When she was 11 or 12 years old, she discovered Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler was her biological father
The star of The Lord of the Rings, Liv Tyler, had a unique upbringing with her mother, Bebe Buell, a singer and former Playboy Playmate, and her adoptive father, rock legend Todd Rundgren.
When she attended an Aerosmith concert at around 11 or 12, everything changed for her. While enjoying the show and rocking out to Guns N’ Roses belting out “Welcome to the Jungle,” she spotted a girl off to the side of the stage. To her astonishment, it felt like looking in a mirror—she was seeing herself reflected. Mia Tyler is Steven Tyler’s daughter from his first marriage to Cyrinda Fox.
As Liv’s mom wept, she revealed a shocking family secret: Liv and Mia had the same father, Aerosmith’s iconic frontman, Steven Tyler. What impact would this newfound connection have on her identity and family dynamics?
This week, Liv Tyler shared some personal insights into her family’s past on the iHeart Radio podcast, Sibling Revelry With Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson. According to her mother, Steven Tyler was addicted to drugs during the pregnancy of her father.
The 47-year-old actress recounted how her mother called Todd, who would later become her stepfather, to share the news of her pregnancy. Todd responded with immense love and bravery, telling her, “This child needs a father, and I will be that father.”
As a result, Liv was born as ‘Liv Rundgren.’ In a 2001 interview with AP, she expressed her thoughts about her biological father, saying, “I don’t think my dad was really in a place to be a father—Steven, that is. It’s incredible what Todd did for me.”
Reflecting on the moment she discovered her biological father’s identity after a concert, Liv described the overwhelming initial feeling as one of sheer shock.
In reflection, she said, “I remember sitting there for what seemed like an eternity, even though it was likely only three hours, and realizing, “Wow, I have two dads.”
The actor expressed her genuine excitement about having two fathers, saying, “They’re both incredibly different and absolutely wonderful in their own ways.”
She concluded, “I love him dearly. He’s been a father figure to me, and I have brothers from him, creating a whole family unit that means the world to me.”
Yet, she admitted that it must still be challenging and painful for Todd and confessed, “I don’t talk to him nearly enough.”