'Lots of tears': Goldie Hawn’s family faces emotional new chapter as daughter-in-law Erinn shares post after son Wilder leaves home for college

For Goldie Hawn’s family, a new chapter has begun, and it has come with plenty of emotion. Goldie’s eldest son, actor Oliver Hudson, and his wife Erinn Hudson are experiencing a milestone familiar to many parents as their firstborn, Wilder, has left the family home to begin college.

Oliver and Erinn are proud parents to three children: sons Wilder, 19, and Bodhi, 16, and daughter Rio, 13. With their eldest now heading off to college, the family is adjusting to having one less person around the dinner table.

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Erinn Hudson gets emotional as son Wilder leaves for college

At the end of August, Erinn took to Instagram to mark Wilder’s 19th birthday and share an emotional tribute as he embarked on his college journey.

Alongside a series of photographs, including throwback pictures from Wilder’s childhood and glimpses of his new dorm room, Erinn admitted that saying goodbye was far from easy.

She wrote on Instagram: “This little guy turned 19 yesterday and we moved him into college last week. Lots of tears not gonna lie wow….. but so happy and proud and excited for you Wildman!! Couldn't love you more and counting the days til I can hug you and annoy you again.”

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The heartfelt message captured the mixture of pride and sadness that comes with watching a child leave home. While Erinn admitted there had been “lots of tears”, her message was also filled with excitement for everything that lies ahead for her son.

The photographs showed Wilder’s new college space, which his parents helped transform into what appeared to be a stylish and comfortable home away from home.

Wilder Hudson is following his famous family into acting

College is not the only major new chapter for Wilder. The 19-year-old has already begun carving out a path in the entertainment industry, following in the footsteps of his famous family.

Wilder made his feature film acting debut in 2025 in the Netflix festive romantic comedy A Merry Little Ex-Mas, starring alongside his father, Oliver Hudson.

He played Gabriel, the onscreen son of Oliver’s character Everett, giving the father and son an opportunity to work together professionally for the first time.

Oliver Hudson broke down in tears watching Wilder act

For Oliver, watching his son step into the world of acting proved to be an unexpectedly emotional experience.

Speaking to People in 2025, Oliver revealed that Wilder had been nervous about delivering a major speech in the film. But when his son completed his first take, the actor found himself overwhelmed with emotion.

“I’m sitting there listening in the movie, and after his first take, I, for the first time, just started crying,” Oliver recalled.

The moment was particularly powerful because Oliver was no longer simply watching a young actor perform. He was watching his own son take his first major steps into the profession that has shaped his family.

“I couldn’t believe that this was my son,” Oliver said, describing the pride he felt as Wilder “went head first into the fire”.

Oliver also admitted that acting appears to run deep in the family, revealing that “everyone in our family wants to be an actor”.

Six weeks of father-son bonding before college

Working together on A Merry Little Ex-Mas gave Oliver and Wilder plenty of time to bond before the young actor took his next big step.

The pair spent six weeks in Toronto while filming the Netflix movie, making memories together before Wilder’s college move.

For Oliver, it was seemingly another reminder of just how quickly his children are growing up, something Erinn’s emotional Instagram tribute has now brought into focus once again.

Goldie Hawn’s family recently reunited for a European holiday

The family has also had plenty of opportunities to spend time together before Wilder began college.

More recently, Goldie Hawn and her longtime partner Kurt Russell enjoyed a European getaway with Oliver, his siblings Kate Hudson, Boston Russell and Wyatt Russell, along with their partners and children.

The extended family spent time in Greece, a destination that holds a special place in their hearts, before travelling to Prague, where Wyatt celebrated his 40th birthday.