Liv Tyler: How she discovered Steven Tyler was her biological father

20 CELEBS WHO HAVE ACTED WITH THEIR CHILDREN

For most kids, discovering family secrets means finding out about an embarrassing middle name or a long-lost cousin. For Liv Tyler, it meant realising the man on her bedroom wall, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, wasn't just a rock legend—hewas her biological father.

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For the first decade of her life, the actress believed Todd Rundgren was her dad, only to uncover the explosive truth at an Aerosmith concert in 1988.

How Liv Tyler discovered her real father

For the first 11 years of her life, she believed her father was Todd Rundgren, the pop-rock icon who had signed her birth certificate and lovingly raised her despite knowing he wasn’t her biological dad. Rundgren had invited Liv and her mother, Bebe Buell, to live with him in Woodstock when Buell discovered she was pregnant. Liv shared:

He very courageously and lovingly said, ‘This child needs a father and I will be the father.'

She told The Guardian in 2017:

It’s a big thing for a man to say, 'I know this kid might not be mine, but I still want to be her father.' Although he and my mom weren’t together, he was always a very stable, loving force in my life.

Steven Tyler, who was then in recovery from drug addiction, reached out to Buell as part of his 12-step programme. They met again around Christmas of 1980 in Portland, Maine, and Steven saw pictures of Liv for the first time. 'We both cried before I went on,' he recalled in his memoir.

Liv first met Steven around the age of 8 or 9 at one of Todd’s concerts. Steven bought her a Shirley Temple at the bar, and although she had no idea who he was at the time, she said:

I fell madly in love.

She began talking to posters of him she had in her room, drawn by a connection she couldn’t yet explain. She shared:

It must be chemical somehow—DNA and genes.

I felt a connection in a very strong way when I met him as a little girl, and I didn’t know why at first, but I figured it out rather quickly.

The truth unravelled in 1988 at an Aerosmith concert. Liv noticed her uncanny resemblance to another girl backstage—Mia Tyler. Liv said:

It was literally like looking in the mirror, seeing your double.

We had both had perms, like spiral perms, braces, pink frosty lipstick. We were both wearing an Aerosmith concert T-shirt with black leggings and Reebok high top sneakers.

Overwhelmed by the similarities, she turned to her mother.

I looked at my mom and I was like, "Mom?" And she just started crying.

Buell then revealed the truth, explaining her pact with Rundgren to keep the identity of Liv's biological father a secret due to Steven's struggles with addiction.

Detailing how Bebe broke the news to her at an Aerosmith show, she said on Sibling Revelry:

The first wave was shock.

After that concert, we went home and my mom had a chaise longue in front of a window. I remember sitting there for what felt like three days, but it was probably three hours, and coming to this conclusion of ‘Whoa, I have two dads and all this love.'

Despite the initial shock, Liv embraced her new reality. She began a relationship with Steven and eventually changed her surname from Rundgren to Tyler. She later said:

It was a moment that was bigger than me.

From rock legend to 'Papa Stevie'

Once Liv discovered Steven Tyler was her biological father, the pair began building a father-daughter relationship that grew stronger over time.

One of their early moments together was immortalised when Liv starred in Aerosmith's 1993 'Crazy' music video alongside Alicia Silverstone.

While their relationship wasn’t without its challenges, Liv often expressed gratitude for Steven’s presence in her life.

Liv empathises with both of her parents. she told The Daily Telegraph:

I have more empathy for my parents now.

As a child I didn’t understand why that would happen, how that could happen. Everybody had a different interpretation and how they participated. And you know what—I’m OK with that. All that matters is whatever kind of relationship I can have with them now.

She also spoke of Steven's personal growth, saying:

He's turned out to be the one who's done the most work on himself and has come the fullest circle and is the best person I know

Steven has also stepped into the role of doting grandfather. When Liv gave birth to her son Sailor, Steven flew in to cut the umbilical cord. Liv joked on Jimmy Kimmel Live:

Never in a million years would [I] have thought I’d give birth with my dad and my sister

Nicknamed 'Papa Stevie' by his grandchildren, Steven embraces his unique style as a grandfather. Liv shared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show:

He’s a different kind of grandfather.

Granddad wears nail polish and more makeup than me.

Despite the glam, his love for his grandkids is anything but superficial. He's a regular at birthday parties and family Disneyland trips.

Meet Liv Tyler's half-siblings

Liv’s discovery about her father also introduced her to a vibrant extended family. Her first meeting with half-sister Mia Tyler was serendipitous and cinematic—an Aerosmith concert, matching outfits, and a stranger pointing out their resemblance. 'Are you guys sisters?' the woman asked, unknowingly uncovering a hidden bond.

Mia, the daughter of Steven and Cyrinda Foxe, has pursued modelling, acting, and now photography. She is mother to son Axton and in a relationship with musician Dewey Bragg.

Liv also has two other half-siblings from Steven's marriage to Teresa Barrick: Chelsea Tyler and Taj Tallarico. Chelsea, a musician and model, performs with her husband in the band Kaneholler and has two children. Taj, on the other hand, maintains a low profile, with only one acting credit and rare public appearances.

From Todd Rundgren’s side, Liv has four half-brothers: Rex, Randy, Rebop, and Keoni. Though she doesn't speak to Todd as often as she wishes, she holds deep affection for him. She said:

I love him. I have brothers from him and I had a whole family with them.

Despite the complexity of her family tree, Liv feels lucky. Reflecting on the support she received from her mother, grandparents, and extended relatives, she said: