Alec Baldwin Pays Tribute To Late Father On What Would Have Been His 97th Birthday

Alec Baldwin took to Instagram on October 26 to honor the memory of his late father, Alexander Rae Baldwin Jr., who would have turned 97 this year. The 66-year-old actor reflected on the impact his father had on his life, despite losing him at a young age.

In a heartfelt video, Alec opened up about the difficulty of expressing his feelings on his father’s birthday. “I always feel inept, ’cause I can’t think of things to say,” he began. “And that’s not true, I can think of things to say, but I guess it’s kind of too painful to say them.”

Alec’s father passed away in 1983, just 12 days after Alec’s 25th birthday. Reflecting on the loss, he said, “…My dad was an important part of my life, even though I was young when he died.”

Now at 66, Alec shared a poignant thought: “I outlived my dad, which is just horrifying to me. I always wonder the same thing, which is what life would’ve been if my dad had been around longer. If he was alive today, he would be 96 years old. That would be a lot to ask, I guess, 96.”

Alexander Rae Baldwin Jr., who worked as a public school teacher and high school football coach for 28 years, passed away at age 55. Despite the years that have passed, Alec still remembers the lessons his father taught him. “Fathers are always standing in the wings for so much of your life when you’re a kid,” he stated, “and then they become more … the things that they have to say or the things that they offer you as a parent are more relevant and more interesting as they get older.”

In his tribute, Alec shared his continuing admiration for his father, saying, “So anyway, happy birthday to my dad. Happy birthday to my dad, wherever you are.”

Alec is the second oldest of six children born to Alexander Jr. and his wife Carol, who passed away in May 2022 at age 92. His siblings include actor brothers Daniel, Billy, and Stephen Baldwin, as well as sisters Elizabeth and Jane.

This isn’t the first time Alec has shared his deep emotions regarding his father’s passing. On the 36th anniversary of his father’s death in 2019, the Beetlejuice star posted a photo of his dad, describing him as “a uniquely caring, dedicated, stern, smart, and, at times, funny man.” Alec also reflected on the profound impact the loss had on him, setting in motion what he called the “orphan clock,” which starts ticking after the death of both parents.

“My mother is still alive,” Alec shared at the time, “but the death of my father effected [sic] me tremendously and set me on a course of seeking other men to advise me. To care for me. Mentor me. No one has quite filled that position.”

He concluded his tribute with a touching sentiment: “A mother, a father, under the best of circumstances, though never perfect ones, are irreplaceable. I miss you, Dad.”