Matthew Broderick is a supportive dad.
Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the 2025 SeriousFun Children’s Network Gala on Monday, April 7, the actor, 63, revealed that the children he shares with his wife Sarah Jessica Parker have very different opinions on following in their famous parents’ footsteps into acting.
Broderick tells PEOPLE that one of his daughters — he and Parker share 13-year-old twins Tabitha Hodge and Marion Loretta Elwell — is “repelled” by the idea of performing. “If you say, ‘What about you?’ She says ‘Nope, no absolutely not’, ” he shares.
However, the No Hard Feelings star says their son, James Wilkie, 22, is keen to carve his name in the acting world.
“I think he is gonna try, yeah. He’s very smart,” Broderick says. “He has a really good education too, so he has a lot of different things he can do, but I think right now he likes acting.”
The father of three says he and his wife are there to support James in his acting endeavors, with Parker even helping him with his audition tapes.
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“Well, I’ll give advice if I’m asked, [but] my wife is with him when he does auditions. It’s self-tape nowadays and she’ll read with him and tell him, ’It’s not good,’ ” Broderick jokes. “And you know I will too. We definitely [support him] but only if he wants to,” he adds.
In January, the proud father spoke to PEOPLE about his son making his on-screen debut on CBS’ Elsbeth.
Broderick noted that he was, “So proud and happy to work with my son James,” on the project.
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He added, “Working with everyone on Elsbeth was a pleasure and I’m excited for the episode to come out.”
Meanwhile, back in 2023, Parker appeared on iHeartRadio’s Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi podcast and spoke about wanting her children to make a living for themselves.
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“You want your children to understand what it means to earn money, what it takes to earn money, the value of it,” the Sex and The City star said.
She added, “I think it’s a great way of living for children, that their needs are met — to be fed, safe and loved.”
“The important things in life: books and food and interesting experiences, and they’re warm in the winter and cool in summer,” Parker said. “But they should pine for things, they should want things.”
