Henry Wolfe Is Meryl Streep's Son & Once Feared Mom's Fame Would Overshadow His Story

Henry Wolfe became a father aged 40 after dating his eventual spouse for eight years and finding himself in the entertainment industry without the aid of his famous mother's legacy.

Henry Wolfe Gummer is the eldest child of award-winning actress Meryl Streep and sculptor Don Gummer. After his birth in 1979, Henry was joined by three other siblings who completed his parents' brood.

Henry is much more low-key than his siblings, who have emerged and excelled in Hollywood. His family's success can be traced back to his mother's stern approach to parenting. She admits to leading them with sternness, ordering and lecturing what she wanted and expected.

Henry Wolfe Tried to Follow in Mom's Footsteps, Yet It Did Not Appeal to Him

Henry has attempted to follow in his mother's footsteps but did not see it through. He enrolled at NYU's Tisch School of Arts, where he spent two years studying acting, but he quit before completion. Henry went on to appear in a few projects such as "Joan's Day Out," "The Wait," and "Lying" despite the fact he's not fully committed to a career in acting.

Henry preferred a career as a musician, while his sisters followed in his mother's footsteps. He has so much respect for his mother's tremendous achievements as an entertainer that he fears her legacy will overshadow and nullify his own. Henry desires to pave a path without his mother being the selling point. He said:

"Sometimes I worry that my story isn't good enough. Sure, my mom is part of the story, and I don't get pissed when people ask me about her, but I wish I had something that could eclipse that as far as compelling storylines."

Henry Wolfe Forged His Own Path & Found Satisfaction in Making Music

Henry was conflicted by the exigent legacy of his family and wanted to create his own without the credit-limiting acknowledgment of his family's talents. Eventually, he came to terms with the heritage cemented in his story but got peeved by the automatic assumption of inherited success.

His career path came down to whether he wanted to make a name for himself in film or music. He chose the latter as he felt a stronger connection to the art and gained more stimulation from completing songs than acting. He added:

"For me, music was more stimulating from day to day. It was something that I didn't need to be working on a project to practice."

Despite her stern approach to parenthood, Henry's mother is his biggest supporter and wants him to choose whatever makes him happy. He admitted that his mother is 100% behind him and even attended his concert to marvel at her son's talents.

The musician is not a passive artist. He fully controls his career and puts hard work on a pedestal. In 2011 NY Daily News revealed that his then-latest album was released through his record label. For a while, he wanted to be in a band, but after a failed attempt, Henry chose to continue as a solo artist.

Currently, Henry Gets His Strength from His Beautiful Wife & Adorable Little Kids

Henry pushed himself to set his career in motion, moving from New York to Los Angeles to get closer to the music industry hub and to put himself in a prosperous position. With proper establishment professionally, the musician shifted his focus toward creating his blood legacy.

He married his girlfriend Tamryn Hawker in 2019, and before they tied the knot, the couple had been in an eight-year relationship. Henry became a first-time father at age 40 when he welcomed his daughter Ida June Gummer on July 18, 2020. At age 42, he received his second child, Quinn William Gummer, on May 6, 2022.

Henry shared an image of his second-born child, announcing his arrival in the world. He showed sincere appreciation for his wife in the caption of the Instagram post attached to four images of his blooming family. As a proud father, he often gives fans a look into his family and fatherhood, sharing photos of their sweet moments.

In one of the Instagram posts about his family, Henry details his appreciation for his wife, Tamryn. The musician wrote that there isn't another person he would prefer to gather all his favorite moments with, and he concluded by thanking her for her steadiness.

Tamryn is a professional in a vastly different field. She is an LA-based acupuncturist, herbalist, and bodyworker. Her services can be rendered through the Artemisia Acupuncture & Apothecary website, currently linked to her Instagram bio.

After facing the uncomfortable truth about being a child of a star, Henry found his way as a musician and garnered applause independently. The joy he gains from his wife and children motivates him to keep going. Henry is not the only child of an actor that morphed into a musician.

Hollywood actors usually have few kids that follow in their path; interestingly, there's also a long list of them who chose a career in music. For example, Singer Liza Minnelli is the daughter of the late actress Judy Garland and has preferred a life away from the spotlight.

Layered actor Will smith, whose actions at the Grammy awards last year affected Liza's rollout on stage, is also a father of musicians. His daughter Willow Smith became the youngest artist signed onto the Roc Nation roster, and his son Jaden Smith also chose a career in music that has garnered widespread acclaim.