Josh Duhamel is opening up about the emotional toll of balancing a demanding career with being a hands-on dad.
In a heartfelt conversation on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast with Amanda Hirsch (aired Tuesday, May 13), the Ransom Canyon star reflected on fatherhood and the struggles that come with parenting while working in showbiz.
“I think the hardest part about this job is being away so much,” said Duhamel, 52. “I miss a lot. When I was directing Preschool in London, I was gone for three months. My son Axl came to visit for nine days, but I missed all his soccer games — and I didn’t catch a single basketball game last season.”
“That kind of stuff just kills me,” he added. “You don’t get that time back.”
Duhamel shares his oldest son, Axl (born August 2013), with ex-wife Fergie. The couple married in 2009 and finalized their divorce in 2019. He married model Audra Mari in 2022, and the two welcomed their son Shepherd in January 2024.
While adjusting to life as a father of two, Duhamel revealed that Axl has warmed up to his role as a big brother — though it wasn’t an instant bond.
“At first, he wanted nothing to do with him. Didn’t even want to hold him,” Duhamel admitted. “But now that Shepherd is following him around, wants to play soccer and do everything Axl does — it’s beautiful to see.”
The Transformers actor has long spoken about how much fatherhood means to him. In a 2023 interview with Fatherly, he described Axl as his partner-in-crime. “We’re like two bachelors,” he joked, noting how his wife Audra brought structure and balance into their lives. “They have the most beautiful relationship.”
These days, Duhamel finds peace and perspective outside of Hollywood, spending time with his family in Minnesota. “I love seeing life through my kids’ eyes,” he told PEOPLE. “Axl’s starting to really enjoy it out there. We’re making memories, and I’ve even become handier just out of necessity.”
Whether on-screen or off, Duhamel is embracing life’s seasons — one role at a time.