Josh Duhamel mourns death of beloved stepfather 'Big George'

Josh Duhamel mourns death of beloved stepfather ‘Big George’

Josh Duhamel has paid tribute to his “incredible” late stepfather after his death.

The 51-year-old actor reflected on the death of his stepfather George Kemper following a memorial service in his honour this week, and he heaped praise on “Big George” for everything he did for the family.

He wrote on Instagram: “Said goodbye today to my step father George Kemper. An incredible man, with a larger than life personality and a laugh that filled the room.

“He pulled my mother Bonny, my sister Ashlee, and myself from the wrong side of the tracks into a life with possibility.

“He also gave me two other beautiful sisters, McKenzee and Kassidy. We will miss this man dearly. Thank you for all you did for us Big George.”

Josh’s parents got divorced when he was young, and much of his childhood was spent with his mother and sisters.

Josh – who has 10-year-old son Axl with ex-wife Gergie – has been open about how their respective family history has inspired them to stay amicable when it comes to co-parenting their own child.

Appearing on ‘In Depth With Graham Bensinger’, he said: “We both had parents who got divorced, who didn’t get along so great, and didn’t want to do the same thing to our kid.

“We knew that whatever differences we had, we had to figure that out and, you know, be like a positive example for Axl.

“We both had good examples of what not to do. We both wanted the same thing and that is to create an easy place for him that isn’t awkward or uncomfortable or pressure filled. That’s it.”

The former flames got married in 2009 and welcomed Axl into the world in 2013, before separating four years later.

By 2019 they filed for, and finalised, their diorce, and Josh married Audra Mari in 2022, with whom he welcomed son Shepherd Lawrence in January this year.

Speaking before their baby’s birth, he told Entertainment Tonight: “I’m very excited about it, I really am. And so is she, so is my son. We’re very lucky and all we can hope for is a healthy baby.”