“I Never Realized How Mom-Centric Everything Is,” Hill Harper Became a Single Dad at 49

Many of us know Hill Harper from shows like CSI: NY, Covert Affairs, and The Good Doctor. While the actor usually keeps a low profile when it comes to his personal life, he revealed in 2017 that he became a father through adoption. The proud dad shared the things that led to the decision that forever changed his life.

1. Hill decided to pursue an acting career despite having a doctorate in law.

Francis Eugene Harper was born on May 17, 1966, in Iowa City to a psychiatrist father and anesthesiologist mother. He later adopted the name “Hill” to honor both his maternal and paternal ancestors. Hill Harper took an interest in acting very early in his life, starting at the age of 7.

Despite knowing since childhood what he wanted to do, Hill went on to earn 3 Ivy League degrees, including a doctorate in law from Harvard. He only started pursuing acting full time in 1993, when he landed a role in Married... with Children. Hill’s most famous roles include Sheldon Hawkes in CSI: NY and Dr. Marcus Andrews in The Good Doctor.

2. He was diagnosed with cancer and overcame the disease.

The actor was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after he woke up one day and “couldn’t swallow anything.” Thankfully, the disease was caught early on and Harper got treated right away. Although the star had his thyroid removed, he made a full recovery and got discharged with a clean bill of health. “We think we have all the time in the world, but a cancer diagnosis definitely makes you take stock of your own mortality,” Harper said about his health battle.

3. His mom inspired him to adopt his son.

Hill Harper’s mother, Marilyn, was very supportive of her son’s decision to become a father. Hill also credits his mom with giving the final push to adopt the baby. “I needed help to make that decision, and it was her guidance and her wisdom and her love and support that helped me get there.” Marilyn also helped the first-time dad with caring for the child.

4. He decided to become a single dad by choice at 49.

In 2015, The Good Doctor star received a call that would forever change his life for the better. “[Adopting Pierce] was the greatest decision I’ve ever made and I’ve never been happier,” Hill said in an exclusive interview in 2017. A few days before Thanksgiving, his attorney told the actor that a woman who was going to give birth wanted to give the baby up for adoption.

After meeting his son’s birth mom, Hill’s fears about becoming a dad disappeared and the actor felt like the child had chosen him to be his parent. The actor was also present in the delivery room, witnessing the baby’s birth and even cutting the umbilical cord.

“I was so scared,” the actor recalled a few years later. “I think because it was such a huge decision. But looking back now, all the fears I had were ridiculously small compared to the joy of having him in my life and having the opportunity to be a father, Harper said. “I had never really changed a diaper in my life.” Harper opened up, admitting that although challenging, taking care of a newborn filled his life with purpose.

5. He named his son after his good friend, Pierce Brosnan.

Hill Harper and Pierce Brosnan met in 1998 on the set of The Nephew and have been close friends ever since. When adopting his son, Hill decided to name him after the James Bond actor. “I did a movie years ago with Pierce Brosnan and he and I have been friends ever since, and he’s one of the classiest, smartest, most beautiful humans in the world. If my son can be anything like him...” the actor explained in an interview.

6. He always strives to be the best dad for Pierce.

Little Pierce Hill Harper will turn 7 years old on December 19, 2022, and his dad is making sure that he has the best childhood possible. Pierce often makes an appearance on the actor’s Instagram account. Meanwhile, Hill Harper continues to pursue acting and will appear on season 6 of The Good Doctor, premiering in October.

Although Hill admits that raising a little human all on his own can be challenging, he’s also very glad he didn’t wait any longer to become a father. “Every day you’re making a different set of decisions that you feel impact the future of this wonderful person,” he said. “That’s a challenge. It’s a beautiful challenge but it’s a challenge.”

Furthermore, raising a child as a single dad brought with it another set of hurdles too. “I never realized how mom-centric everything is. In every book, everything is like, ’my mom, my mom,’ and it always made me feel some kind of way because of Pierce not having that traditional mom in his life,” the actor said, candidly. But from hiring a baby coach and joining a group of moms in need of breastmilk to asking his mom for advice, Harper did everything to make sure his son got the care that he deserves.