Owen Wilson opens up on dad’s Alzheimer’s

CEBU, Philippines – For Owen Wilson, family is something he would prefer to keep on the private side.

You likely won’t see his two boys under five on the cover of a magazine.  Furthermore, it’s not like you hear from the actor on social media every day.

But in a new interview with the Dallas Morning News, the Hollywood star is speaking candidly about his 74-year-old father Robert A. Wilson’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a condition that has greatly impacted Owen’s view on family and health.

“It’s one of those things where if somebody had said 10 years ago, when my dad and I were joking around, having a putting match, that this is the position your dad’s going to be in, where he basically needs 24-hour care, you’d think, ‘Gosh, I won’t be able to handle that. That’s just not possible,’” he told the publication. “But it does happen. Such things just happen in life.”

He continued, “You just have to do your best to deal with it. You’ve got no choice but to accept it. And then, you sort of still look for the things to be grateful for. He is at home, taken care of, and he has people around that love him.”

As his dad continues to battle the disease, Owen is comforted by all of the support his family receives from Dallas friends and neighbors.

He’s also more than impressed with how his mom, acclaimed photographer Laura Wilson, has handled the changes in the family.

“You really see that when you have to deal with some bad luck, like what’s happened with my dad,” the “Zoolander” star said. “People have supported my mother and done stuff and that’s so valuable. The great thing about feeling you’re a part of a community is how it sustains you.”