All about Ryan Gosling's dad, Thomas Gosling and their complicated relationship
Ryan Gosling's dad, Thomas Gosling, is a Canadian salesman and businessman. His son, Ryan Gosling, is a critically acclaimed actor best known for his roles as Ken on Barbie and Noah in The Notebook. Although Ryan finds immense joy in fatherhood, his relationship with his father remains complicated.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Ryan Gosling's parents divorced when he was 13 years old.
- His mother, Donna, raised him and his sister, Mandi, single-handedly.
- The actor experienced a rocky relationship with his father due to his absenteeism from a young age.
- He rarely speaks about his dad in public.
Thomas Gosling's profile summary
Full name | Thomas Ray Gosling |
Gender | Male |
Year of birth | 1953 |
Age | 72–73 years old (as of 2026) |
Place of birth | Cornwall, Ontario, Canada |
Nationality | Canadian |
Ethnicity | Mixed |
Religion | Christianity |
Hair colour | Blonde |
Eye colour | Brown |
Height in feet and inches | 5'9" |
Height in centimetres | 175 |
Father | George Gosling |
Mother | Mary Yvette Brown |
Sexual orientation | Straight |
Marital status | Divorced |
Ex-wife | Donna Wilson |
Children | 2 |
Occupation | Salesman, businessman |
Who is Ryan Gosling's dad (Thomas Gosling)?
Thomas Ray Gosling is a salesman and businessman. He was born in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, in 1953 and is about 72–73 years old as of 2026. He is a Canadian citizen of mixed heritage, with French Canadian, English, German, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.
Thomas and his family were members of the Mormon Church, and Ryan has stated that the religion influenced their daily routines and values. In 1977, the renowned businessman married Donna Wilson, a secretary. The pair welcomed two children, Ryan and Mandi.
When Ryan was young, the Gosling family relocated to Burlington, Ontario. While there, Thomas Gosling worked as a salesman for a paper company. He eventually launched his own business, a marketing and sales consulting firm.
Donna and Thomas Gosling divorced around 1993 when Ryan was 13 years old, and their mother raised him and his sister Mandi.
Source: Original
Ryan Gosling's relationship with his father
Ryan Gosling has occasionally mentioned his complex relationship with his father. He has spoken up about how his parents' divorce affected him. In a 2015 interview with The Guardian about his 2014 film Lost River, Ryan stated:
"Lost River was a visualisation of my emotions at the time. Everything was demolished."
He continued:
"Well, the environment in Detroit can be threatening and ominous, and it reminded me of a feeling I had when I was a kid. Because my mother wasn't just a single mother, she was also very beautiful. And men were like wolves. Just walking down the street with her was scary. There was a predatory vibe."
When Ryan Gosling was asked what his mom thought of the film, the celebrated actor said she liked it, as she has always been his greatest supporter. However, when the interviewer asked what his dad thought of the film, Ryan responded:
"Can we stick to film questions?.. Yeah, he wasn't so involved."
Lost River, Ryan's directorial debut, follows a single mother and her two sons as they strive to keep their family intact. Given how little Ryan has talked about his father, the 2014 film offers an intriguing peek into his thoughts following his parents' divorce and his relationship with him.
Source: Getty Images
Sources close to the family have occasionally hinted that Thomas desires to reconcile with his son. However, the Canadian celebrity has rarely discussed their relationship publicly, maintaining a level of privacy that leaves most of the story open to speculation.
The strained relationship between Ryan and his father often contrasts with his close bond with his mother. Ryan's mom, Donna Gosling, has attended several red-carpet events with her son and is frequently referenced in interviews as a pivotal figure in his life.
Donna even quit her work as a secretary to homeschool Ryan for a year while he was having problems at school due to ADHD, which made it difficult for him to focus and also led to bullying.
Ryan Gosling's net worth
Ryan Gosling is one of Hollywood's wealthiest actors. His films have grossed over US$4 billion worldwide. According to Celebrity Net Worth and other entertainment articles, his estimated net worth is $90 million as of 2026.
His key income sources include:
- Film fees (reportedly $12.5 million for Barbie)
- Producer credits across multiple projects
- Brand endorsements
How is Ryan Gosling related to Justin Bieber?
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Ryan Gosling and Justin Bieber are 11th cousins once removed. Their shared ancestry traces back to Mathurin Roy and Marguerite Biré, French settlers who emigrated to Quebec in the early 1600s. Ancestry.com researchers confirmed the connection in 2019, and Bieber announced it on Instagram. Avril Lavigne is a distant cousin of both men.
What is Ryan Gosling's gender identity?
Ryan Gosling identifies as straight. He has been in a long-term relationship with actress Eva Mendes since 2011. Together they have two daughters, Esmeralda Amada (born 2014) and Amada Lee (born 2016). In a 2016 interview with Pink News, Gosling said he considers himself "49% woman," reflecting the strong female influence of his upbringing.
The actor said:
"I think women are better than men. They are stronger. More evolved. You can tell especially when you have daughters, and you see their early stages; they are just leaps and bounds beyond boys immediately."
Ryan is also a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ equality.
FAQs
- Who is Ryan Gosling? He is a Canadian actor and film director.
- How old is Ryan Gosling? The actor is 45 years old as of 2026. He was born on 12 November 1980 in London, Ontario, Canada.
- Who is Ryan Gosling's dad? His dad is Thomas Ray Gosling, a Canadian salesman and businessman.
- How old is Ryan Gosling's dad? His dad is about 72–73 years old as of 2026. He was born in 1953 in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.
- How many siblings does Ryan have? The acclaimed actor has one sibling, a sister named Mandi Gosling, who is a producer and casting director.
- When did Ryan Gosling's parents divorce? They divorced in 1993, and his mother raised him and his sister.
- Who is Ryan Gosling's stepdad? His stepdad is Valerio Attanasio, an Italian filmmaker. He was seen accompanying Ryan during the 2024 Oscars.
- Is Ryan Gosling wealthy? Yes. His net worth is estimated at 90 million as of 2026, making him one of Hollywood's highest-earning actors.
Ryan Gosling's dad, Thomas Ray Gosling, is a Canadian businessman and salesman. Since his divorce from his ex-wife, Donna, he has experienced a strained relationship with his son. He has since kept a private life away from the Hollywood spotlight.
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