"I’m very different from him" - Lewis Pullman on nepotism and following his father's "hard reputation"

Actor Lewis Pullman, son of Bill Pullman, shared his thoughts about nepotism and following his father’s legacy. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter on May 2, 2025, he mentioned how nepotism helped offer experience.

He mentioned that it required some time for him to feel comfortable in front of the camera. He admitted to feeling a sense of obligation to match his father's achievements. However, he eventually understood that he needed to pursue his journey as an actor.

What helped him was accepting this idea. After that, he turned to building his career. Lewis Pullman said:

“So that really freed me up in a lot of ways, kind of realizing that I’m very different from him in a lot of ways. I don’t have the same strengths that he has, so that was a big kind of opening up for me once I was like, OK, I can find my own voice and my own thing and gave myself permission to do that.”

Lewis Pullman seems to be fond of his father. He spoke in praise of the reputation his father built for himself, especially since people on set often spoke highly of him. He said:

"I’m like, it’s a hard reputation to follow, you know, flying in his wake. I’m always reminded of how incredibly generous and kind and talented he is."

Lewis Pullman turned to serious acting after finishing college

Lewis Pullman explained that his family loves the arts. Although he dreamt of playing drums, his interest in acting developed during high school. At that time, he became more aware of his father's career.

He had been involved in theater as a child. It was after college that he seriously considered acting as a career. So, he sought advice from his father whenever he needed it.

Lewis Pullman shared that over time, he looked for valuable lessons and techniques from working with talented people. He believed gaining experience on the job was one of the best ways to grow as an actor.

He acknowledged that his family connections were helpful. They created opportunities for him to gain that kind of experience.

Looking back at his acting days in college, Lewis Pullman admitted that his performances were not good. He said it was surprising that he continued to act. However, he was grateful that his parents allowed him to learn and improve.

Thinking about a screen test he did for Marvel, he felt that if it had taken place in earlier years, he would not have managed it as well. However, because of his accumulated experience, he did his best.

Lewis Pullman reflected on dealing with anxiety. This had been a constant part of his life. Over time, he learned to understand it more effectively. He did not feel embarrassed by it as he viewed it as a normal response that could sometimes be beneficial.

He realized that anxiety can manifest in various ways. He worked on identifying its patterns. Instead of trying to resist it, he began to use it as a source of motivation. He even joked that without anxiety, he might have lacked drive and been less productive.

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Also Read: How did Bill Pullman and wife Tamara meet?

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