Inside Single Mom Sandra Bullock’s Relationship with Her Partner’s Orphaned Daughter
- Sandra Bullock's partner, Bryan Randall, died after battling a private illness for years, but he and the actress had committed to each other long before then.
- Before meeting the actress, Randall was a substance abuser with an estranged child.
- Now, Bullock is parenting three children on her own, including Randall's daughter who had also lost her mother years ago.
On August 7, 2023, Bryan Randall's family released a heartbreaking statement noting how the man, Sandra Bullock's longtime partner, died on August 5, 2023. They said he had battled ALS for three years before losing his life at age 57.
The late photographer's family shared that he had chosen to tackle the illness privately, and those who cared about him honored the request. They thanked the doctors who tirelessly helped him through his struggle.
Sandra Bullock at the UK screening of "The Lost City" on March 31, 2022, in London, England | Source: Getty Images
Randall's family also asked for privacy as they grieved and faced having to bid their loved one farewell. Days after his death, Daily Mail released a video allegedly taken in December 2017, showing the photographer and Bullock on a Bahamas beach.
Sandra Bullock and Bryan Randall leaving their hotel ahead of the "Ocean's 8" film premiere on June 13, 2018, in London, England | Source: Getty Images
The publication claimed the couple exchanged "vows" but never officially married during a ceremony attended by their family and friends. No one officiated the ceremony, but the actress declared herself to "the love of [her] life" while he did the same.
Sandra Bullock and Bryan Randall seen at "Oceans 8" World Premiere on June 5, 2018, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
A friend explained that the couple did the ceremony for their children to show them their relationship was forever. The source claimed Bullock's children started calling Randall "dad" after the ceremony.
The couple allegedly rounded things off by going to Arpaud Busson's Three Bees Villa on Harbor Island for a 14-day trip. Bullock met Randall by chance after he had cleaned up his life to be a present father to his only child.
How Did Sandra Bullock Meet and Become a Stepmother to Bryan Randall's Child?
In the early 1990s, Randall met Janine Staten in Oregon while they were both in rehabilitation for substance abuse. The duo struggled after leaving rehabilitation and welcomed their daughter, Skylar.
Randall wasn't around after his daughter was born in 1994, and he and Staten eventually broke up. Staten filed for child support against her father's child, and she made the same claim against him in 2004.
Staten's former roommate noted how she'd wished to move on at one point and raise her daughter but landed back into illegal substances. She was drawn back into the murky world after meeting a man who was also an addict.
On January 4, 2007, Skylar suffered her first blow when her mother died, and she had to live with her grandmother, Perri Johnson. The young girl experienced loss again when Johnson passed on soon afterward. She was shipped to Los Angeles to live with her estranged father after.
Randall got clean, became involved in his daughter's life, and began working as a model. He started Bryan Randall Photography, and in 2015, he met Bullock when she hired him to take photos for her son Louis' birthday party.
Sandra Bullock and Bryan Randall seen at the "Oceans 8" world premiere on June 5, 2018, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
In December 2021, the actress appeared on "Red Table Talk" and discussed her relationship with the photographer at one point. The star revealed that in him, she'd "found the love of [her] life," adding:
"We share two beautiful children — three children [including] his older daughter. It's the best thing ever."
Sandra Bullock at the premiere of "The Lost City" on March 21, 2022, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
Three days after Randall died, a Hollywood Forever Cemetery representative delivered the photographer's ashes to Skylar's Los Angeles apartment. A source revealed how the now orphaned 29-year-old was coping, saying:
"Sandra has taken Skylar under her wing since her father passed."
Sandra Bullock arriving at "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" on March 14, 2022, in New York | Source: Getty Images
Besides being a parental figure to Randall's daughter, the actress also has two children of her own. Bullock's life has changed immensely after losing her long-term partner, as she's now raising her children and his daughter alone.
Who Are Sandra Bullock's Adopted Children and How Is She Navigating Being a Single Parent to Three Children?
Bullock became a first-time mother in 2010 when she adopted her son, Louis Bardo, from New Orleans. The actress has generally kept him out of the spotlight to allow him to have an ordinary childhood despite her fame.
Sandra Bullock at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations: "Bird Box" on October 26, 2018, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
When Randall came into the Golden Globe Award winner's life, she was already a mother to one child. In previous interviews, Bullock revealed how she wanted another child by the time she met the photographer and didn't give him a choice in the matter.
Laila was added to the family in 2015 and has also been kept away from her Hollywood life. However, in May 2020, the little girl made a rare video appearance when she joined her mother virtually for an interview on "Red Table Talk."
Speaking about being an adoptive mother in 2018, Bullock said people were lucky to live in a time where choosing what their family looks like is possible. "The Heat" star also shared her children's differences, noting how Louis is "super sensitive."
The insider said the actress is trying to figure out how to move forward from everything, but it will take some time as emotions are high.
In 2021, the celebrity jokingly described him as her "78-year-old son." She revealed he would used his skills to give her helpful career advice. When the boy was only six, he told her not to take on an "unfortunate" movie role.
However, the little boy never watched her films, joking that it is because she's "not his cup of tea" and he is more interested in Japanese anime or "Spider-Man."
Sandra Bullock and her son Louis Bardo Bullock seen during the 70th Venice International Film Festival on August 27, 2013, in Venice, Italy | Source: Getty Images
Speaking about Laila, Bullock described her as "the one who's going to save the world." The "Blind Side" star called her the world's superhero and believes the little girl will be ready to join other nurses in a few years.
Sandra Bullock is seen carrying her son, Louis Bardo Bullock, on January 20, 2011, in New York City | Source: Getty Images
On August 14, 2023, the celebrity was seen for the first time after Randall's passing. A source claimed she is putting up a "strong" face and front while dealing with the loss. At the same time, in her professional life, she's dealing with the fallout from the Michael Oher "Blind Side" controversy.
The insider said the actress is trying to figure out how to move forward from everything, but it will take some time as emotions are high. However, Bullock looks forward to better days as she deals with losing her partner.
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