Rita Wilson has revealed a deeply personal and unexpected chapter of her family history, sharing that her late father kept a secret about a previous life in Bulgaria.
Speaking on the How To Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, the actress—married to Tom Hanks—recalled the emotional moment she learned, in 2012, that her father had once had a wife and child before moving to the United States. The discovery came while she was filming the genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?, which ended up focusing entirely on her father’s extraordinary story rather than tracing generations further back.
Researchers uncovered that her father, Hassan Halilov Ibrahimoff, had been married to a woman named Alice in Bulgaria. The couple had a son, Emil, but tragedy struck early—Alice died during childbirth, and baby Emil passed away just four months later due to an infection in the difficult postwar conditions.
Wilson admitted she was stunned by the revelation and had wondered whether she might meet unknown relatives, only to learn that both mother and child had died long before. Her father emigrated to the U.S. in 1949, leaving behind that painful chapter of his life—one he never spoke about with his family.
Reflecting on it now, she shared her regret at never being able to discuss it with him, noting how private that generation tended to be. Still, she finds a poignant connection to her half-brother: Emil was born on December 26, the same date as both her nephew and her youngest son, Truman—a coincidence that carries deep emotional meaning for her.
Wilson, who also shares son Chet with Hanks, said the experience reinforced her belief in openness, suggesting that sharing personal truths can help people realize how much they have in common.
She also paid tribute to her father’s resilience, describing his journey from war-torn Bulgaria to America. He escaped a labor camp, found work aboard a freighter to reach the U.S., and ultimately jumped ship upon arrival to start a new life. Despite arriving with nothing, he built a stable future—working as a bartender, supporting his family, buying a home, and avoiding debt entirely.
Wilson emphasized that her parents, who were married for nearly six decades, created a loving and supportive home. Raised in the Greek Orthodox tradition, she continues to honor her heritage, recently celebrating Greek Easter alongside fellow actors John Stamos and Nia Vardalos.
