Since the early ‘90s, Jack Black has been making audiences laugh and smile with his memorable film roles. Outside of the career he has established on screen, the School of Rock star is all about being a great dad to his two sons, Samuel Jason Black and Thomas David Black, whom he shares with his wife, Tanya Haden.
Jack and Tanya were schoolmates and reconnected 15 years after they graduated. The pair got engaged in 2006 and were married later that year. The blessings kept on coming for the couple who welcomed son Samuel in June 2006. When he was just 9 months old, the Golden Globe nominee was already teaching his son about music.
“In the middle of the night, I said to Tanya, ‘Let me do diaper duty.’ Then, I can talk to the baby about important stuff, like guitars and rock bands,” Jack told Redbook Magazine in March 2007.
The couple’s youngest son, Thomas, arrived in 2008 and was named after his father, whose birth name is Thomas Jacob Black. Since both of his boys came into his life, the Nacho Libre star has shared so many sweet moments with them at the red carpet premieres of his films over the years. He has also offered up some important advice on parenting.
“Listen. Listen to your kids,” the doting dad told People in April 2022. “There’s a lot of importance put on giving the right advice. But dude, even more important is actually just listening because that’s so important for their communication skills, to know that someone’s listening and for them to get the practice to form ideas.”
And while he has a very close relationship with both of his children, the Tenacious D frontman confessed that he still has his fair share of embarrassing dad moments.
“I’m the dorky dad that my boys are humiliated by,” Jack told Us Weekl y at the premiere of The House With a Clock in Its Walls in September 2018. “They’re always like, ‘Shut up, Dad. You’re so dumb.”
Samuel and Thomas both attended the premiere of the film along with Jack and Tanya. The comedian was hoping that the family outing would impress his kiddos.
“I’m hoping this is going to be the turning point where they go, ‘Oh, my God, Dad. You’re so cool.’ But don’t hold your breath,” he continued.
Keep scrolling to meet Jack’s two children with his wife, Tanya.
Samuel has a passion for the entertainment business just like his dad. The Grammy winner gushed to People all about his eldest child’s interest in filmmaking.
“Sammy, my 15-year-old, gets a kick out of some of my stories that I tell him about Hollywood adventures,” he said. “He was like, ‘Hey, can I make a movie about some of your Hollywood adventures? But I won’t say that it’s you. I’m like, ‘You bet. You go. Run with it, my son. My stories are your stories. That is what I can bestow upon you.’”
Thomas also enjoys making films and is very interested in production like his older brother. Jack started a YouTube channel in 2018 in which his sons often appear, edit and serve as videographers of his gaming videos.
“They’ve been super creative lately,” the Jumanji alum told People in December 2019. “They both have made cool little short films on their iPhones. I [am] so proud and grateful for my family.”
During a May 2015 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jack shared that Thomas had developed a love for martial arts. The Kung Fu Panda star explained that he and his youngest son often practiced martial arts together and even showed host Jimmy Fallon a photo of his little one doing a fighting stance.
Though Jack is one of the most in-demand comedy actors in Hollywood with a prolific list of credits, spending time with his kids is his top priority.
“I love just hanging poolside with the boys, with [Tanya] and the boys,” he previously told People. “A day by the pool, that’s a nice day off.”
Closer Weekly has affiliate partnerships so we may receive compensation for some links to products and services.
Closer Weekly is part of the A360 Media Entertainment Group. Copyright © A360 Media LLC 2022. All Rights Reserved