Here's Why Shemar Moore Keeps His Distance from His Dad

The hunky actor, Shemar Moore became a household name after his roles in series like “The Young and The Restless” and “Criminal Minds.” But his road to fame hasn’t been easy as his complicated family life presented its own challenges.

With an African American father, Sherrod Moore, and an Irish/French-Canadian mother named Marilyn Wilson, Shemar had trouble finding where he belongs as most multi-racial children do growing up.

Apart from the myriad of challenges he faced as a multi-racial child and still do, he also had to deal with the break-up of his parents, a sensitive topic he normally avoids.

During an interview with Larry King, Shemar Moore shared that his mother got his father locked up in San Quentin prison for four years after he caused her harm, although he didn’t go into details.

As a result, Shemar became very close to his mother while he told Larry King that he also has a relationship with his father, but on his terms.

“I defend my mom, he wasn’t good to my mom,” Shemar told Larry King. For a while, he and mother Marilyn lived overseas “to protect the family unit” as Sherrod’s “erratic” behavior failed to do right by his mother.

While Shemar never got close with his father, he didn’t turn his back on him either as he elaborated, “I made a decision to help him, because he was in need, so I bought him a place to keep him safe. I wish the best for him, but it's up to him to live his life.”

In 2015, Marilyn joined Shemar on the red carpet at The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Awards Dinner during which he got honored. As he stood with his arm around Marilyn, the closeness with his mother shined through as they spoke with reporters.

“I’ve learned so much from my mother throughout my life. I don’t feel like I deserve an award, because all I’m doing is loving my mom. This is my superwoman,” Shemar said.

The 49-year-old actor became a supporter and an advocate for NMSS after Marilyn got diagnosed with the disease in 1999.

After learning about his mother’s diagnosis, Shemar told PEOPLE that he went through a period of denial before he realized how debilitating the disease is and how it affected his mother.

With that realization also came the need to help as he told the publication, “I just had to check myself and say, ‘Listen, she’s scared and asking for help, so let’s help her turn in the right direction.”

Shemar then began researching the condition and got his mother to move from her home in San Francisco to Los Angeles so she would be close to him.

“She drives me crazy, and she’s a pain in my ***, but she’s my mother, and I wouldn’t have the life I have without her and how strong she was to give me the life that I have,” Moore said. “My love for my mom is real, and I want her to beat this damn thing. She’s my Super Woman, and she needs to know that someone is out there fighting for her at all times.”

During a separate interview, Shemar Moore shared more on his life growing up and the challenges he faced. As a multiracial child, he revealed how his skin color affected his relationships and how he got bullied because of it.