All About Barry Keoghan's Son, Brando

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Barry Keoghan/Instagram; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Barry Keoghan/Instagram; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

MeetBarry Keoghan’s little boy.

TheSaltburnstar andGolden Globe nomineeis the father of son Brando, whom he welcomed in August 2022 with his former girlfriend, Alyson Sandro.

Keoghan’s love for acting inspired the meaning behind Brando’s name. However, the movie star — who earned an Oscar nod for his role as Dominic inThe Banshees of Inisherinin 2023 — has said that he would never force Brando into acting.

Though Keoghan and Sandro are no longer together, the actor has praised her as a mom. “She’s done a great job and she’s an incredible mother,” he toldGQin a January 2024 interview.

Read on for everything to know about Barry Keoghan’s son, Brando.

He is Barry’s first and only child

Barry Keoghan’s son, Brando.Barry Keoghan/Instagram

Barry Keoghan/Instagram

Brando was born when Keoghan was filmingSaltburn. Amid his busy schedule,the actor took one day offto be with his son. In an interview withGQ,he opened up about the limited time off he was granted before he had to return to filming.

“They gave me a day off,” Keoghan revealed. “Good on them! Day off, and straight on to night shoots and night feedings — boom!”

Though it was quite the busy time, the actor said it was all worth it.

His name has a special meaning

Barry Keoghan at the premiere of “Saltburn” in November 2023.Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty

Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty

Brando’s name is significant to Keoghan, who explained the meaning when speaking withGQ. For the movie star, it’s no surprise he turned to his love of acting for inspiration.

“Brando Keoghan. Imagine that, for a name!” he told the outlet. “I set him up. Brando Keoghan, piano player. I obviously love Marlon Brando, but I just, yeah — for a first name I thought it was quite cool. To have Brando in your name — feckin' hell, man!'

“He’s got a lot to live up to, that kid. But he’ll live up to it. He has to have that leather jacket and rock-star attitude, you know what I mean? He’ll have a motorbike when he’s 12, I think.”

Barry dedicated his Oscar nomination to him

Barry Keoghan inside the 2023 Golden Globes.Rich Polk/NBC/Getty

After he learned of the nomination news, the proud dad shared a sweet tribute on his Instagram story. “That ones for you Brando,” he wrote alongside a photo of the five Best Supporting Actor nominees. “Daddy loves you ❤️.”

He motivates Barry

Barry Keoghan at the 81st Golden Globe Awards in January 2024.MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty

MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty

Since becoming a father, Keoghan’s been vocal about how his son motivates and inspires him. “I feel a responsibility, I feel an enormous amount of pressure, which is good,” he toldGQabout becoming a parent.

“And I can’t get the little boy off my mind. It’s beautiful Y’know, it’s crazy, but when he looks at you, you feel like the most important person in the world. That’s the effect he has on me,” he continued. “He smiles at you and you’re like, ‘Wow. You’re smiling at me like that? I don’t deserve that, but anyways, thanks.'”

He won’t be pushed into acting

Barry Keoghan attends the world premiere of “Masters Of The Air” in January 2024.Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

When speaking withPOPSUGARin October 2022, Keoghan said “he will not” force his son into acting. “If he did want to become an actor, you know, I’m there for it,” he told the publication.

Although a brand-new dad at the time, Keoghan gave a lot of thought to how he’d like to raise his first child. “You don’t want to brainwash them into doing something that they don’t want to do,” he said. “I think it’s exciting to see where he ventures.”

Barry and his son don’t have a “normal father-son relationship”

In a September 2024 interview withEntertainment Weekly, Keoghan said not having a role model to base his relationship with Brando on has affected who he is as a dad.

“I’ll just say this — Ididn’t have a father figuregrowing up, so even my relationship with my son isn’t quite of the normal father-son relationship,” he said. “Because I don’t have that figure to draw from and to base it on.”

But when it comes to loving his son, that part is easy.

“Love, you don’t need anything to draw from. Love is pure, and so I’m not on about that, but I’m on about stuff like teaching your son this or teaching your daughter that,” he added.

Barry seldomly posts about Brando on social media

Barry Keoghan and son Brando.Barry Keoghan/Instagram

After skyrocketing to fame in 2023, Barry decided it best to keep his life with Brando private. This led to fan-created narratives about the actor being an absent dad.

“I’m not an absent father,” he said onThe Louis Theroux Podcastin November 2024. “People love to use my son as ammunition.”

Barry continued, “Because I reigned [posting about Brando] in, people draw a narrative and go, ‘Absent father, s—, deadbeat dad,’ and more disgusting things I wouldn’t even repeat. Just the audacity of some people, man, it sickens me. It makes me furious.”

Currently, there’sone post about Brando on Barry’s Instagram. The sweet selfie of the father-son duo is captioned: “He’s more of a charmer than i am. Our wee Brando.”

source: people.com