Sarah Jessica Parker: A look at her very private personal life as she reveals her step-father death

She may be one of the most famous names in Hollywood thanks to her iconic role as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, but Sarah Jessica Parker has made sure to keep her personal life far from the public eye.

Despite being instantly recognizable across the globe following a successful acting career that began when she was just a child, the 57-year-old actress has always been able to keep her private life separate from her work – meaning that her friends and family have been kept away from the glare of the spotlight gained due to her fame.

However, SJP shared a rare update with the world this week as she revealed the heartbreaking news that her step-father, Paul Griffin Forste, has passed away from an ‘unexpected and rapid illness’ hours.

Fans had been left worried about the And Just Like That… star was forced to miss the New York Ballet’s 10th Annual Fall Fashion Gala – where she was set to be honored – on Wednesday due to a ‘devastating family situation.’

By Thursday afternoon, the actress released a statement explaining that the man who raised her had tragically died at age 76.

‘Our family is sad to announce that after an unexpected and rapid illness, Paul Giffin Forste passed away yesterday at age 76,’ the actress’ family said in a statement to Page Six. 

The actress -pictured in 2017 with her husband Matthew Broderick and their three children – son James and twin daughters Marion and Tabitha – maintains a very private family life

‘In his last moments he was surrounded with the love and gratitude of his adored wife, Barbara, of 54 years, and children, including Sarah Jessica Parker.

‘Paul will be remembered with the spirit of loving kindness which was his faith, his special delight in his 13 grandchildren, and his sustained belief in making the world a more charitable, tolerant, and beautiful place for all.’

SJP’s mom, Barbara Parker, divorced from her father, Stephen Parker, when she was just three years old, and re-married Forste, who worked as a truck driver and account executive, soon after.

The Hocus Pocus star had a rather unconventional childhood in Nelsonville, an Ohio mining town, as one of the married couple’s eight children. However, she has always spoken fondly about her humble beginnings and the lessons it instilled in her as a young girl.

Indeed, some of those same values played a part in her decision to keep her family life with actor husband Matthew Broderick and their three children – James, 19, and 12-year-old twins Marion and Tabitha – out of the limelight.

Here, FEMAIL explores at SJP’s humble childhood, her very private marriage and her protective mothering decisions.

Humble beginnings in Ohio help SJP develop a love for the arts

The Sex and the City star had a rather unconventional childhood in Nelsonville, an Ohio mining town, as one of eight children

Her parents Stephen, an aspiring writer, and nursery school teacher Barbara split when she was three, with her mother marrying lorry driver Paul Forste soon after

SJP was born in Nelsonville, Ohio to parents Stephen, an aspiring writer, and nursery school teacher Barbara.

The couple, who already shared three other children, divorced while SJP was still just three years old. 

However, her mother married lorry driver Paul Forste soon after, with the couple going on to welcome four children together.

Forste, who SJP calls her father, was often out of work and this meant times were hard financially for the large family. 

SJP has previously described her early childhood as ‘Dickensian’, explaining that they often went without electricity, and they didn’t always celebrate birthdays or Christmas.

Elementary school was made harder for the young star due to the fact she often wore hand-me-downs and items bought from thrift stores.

Eventually, the brood had to rely on state aid and welfare to make ends meet. SJP once recalled the experience of having her teacher reading out the names of children receiving free lunch in front of the entire classroom.

 The family moved to New Jersey to support the starlet’s acting career – pictured on Broadway in 1980 – after her mother cleaned dance studios in exchange for her daughter’s lessons

 The family would often run out of money and had to rely on welfare, meaning SJP became the family’s primary breadwinner when she landed roles in projects such Square Pegs 

‘It was a stigma thing. I was not the only person receiving a free lunch, but you are aware you are different,’ Parker told the New York Times.

The family would often run out of money for bills but having the power shut off was nothing in comparison to the rich (yet free) experiences SJP and her siblings experienced at the theatre and ballet in the Cincinnati area. 

Her thrifty mother was would take her children to free matinees when possible to keep her children entertained.

‘We didn’t have much money, but my mother was really industrious and intrepid about finding out what was available. So we went early to the theatre and the ballet and the opera, because it was either free for children or very affordable,’ the actress recalled in an interview. 

It was through those free shows that SJP developed her love for acting and the theatre, and her mother wisely bartered to get her daughter training – often cleaning the studios in order for her daughter to get lessons.

When she was 11, the family moved to New Jersey to support the starlet’s acting career. 

SJP remained close to her step-dad over the years (pictured with his wife before his death), who has died at age 76

In a statement, the family revealed  her stepfather ‘was surrounded with the love and gratitude of his adored wife, Barbara, of 54 years, and children, including Sarah Jessica Parker’

After she landed her first New York stage role that same year, SJP became the family’s primary breadwinner. Her career continued to pick up steam as she found success in the TV series, Square Pegs, along with a string of smaller roles in movies.

Having relied on welfare in her youth, the actress has been a staunch defender of those in similar circumstances.

She stated in an interview: ‘Some people have assumptions about who is dependent on our state and federal governments for need. I think sometimes people think it’s a lot of people of color—but this is what welfare looks like. 

‘Welfare is for all varieties of people, it can be people who are cultured and educated, who just find themselves in need of help. That doesn’t mean they’re lazy or uneducated or have low standards. It’s just that they can’t manage at the moment and my family was a good example of that.’

During her career, SJP has supported several charities including Robin Hood Foundation which supports more than 200 of New York City’s poverty-fighting organizations. 

She also supports St. Francis Food Pantries in Manhattan and is an ambassador for children’s charity, UNICEF.

Sarah has since stated that as a little girl she couldn’t even have imagined the ‘rags to riches’ story was on the cards for her.

‘I didn”t know this life existed. I wouldn’t have dared to dream this. I am the definition of contentment,’ she gushed.

Keeping her marriage to Matthew Broderick out of the public eye to protect their love

Sarah Jessica Parker settled down with actor Matthew Broderick in 1997 and the couple has worked hard to maintain a private life despite working in Hollywood

The duo have faced constant speculation about their marriage, however they continue to keep their relationship private from prying eyes

After relationships with John Kennedy Jr, Robert Downey Jr. and singer-songwriter Joshua Kadison, Sarah Jessica Parker settled down with actor Matthew Broderick, to whom she was introduced by her brother Timothy Parker. 

The New York-based couple married in May 1997, and the happy couple recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.

Over the years, the couple have mostly kept their private lives out of the spotlight. 

Speaking about the decision to stay quiet about their romance, SJP jokes to The Daily Telegraph: ‘Well, my secret is that I don’t talk about it. I don’t talk about my marriage…I mean, I am quite fond of my husband!’  

However, their lack of public appearances together has seen them face off against constant speculation regarding the state of their relationship.

In 2019, SJP took the unusual step of taking to her Instagram account to call out the constant gossip about her marriage.

On this occasion, it was the American tabloid The National Enquirer asking her to comment on what she said were false reports about her and Matthew arguing during a visit to London weeks before.

‘Why not celebrate a marriage of 22 years and a relationship of 27 years?’ she wrote. ‘Because, despite your endless harassment we are nearing three decades of love, commitment, respect, family and home.’ 

The couple has chosen to raise their three children out of the spotlight in order to keep them grounded

In May 2022, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off star Matthew admitted in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that it was ‘a scary thing’ to potentially give the media an invitation to write about their marriage again by working together in their Neil Simon Broadway play Plaza Suite.

However, SJP stated: ‘I think we’ve kind of figured out how we can talk about the work and also be coy about us.’

The Ohio native continued: ‘Because it seems fair and right: If I was a person interviewing us, and we were doing a play about marriages and relationships, it would be awfully difficult to not ask where it overlaps with our lives.

‘I’ve always said one of the reasons we’ve had success is because we don’t talk about our marriage. I’m not flattering myself that anyone’s discussing my marriage, but we’re certainly not going to add to it by saying, “Well, this is why it works.” Next thing you know, there’ll be a very public divorce.’

The Hocus Pocus star explained that the couple ‘just try to respect each other’. 

SJP and Matthew last worked together in 1996 when they co-starred in the Broadway play How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Raising her three children out of the spotlight so they’ll remain grounded

The couple first welcomed son James in 2002 before their twin daughters Tabitha and Marion were born in 2009 via a surrogate

James and his younger sisters were most recently seen together as they supported their parents in March 2022 at the Plaza Suite Broadway Opening

SJP’s last outing with her family on Tuesday for the Hocus Pocus 2 New York premiere – pictured with husband Matthew Broderick and her 13-year-old twins

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick welcomed their son James Wilkie in October 2002.

Then their twin daughters Marion Loretta and Tabitha Hudge were born in June 2009 via a surrogate. 

The family has lived in New York’s West Village since 2009, with SJP and her husband going to great lengths to keep their children out of the public eye.

Explaining why she is so protective of their children’s images and privacy pointed out that the children of non-famous parents can still have a tough time remaining grounded. 

So the star believed it was crucial for her and Matthew to ensure that their kids live a relatively normal life, only giving them what they need rather than what they want.   

The actress explained: ‘I want you pining towards something’. 

James currently attends Brown University in Rhode Island, while his younger sister were most recently seen supporting their mom at the Hocus Pocus 2 premiere on Monday.