Chris Pratt discusses his family, including his cigar ritual with Arnold Schwarzenegger, parenting styles, and his upcoming film, ‘The Electric State.’
Chris Pratt, known for his roles in blockbuster franchises such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, has recently shared insights into his family life, particularly his relationship with his father-in-law, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the unusual tradition they share after each of Pratt’s children are born.
The Cigar Ritual
During an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Pratt discussed his relationship with Schwarzenegger and a peculiar ritual that leads to a predictable health issue. Pratt mentioned that Schwarzenegger is frequently seen with a cigar, whether on set, in his car, or at home. According to Pratt, “He’s always smoking one on set, in his car, and in my living room. When we have a baby, he shows up with a Cuban cigar.”
Despite having asthma, Pratt feels compelled to partake in this tradition. “I have asthma, so I should not ever smoke cigars, but I do because I feel pressure from Arnold Schwarzenegger,” he admitted. This leads to a recurring consequence: “So, every time I have a child, I have a cigar and about a week later, I have a lung infection. It’s a nice little ritual we have!”
Family Life and Parenting
Pratt has four children. He shares three children with his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger: daughters Lyla, four, and Eloise, two, and a son named Ford, who was born in November. He also has a 12-year-old son, Jack, with his ex-wife, Anna Faris.
Pratt has spoken about Katherine’s parenting style, noting that she inherited some of her father’s strictness. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Pratt mentioned that Katherine is “kind of more authoritarian” as a parent, possibly influenced by her upbringing. Kimmel recounted a story about Arnold throwing his son Patrick’s mattress off the balcony into a swimming pool as a disciplinary measure, illustrating the Schwarzenegger family’s approach to parenting.
Seeking Advice from Arnold
Pratt has also turned to Schwarzenegger for advice on navigating life as a father and a Hollywood star. He told Extra in May 2024, “He has the experience of raising kids in the spotlight and being an actor, a well-known person, and a celebrity. It’s really great to have the wisdom of his experience to go to and to talk to about certain things that normally I would talk to my brother or my cousin or people that I grew up with and they might not be able to relate with certain things.”
Other Projects
In addition to his family life, Pratt is set to appear in The Electric State, a Netflix film scheduled for release in March. He initially hesitated to take on the role due to a busy work schedule but was encouraged by his wife, Katherine. The film features a star-studded cast including Millie Bobby Brown, Ke Huy Quan, Jason Alexander, Woody Norman, Giancarlo Esposito, and Stanley Tucci.
Pratt also humorously commented on seeing his brother-in-law Patrick Schwarzenegger’s nude scene in The White Lotus, quipping to E! News, “I know where my eyes went — I’m not blood-related to him, I was looking at that d***, bro,” adding, “No, he looks amazing. Obviously, he’s a physical specimen, but also he’s a really solid actor because the character he’s playing is completely different than who he is.”
Sources: https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/chris-pratt-children-graham-norton-show-arnold-schwarzenegger-b2706436.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/ckg8r771l72o
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1287420-chris-pratts-serious-health-crisis-after-unexpected-encounter