Dax Shepard Sobs Over Wife’s Touching Gesture

Dax Shepard opened up about an emotional moment involving his wife, Kristen Bell, and a touching gesture she made during a difficult period before his father died in 2012. The actor reflected on how the moment came at a time of deep emotional strain, highlighting the quiet support that helped him cope with the experience.

Kristen Bell Surprised Dax Shepard During A Trying Time

In a live conversation with broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper at the New Orleans Book Festival, Dax Shepard discussed grieving the loss of his late father, Dave Shepard. Dave died of small-cell carcinoma, an aggressive type of lung cancer, in December 2012.

Shepard then shared how Kristen Bell, then his fiancée, showed her support during that emotional time. Wiping tears from his eyes, the actor and podcast host recalled how he was having a hard time dealing with his emotions. His father’s friends were in and out of the hospital in Detroit, doing their final goodbyes, and while he knew they had good intentions, Shepard grew resentful about not having a moment alone with his dying father.

The actor then called Bell, who was in L.A., to tell her about the situation and say how overwhelmed he felt. “I was complaining, and she said, ‘It’s okay. I’m here. Look to the left.’ Mind you we lived in California and I’m Detroit. And I look to my left and she’s standing there seven months pregnant,” Shepard shared.

Dax Shepard Will Forever Be ‘In Debt’ To His Wife

Bell was in the third trimester of her pregnancy with the couple’s first child at that time, but they knew Dave would no longer be around for the birth. Bell, who Shepard said was very intuitive, knew how much he struggled and figured out which hospital to go to in Detroit. Cooper then read a passage from the Shepard’s blog dated 2013, months after Dave’s death.

Bell’s surprise visit allowed Dave to meet the newest member of his family, and Shepard said his father placed his hand on the actress’ stomach and left it there for about an hour while “smiling from ear to ear, sitting contently.”

“He wasn’t going to make it to the birth, but that didn’t get in the way of meeting the new baby. It was an emotional and triumphant moment. One I will never forget. If I live to be a thousand, I will still be in debt to my wife for giving him that one last thrill,” Shepard wrote.

The Actor Had A Complicated Relationship With His Father

While Dax Shepard didn’t have a close relationship with his father for most of his life, they formed a deep bond after Dave was diagnosed with cancer in August 2012. He wrote in his blog that most of their problems stemmed from issues when he was 3 to 15 years old. “He was a selfish as-hole, and I lived to hold a grudge, so it was a thoroughly symbiotic pairing,” Shepard noted.

The actor, who was busy with multiple projects and preparing to welcome a baby, flew back and forth from L.A. to Detroit to be with his father. “Whoever was writing my life couldn’t figure out which storyline they wanted to tell, and decided to tell them all at once,” he wrote in his blog.

Shepard said his father was largely absent during his childhood because of his addictions, but he boasted about Dave’s more than 25 years as a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. The father and son grew close in the last four months of Dave’s life, taking long car rides, reminiscing, watching movies, and eating, which Shepard said was his father’s number one addiction. “He was like a perpetually stoned, pregnant woman,” he noted.

Dax Shepard Reconciled With Dave

Shepard noted that he and Dave “had fun” in the months before his death, adding that the car rides they took were therapeutic. “One of the hidden benefits of cancer is that it can erode grudges the way WD-40 dissolves rust,” he wrote, adding that they exchanged tearful apologies and let go of the past.

The actor was not present when his father passed away at 62 years old. He noted that they never built a tree house or a derby car together, adding that dealing with cancer was the first and only project they “teamed up on.” Shepard said the only regret he had was not taking on more projects with Dave.

Shepard’s Admiration For His Wife

Shepard and Bell started dating in 2007 and have been married since 2013. They share two daughters, Lincoln and Delta. Throughout the years, Shepard has been vocal about his admiration for his wife, highlighting her kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness.

The actor has often said that Bell was “out of my league,” even agreeing with Cher that her wife is the “better half” in their relationship. As The Blast previously reported, the legendary singer was on Shepard’s podcast when she said that comment, adding that he’s “lucky.” When asked who she thinks Bell’s partner should be, Cher said, “The truth is I trust her. So, you might have something that I don’t see.”