1981 film Red Army, which he produced for PBS, while Leslie won an Emmy Award in 1999 for her documentary George the Great.

They are also co-authors of books including A Dangerous Liaison: The Inside Story of the American-Israeli Secret Relationship in 1991 and One point safe in 1997.

In the field, Leslie was a war reporter dealing with harrowing situations. Once she was evacuated from a flight in the Middle East because there was a bomb on the plane while she was pregnant with Olivia, and another time she was held at gunpoint in Somalia while she was pregnant with Olivia’s younger brother Charlie.

Olivia said vanity fair in 2022 that her parents would repeat the phrase “Don’t be boring,” a saying that “influenced every decision” Olivia made throughout her life.

“At any crossroads I came to where one option was safer than the other, I would take the less safe route. It led to some great things, like taking risks with acting,” she said.

Leslie ran for office in 2018 — and Olivia endorsed her campaign

Olivia Wilde/Instagram

In 2018, Leslie ran as the Democratic candidate for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District Representative in the House of Representatives with Olivia’s full support. The actress appeared at a rally for her mom and told several media outlets at the time how proud she was to see Leslie running for office.

“I’ve seen my mom do amazing things: she’s worked in war zones as a journalist, she’s spoken truth to power in different ways, she’s also just my crazy mom, but to see her in this position was incredible,” she told Guard in 2019

Although Leslie polled favorably throughout the campaign, she ultimately lost to Republican challenger Denver Riggleman.

They wrote the script for Peacemaker starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman

Leslie Cockburn and Andrew Cockburn during the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival.

Larry Busacca/Getty

Andrew and Leslie dipped their toes into fiction when they wrote and co-produced the 1997 thriller. Peacemaker, starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman. The film was based on an article the two wrote about nuclear weapons smuggling in the Soviet Union based on information they discovered in intelligence reports and from US government sources.

Olivia then visited the set with her parents, where she had lunch with Clooney. She later recalled how he was the first Hollywood actor she met, setting “pretty high standards”.

“He is truly honest, smart, kind, and I also like his politics, which always helps,” she told City and country in 2012.

They used to host celebrity parties at their DC home

Andrew Cockburn and Leslie Cockburn at the after party for the screening of “American Casino” on April 26, 2009 in New York.

Neilson Barnard/Getty

Andrew and Leslie were well connected in DC and often hosted parties at their Georgetown home where celebrities including Mick Jagger stopped by. The Rolling Stones member later created the HBO series Vinyl in which Olivia appeared — but their earlier interactions weren’t the warmest.

“I was probably 10 years old, maybe a little younger, and he was sitting in my place at the table,” she recalled in Emmy magazine cover 2016. “I came in and asked him to get off my chair. He told me to go to bed, which was hilarious then, and even more hilarious now that he’s my boss.”

Olivia often posts sweet pictures in honor of her parents

Olivia Wilde and her mom Leslie. ; Olivia Wilde and her dad Andrew.

Olivia Wilde on Instagram

The actress does not hesitate to celebrate her parents whenever she has the opportunity, she often publishes posts about them for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, as well as their birthdays.

“Cheers to a woman who has kept her wild spirit while having three children and a huge career. Thanks for always being willing to hold me upside down, even if it was the 300th time that day. I love you,” Olivia captioned a 2020 Instagram post featuring her mother in a field of daisies, as well as a flashback to Leslie holding Olivia upside down when she was a child.

She celebrated Andrija on Father’s Day 2019 by posting an adorable picture of her father holding one of her children. (Olivia is mother to son Otis and daughter Daisy with ex Jason Sudeikis.)

“❤️ Dad • Grandpa • Smartest guy I’ll ever meet • Chef • Friend • Genius • Hero • Really just the most wonderful person, I love you I love you I love you ❤️,” she wrote.

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Source: HIS Education