Hugh Jackman has a strong bond with his siblings and two children.
Jackman is the youngest of five children welcomed by Grace McNeil and Christopher John Jackman. The Deadpool and Wolverine actor has two brothers, Ian and Ralph, and two sisters, Zoe and Sonia.
Hugh’s parents split when he was 8 years old, and his mother left Australia to return to England. McNeil took her daughters with her while Hugh and his brothers remained with their father.
As Hugh grew up in Australia, he pursued an acting career. He landed a role on the TV series Correlli where he met Deborra-Lee Furness. Hugh and Furness tied the knot in 1996 after one year of dating.
Hugh and Furness decided to expand their family via adoption. They welcomed son Oscar Maximillian in 2000 and daughter Ava Eliot in 2005. In September 2023, Hugh and Furness separated after 27 years of marriage.
Keep scrolling to get to know Hugh’s family:
Christopher John Jackman
Jackman and his dad shared a strong bond. The actor paid tribute to Christopher John on Father’s Day in a 2020 Instagram post.
“My Father taught me to always keep my promises … Even if it turns out that there’s a better option or something that will benefit me more,” he captioned a snap of the father-son duo. “Be true to your word.”
The following year, Christopher John died.
“In the early hours of Father’s Day (AU), my Dad peacefully passed away. And whilst there is deep sadness, I am filled with such gratitude and love,” Hugh wrote via Instagram in September 2021. “My Dad was, in a word, extraordinary. He devoted his life to his family, his work and his faith. I pray he is now at peace with God.”
Grace McNeil
After McNeil left for England, she and Hugh had an estranged relationship. The Broadway star opened up about how life changed after his mom left in a 2012 interview with 60 Minutes Australia.
“The next day there was a telegram from England, Mom was there. And then that was it,” he recalled. “I don’t think she thought for a second it would be forever. I think she thought it was, ‘I just need to get away, and I’ll come back.’ Dad used to pray every night that mom would come back.”
A decade later, Hugh revealed he went to therapy to work out his feelings about his mom leaving.
“It’s helping me to be more relational with the people I love in my life, and really understanding and living in their shoes and being clear to be able to see them,” he said to Who magazine in 2022.
Hugh and McNeil have mended their relationship and the Wolverine star has since shared photos of him with his mom on social media.
Ian Jackman
Despite having a famous brother, Ian has remained out of the spotlight. He worked as an attorney before being appointed as a judge for the Federal Court of Australia in 2023.
Ralph Jackman
Much like Ian, Ralph has also lived a private life. In 2017, Hugh shared a throwback photo of him and Ralph as teens.
“Summer 1980, with my brother Ralph. And yes, I know my jeans WERE the coolest,” he wrote via Instagram.
Zoe Jackman
While Hugh didn’t grow up with Zoe, the brother-sister duo have remained close over the years. In August 2023, Hugh shared a sweet snap of him and his older sister on Instagram.
“I am so grateful for my sister Zoe,” Jackman captioned the sweet snap.
Sonia Garrett
Sonia is married to stunt performer Rich Garrett. The couple share daughter Jacquie. Sonia is the author of the children’s book series The Maddie Series. When she released her second novel, Hugh took to social media to share his support.
“Hugely proud of my sister, author, Sonia Garrett on her sophomore effort #MaddieMakesMoney Maddie is a real life hero for kids all around the world,” he wrote via Facebook in 2019 alongside a photo of him holding the book.
Deborra-Lee Furness
Hugh and Furness wed in 1996. The pair expanded their family with Oscar in 2001 followed by Ava in 2005. Hugh and Furness opted to adopt after the actress suffered from multiple miscarriages. They have kept their children out of the spotlight over the years.
After 27 years of marriage, Hugh and Furness announced their decision to separate.
“We have been blessed to share almost 3 decades together as husband and wife in a wonderful, loving marriage,” the pair said in a joint statement in 2023. “Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth.”
Despite calling it quits in 2023, Furness officially filed for divorce from Jackman in May 2025.
Oscar Maximillian Jackman
While Oscar has remained out of the spotlight, his dad has shared some stories about their dynamic over the years. Hugh recalled one time he and Oscar were at the beach and his son needed his dad to be his “wingman.”
“Once he was on the beach. He was talking to a girl, he was about 13, he was talking to a girl, who I guess to be about 15, and he started walking towards me,” Hugh recalled to ET in 2018. “He came up to me and he started walking ahead of the girl, and he goes, ‘Dad, Dad, Dad, she’s coming over. I told her you’re Wolverine, just go with it.’ I was like, ‘I am the wingman for my 13-year-old boy.’”
Ava Eliot Jackman
Like her brother, Ava has also lived a private life. Hugh previously opened up about his close bond with his daughter.
“You’re a little more relaxed, and it’s a different dynamic having a girl, but both are wonderful and I’m so blessed to have a beautiful boy and girl,” Jackman said of being a father in a 2006 interview with In Touch. “I hold her and think, ‘I don’t want you to face anything bad ever in your life.’”
