Jerry O’Connell: Meeting Rebecca Romijn Was Life’s Biggest Turning Point

Actor Jerry O’Connell credits meeting his wife, Rebecca Romijn, as the pivotal moment that transformed him from an immature young man into the devoted family man he is today. Reflecting on his personal growth and his role in the new Tubi film “Summer’s Last Resort,” O’Connell shared how this significant life event reshaped his perspective and priorities.

From Immaturity to Family Man

O’Connell, 52, candidly admitted that before meeting Romijn, he was considerably immature. “Meeting my wife was one of the biggest turning points of my life. I was very immature,” he confessed. The shift occurred when Romijn expressed a desire to start a family. “And then I met my wife, and my wife wanted to start a family… I was like, ‘It’s not going to get better than this for me, so I might as well settle down.’ And I’m so glad I did,” O’Connell stated. The couple, who married in July 2007, are now parents to 17-year-old twin daughters, Charlie and Dolly.

Inspiration from Teenage Daughters

The themes of family and personal growth explored in “Summer’s Last Resort” deeply resonated with O’Connell, particularly given his own experiences as a father to teenage girls. In the film, he portrays an overly enthusiastic boyfriend to a single mother, whose relationship is scrutinized by her skeptical teenage daughter. O’Connell found that his own daughters’ reactions to his antics provided ample comedic inspiration.

“I live with teenage girls, my daughters, and they are eternally embarrassed by me. They can’t stand my presence. Everything I say is the wrong thing to say,” O’Connell explained. He consciously channeled this dynamic into his performance, aiming for actions that would elicit that familiar teenage cringe. “Anytime I did a scene with Violet [McGraw], I thought, ‘Oh, what is something my daughters would not talk to me for weeks at a time for?’ And I just did that in every scene.”

Learning to Trust and Give Space

Fatherhood has also profoundly influenced O’Connell’s approach to parenting. He has learned the importance of granting his children autonomy and trusting their judgment as they navigate their own interests and challenges. “They also taught me to give people space… I have to trust my kids — they’re pretty good kids,” he said.

O’Connell shared an anecdote about one of his daughters wanting to quit volleyball. Initially, he felt inclined to question her decision, but he ultimately realized the value of letting them forge their own paths. “I just sort of let them find their own way… I have to trust them. I have to stop telling them what to do. That’s something that they taught me. Stop trying to control situations.” This philosophy extends to their burgeoning interests, including acting.

A Collaborative Set with Young Talent

O’Connell applied a similar principle of trust and encouragement when working with young co-star Violet McGraw on “Summer’s Last Resort.” McGraw, who plays the skeptical daughter in the film, found inspiration in observing O’Connell and Sophia Bush. She noted that watching them encouraged her to be more fearless and trust her instincts on set.

“Just by watching them, I feel like I learned so much,” McGraw said. “Basically just, you can improv, take risks and trust your instincts… just fully go for it and really commit.”

O’Connell acknowledged that his own confidence grew with experience. “When I was a younger actor, I was afraid to, like, go off script and like, goof around,” he recalled. “I think when you’re younger, you’re sort of… afraid of, like, making too much of a splash. I was just a little quieter. And when I got to set, I wanted to really loosen up for Violet.” McGraw found his approach infectious, stating, “I learned to have more fun with it and with [improvising] that really, really helped.”

“Summer’s Last Resort” Plot

The film “Summer’s Last Resort” centers on a high-strung teenager whose vacation plans are disrupted when she’s compelled to spend time with her free-spirited mother’s overly accommodating boyfriend. This boyfriend, coincidentally, is also her vice principal. Determined to end the budding romance, the daughter concocts a secret sabotage scheme that unexpectedly leads to profound lessons about family, love, and the complexities of growing up.

The movie features Jerry O’Connell, Violet McGraw, Sophia Bush, and Tim Rozon, among others. “Summer’s Last Resort” is currently available for streaming on Tubi.