MARY-LOUISE Parker and Billy Crudup’s son William made a rare public appearance this week – and turned heads with just how much he looks like both his famous parents.
William Atticus Parker, 21, joined Mary-Louise at a screening for her new horror series The Institute in Culver City, California.
Walking the red carpet together, Mary-Louise wore a sleek cream suit with statement heels.
Meanwhile, William opted for a pale blue suit, paired with a white shirt and matching trainers.
He was born in 2004, just after Mary-Louise and Billy’s highly publicized split ended their eight-year relationship – a breakup that made headlines when Billy left her while she was seven months pregnant for actress Claire Danes.
The scandal dominated entertainment news at the time, with the then 35-year-old Billy receiving backlash for the sudden split.
Danes, 24 at the time, also faced criticism, later admitting in a 2015 interview that the affair was “messy” and “complicated”, adding, “I was just in love with him… and needed to explore that.”
Mary-Louise largely stayed silent in the immediate aftermath but opened up years later in her 2015 memoir Dear Mr. You, sharing raw insights into the emotional toll of the breakup while pregnant.
She wrote: “My baby was not a tragedy. I went into the delivery room with my hair in braids, singing a lullaby, and I came out with a baby boy who made everything worthwhile.”
Speaking in 2023 after Billy married actress Naomi Watts, Mary-Louise told The Guardian, “I wish them well. And absolutely I honestly of course wish them every happiness because that’s my son’s father.
“So I’m happy for them. I’m happy they found each other.”
Despite his starry lineage, William has mostly stayed out of the spotlight – though he’s started popping up more frequently in recent years.
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He attended the 2021 Tony Awards with Mary-Louise and his younger sister, Ash, and earlier this year joined them both for the London premiere of The Institute during SXSW.
He’s also supported Billy on big nights, including the 2024 Critics’ Choice Awards, where Billy picked up Best Supporting Actor for The Morning Show.
During his speech, he thanked his “amazing son” while posing for photos with William backstage.
Away from red carpets, William has dipped into acting himself – appearing alongside Mary-Louise in Christmas in Conway, Mr. Mercedes and Colin in Black & White.
He’s also written and directed two feature films, Forty Winks and Atrabilious.
Speaking to the Utah International Film Festival in 2022 about Forty Winks, which starred his godmother Susan Sarandon along with John Turturro and Carmen Ejogo, William said: “It was entirely self-funded, and I had no producers to help out during the production.
“Therefore, I had to take a lot on at 17, which was just a leap of faith for myself if anything.”
Most recently, he appeared in Netflix’s 2024 release Woody Woodpecker Goes to Camp, and joined Billy and Naomi for their vow renewal in Mexico City.
Photos shared by actor Justin Theroux showed William walking down the aisle beside his dad during the intimate ceremony.
