From brooding teen heartthrob to silver-streaked dad strolling the beaches of Santa Monica, Jason Patric just reminded the world that time doesn’t stop — even for vampires.
The 59-year-old actor, who burned his way into pop culture history with “The Lost Boys” in 1987, resurfaced this past Sunday looking nearly unrecognizable. Gone is the curly brown mop that once made him a teen magazine staple. In its place? A sleek short cut, a salt-and-pepper goatee, and glasses that give him a polished, introspective vibe — like your favorite film professor, if he once outran bloodthirsty immortals in a leather jacket.
Patric was spotted with his teenage son, Gus, in tow — and let’s be honest, the resemblance is uncanny. The pair wore matching polos and joggers like a low-key GQ ad for Father & Son Sundays, visiting church and later taking a dip at the beach. Yes, apparently even former vampire hunters enjoy an early morning swim.
But here’s where the story turns Hollywood classic: Patric didn’t ride into fame on family fame, though he had every opportunity. He was born Jason Patric Miller, son of actor Jason Miller (that’s Father Karras from “The Exorcist”) and grandson of TV legend Jackie Gleason.
With a lineage like that, he could’ve leaned into the nepo baby narrative. Instead, he dropped his last name and carved his own path. In his own words: “I want to make my ascent or demise as pure as possible.”
His ascent was fast and furious. After “The Lost Boys”, Patric landed roles in critically acclaimed films like “Sleepers”, “Rush”, “Geronimo”, and “Narc”. Then came “Speed 2: Cruise Control” — the blockbuster sequel that didn’t quite hit the mark, but still gave Patric leading man status opposite Sandra Bullock.
Behind the scenes, his private life was no less cinematic. The most infamous chapter? A love triangle with Julia Roberts and best friend Kiefer Sutherland that exploded into tabloids when Roberts fled her own wedding to fly off with Patric.
That feud lasted years before healing in a Broadway revival of “That Championship Season”, a play written by Patric’s father. They toasted. They laughed. And somehow, Patric and Sutherland emerged from the tabloid wreckage as 35-year friends.
Most recently, Patric returned to screens in “Law & Order: Organized Crime”, proving he’s still got the chops — and the cool, controlled presence that made him one of the most magnetic stars of the late ’80s and ’90s.
He may not be gracing Teen Beat covers anymore, but Jason Patric is still very much in the picture — just a little older, a little wiser, and rocking fatherhood like he once rocked that vampire trench coat.
