Bravo icon Andy Cohen is profoundly redefining his life’s purpose through fatherhood, revealing that welcoming his two children, Benjamin and Lucy, later in life has been the “greatest thing I’ve ever done” and that they ultimately “saved his life.”
In a candid revelation that resonates deeply with fans, Andy Cohen, the charismatic host of Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, has opened up about the profound impact of becoming a father later in life. During an October 29 episode of Call Her Daddy, Cohen, 57, shared that his children, Benjamin, 6, and Lucy, 3, have not only enriched his life but “wound up saving my life.”
“I’ve been single far longer than I’ve been with people. But I like being single and I like…I have a really good life,” he told host Alex Cooper, as reported by People. He continued, “So, I haven’t been like, ‘Oh, I’m so lonely.’ And then my kids wound up saving my life. Having kids later in life was like the greatest thing I’ve ever done. I have a family. It’s great.”
A Family Forged Through Surrogacy
Cohen welcomed both his children via surrogacy, a journey he has openly shared with his audience. His son, Benjamin Allen Cohen, arrived on February 4, 2019, followed by his daughter, Lucy Eve Cohen, on April 29, 2022. He has confirmed that his children are biological siblings.
The Bravo frontman has previously shared his sense of completeness with his two children, stating in November 2022 that he doesn’t plan to add more little ones to his family. This decision underscores his focus on nurturing the family he has built, a sentiment he proudly shares on social media.
Glimpses into Life with Ben and Lucy
Cohen often shares delightful and relatable moments from his life as a single dad. Fans have enjoyed watching his children grow and witnessing their unique personalities.
Benjamin Allen Cohen: The Spirited Six-Year-Old
At six years old, Benjamin, named after Cohen’s grandfather, is full of character. He’s known for his adorable “hot take” on sharing ketchup and his honest critiques of his dad’s cooking. In a hilarious video shared by Cohen, Ben once declared, “I just don’t like your eggs…for no reason.” Another memorable moment captured Ben’s “calculations” when told to be a good boy, humorously stating, “My calculations don’t say that.”
Benjamin’s godfather is Bruce Bozzi, Cohen’s longtime friend, and he has also forged a sweet friendship with Anderson Cooper’s son, Wyatt. While Cohen used to share photos of Ben’s face, he began covering it a couple of years ago, explaining that his children “didn’t sign up for this” level of public exposure, as reported by NBC Insider Today. Despite his young age, Ben has shown an interest in television and can exhibit “occasional tantrums that rivals me at a Jersey Housewives reunion.”
Lucy Eve Cohen: Daddy’s Little Girl
Lucy Eve Cohen, now three, has brought a welcome “female energy” into the Cohen household. Andy describes her as a “smart, funny sweetheart who surprises me every day.” Fans particularly loved the saga of Lucy’s “beef” with Daisy Duck, which Cohen turned into a “teachable moment” about standing up for what you want, eventually leading to a sweet reconciliation.
Lucy thrives on one-on-one time with her dad. Cohen recounted a touching instance to People: “I took her to the doctor today, and she talked about it like I was taking her to, you know, see the Rockettes. She’s like, ‘Daddy and I — just Daddy and I — are going to the doctor, just Daddy and I.’ So she’s very much Daddy’s little girl.”
His daughter’s potty training journey has also provided a humorous look into his parenting. During a June co-hosting gig on Today with Jenna & Friends, Cohen joked that while he celebrated her “diaper graduation,” her progress was at the “same glacial pace that her brother was at,” despite the common belief that girls learn quicker.
The Support System: Housewives, Friends, and “The Daddy Diaries”
Cohen’s vast network has played a significant role in his parenting journey. The “Real Housewives” stars, whom he has refereed for nearly two decades, have rallied around him, offering invaluable advice. “All their mom instincts came out,” he told People. “As loud and funny and aggressive and wild and dramatic and everything you want to say about the housewives, as much of all that as they are, they’re all moms, pretty much. And they’re all good moms.”
He chronicled his experiences as a new father in his bestselling book, The Daddy Diaries: The Year I Grew Up, the third in a popular series. The book offers a candid look at the highs and lows of single fatherhood amidst his bustling career in media, which includes two SiriusXM radio channels, a book imprint, and his role as host and executive producer of the “Real Housewives” franchise.
His close friend, Anderson Cooper, who also became a father in his early fifties, has been a confidant and fellow parenting adventurer. As reported by CBS News, the two have shared humorous anecdotes, like Cohen’s warning to Cooper about the “hell” of transitioning a child from a crib to a toddler bed. Cohen described the crib as a “cage” and the toddler bed as the moment “they now have free will… the power shifts. Young Benjamin holds the keys to the castle.”
The Joys and Worries of a Single Dad
Being a single parent has introduced a new layer of worry for Cohen. He reflected on Today that he now feels “a weight about me and a sense of worry that I never really had.” This constant introspection leads him to question if he spends enough time with his children, always striving to be “everything” for them. Yet, despite these anxieties, he affirmed, “I wouldn’t change it for the world, by the way.”
The journey has also shifted his perspective on finding a partner. While he previously enjoyed his single life, the “bar” has undoubtedly changed. “I just thought, ‘I wanna do this. And I’m doing it. And I know it’s gonna be really hard, and I don’t know what that actually means,'” he told Anderson Cooper on CBS News, highlighting his strong conviction to embrace fatherhood alone.
Savoring Every Minute
Andy Cohen’s social media often reflects his deep gratitude and a poignant awareness of time’s swift passage. Recently, he shared a sweet photo of himself walking with Benjamin and Lucy, captioning it: “I want to freeze this moment in the evolution of my family so badly. I hear every single day how quickly this will go and to savor every minute. I am trying! I am grateful for it all as life’s clock ticks loudly in my head.” This reflection encapsulates his journey: a man who found his greatest purpose and joy in the bustling, beautiful chaos of fatherhood.
