When you think of Chris Pratt, you probably picture him punching a dinosaur or dancing across a spaceship as Star-Lord. But for a huge chunk of the internet, the conversation around the actor always circles back to his family life. Specifically, Chris Pratt son Jack has been at the center of public fascination for over a decade.
It’s not just celebrity gossip. Honestly, the story of Jack’s birth and how Pratt navigates being a "boy dad" twice over—now that his second son, Ford Fitzgerald, has arrived—is a pretty wild study in Hollywood resilience and the messy reality of co-parenting under a microscope.
The Story of Jack Pratt: A Rocky Start
Let’s get the facts straight. Jack was born in August 2012, and it wasn't the "perfect" Hollywood birth story. Far from it.
He arrived seven weeks premature. He weighed only 3 pounds and 10 ounces. For anyone who’s ever stepped foot in a NICU, you know that’s a terrifying place to be. Anna Faris, Jack’s mom and Pratt's first wife, has been incredibly candid about this in her memoir Unqualified. She talked about the "complete shock" of her water breaking at 30 weeks and the grueling month that followed.
Doctors told the couple that Jack had severe brain bleeding. There was a real, terrifying possibility that he would face significant developmental disabilities.
Pratt has often mentioned that this was the moment his faith got serious. He famously said he made "deals with God" in that hospital room. He promised that if his son survived and was okay, he would use his platform to be vocal about his beliefs.
Health Hurdles and "Luck"
Despite the dire early predictions, Jack is doing great today. He’s 13 now. But it wasn't a magic fix. He’s had several surgeries over the years—hernia repairs, eye surgeries, and some heart-related issues.
Even now, he deals with some minor vision impairment and a bit of "high tone" in his leg muscles, which just means they can be a little stiff. But compared to what the doctors feared in 2012? It’s a massive win.
When people search for "Chris Pratt son," they often find that one controversial Instagram post from 2021. You know the one. Pratt thanked his current wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, for giving him a "gorgeous healthy daughter."
The internet absolutely lost its mind. People thought it was a direct dig at Anna Faris and Jack’s health struggles. Pratt later told Men's Health that the backlash made him cry. He was devastated that his words were interpreted as a slight against his firstborn. "My son’s gonna read that one day," he said. It’s a reminder that even for A-listers, the "digital stone" of social media is a heavy burden to carry.
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Enter Ford Fitzgerald: The Newest Member
Fast forward to late 2024. The Pratt-Schwarzenegger household got a bit noisier. On November 8, 2024, they welcomed Ford Fitzgerald Schwarzenegger Pratt.
Yeah, it’s a big name. Very "Kennedy-adjacent," which makes sense considering Katherine’s mom is Maria Shriver.
With Ford’s arrival, Chris is now a father of four:
- Jack (13): The eldest, from his marriage to Anna Faris.
- Lyla Maria (5): His first daughter with Katherine.
- Eloise Christina (3): The middle girl.
- Ford Fitzgerald (1): The baby of the bunch.
It’s a complicated, blended family dynamic that seems to actually work. Katherine has spoken about how she views her role as a stepparent to Jack, calling it "extra confusing" but rewarding. She’s not his mom, she’s not his friend, she’s just... Katherine. And apparently, Jack’s bond with his sisters reminds her of the relationship she had with her own younger brother, Christopher.
The "Strict" Parenting Style
You’d think Pratt would be the "cool dad" who lets everything slide. He’s Andy Dwyer, right?
Nope.
In various interviews, Pratt has admitted he’s actually the "strict" one. He’s big on respect and "toeing the line." He’s mentioned that his own father was very tough and "old school," and while he tries to be more sensitive than his dad was, he still believes kids need a firm hand.
"I am not his friend. You’re meant to be their parent." — Chris Pratt on Fatherly.
But he does have one hilarious exception to the rules: The Fishing Rule.
Apparently, there is a long-standing Pratt family tradition that you are allowed to swear as much as you want, but only while you are fishing. He tells a story about Jack catching a fish, getting poked by a fin, and screaming that the bass was a "f—king p-ssy."
Pratt’s reaction? He just had to sit there and try not to laugh because, technically, Jack was following the rules of the lake.
Co-Parenting in the Public Eye
Co-parenting is hard enough when you aren't famous. When you are, it’s a logistical nightmare.
Up until recently, Pratt lived just five miles away from Anna Faris in the Pacific Palisades to make the hand-offs easy. But with the growing family, he and Katherine moved to a bigger place in Brentwood.
It’s about ten miles away—still close by LA standards (maybe 40 minutes in traffic)—but it marks a new chapter. Faris and Pratt have both been very vocal about keeping a united front. They even put out a joint statement way back in 2017 saying they’d always "cherish our time together" for Jack’s sake.
Actionable Insights for Parents in Similar Spots
Looking at the Chris Pratt son narrative, there are actually a few things everyday parents can take away from how they handle things:
- Separate the Marriage from the Parenting: Whatever drama happened between Chris and Anna, they’ve kept it out of the "Jack zone." They show up to the same events and live close to each other.
- Acknowledge Stepparent Limits: Katherine’s honesty about her role is refreshing. If you’re a stepparent, don't feel pressured to be the "replacement" parent. Finding your own middle ground is healthier.
- The "Rule Enforcer" Balance: Chris and Katherine have a "good cop/bad cop" thing going. He’s the strict one, but he also says Katherine is the "rule enforcer" in different ways. Finding that balance with your partner prevents "parent shopping" by the kids.
- Watch the Digital Footprint: Pratt’s regret over his "healthy daughter" post is a huge lesson. Kids eventually get phones. They eventually search their own names. If you wouldn't want them to read it at 13, don't post it when they're 5.
At the end of the day, Jack Pratt seems to be a normal kid who loves monster trucks, vegetables (specifically broccoli and cherry tomatoes, apparently), and isn't particularly impressed that his dad is a superhero. In fact, he once told Chris he met the "real" Owen Grady at Universal Studios—a guy in a costume.
That’s probably the best sign that Pratt is doing something right. To Jack, Chris isn't a movie star; he's just the guy who takes him fishing and tells him to stop swearing unless there's a pole in his hand.