Josh Gad, aka everyone’s favorite snowman, Olaf, just opened up about reconnecting with his estranged father after 20 years, and it’s giving serious Theater Kid Meets Daddy Issues energy.
During an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Spotlight With Rebecca Shaw, the Frozen star spilled the tea about his new memoir In Gad We Trust and the father-son reunion that sounds equal parts touching and hilariously uncomfortable.
The Phone Call That Started It All
Imagine not seeing your dad for two decades, and then bam—he rings you up out of nowhere like, “Hey, I’m in Jersey and wanna catch your show.” That’s basically what happened to Josh. Naturally, he was like, “Okay, fine, but it’s gonna be on my terms.” Translation: You’re coming to the theater, and you’re gonna watch me shine under the Broadway lights like the star I was born to be.
The show in question? Josh’s Broadway musical Gutenberg! alongside Andrew Rannells. Oh, and no pressure or anything, but this was the first time his dad ever saw him perform. Not in school plays, not in college productions, not even in Frozen on Ice (just kidding, but you get it). As Josh put it, “It was kind of crazy—at 42, it was the first time I could share this experience with him.”
Awkward Post-Show Shenanigans
After the curtain closed and the applause died down, it was time for the real performance: a father-son heart-to-heart. But here’s where things take a sharp left turn into awkwardville. The convo took place on Halloween, and Josh and his co-star were dressed as—you guessed it—the Mommie Dearest characters. Yes, as in Joan Crawford with the wire hangers.
Let’s pause to appreciate the mental image of a bewildered dad seeing his grown son dressed in peak camp horror drag, trying to have a deep and meaningful chat. Josh said his dad was “baffled and confused,” which, honestly, same.
From Awkward to Cathartic
Despite the bizarre circumstances (or maybe because of them), the reunion turned out to be cathartic. “It was closure I didn’t even know I needed,” Josh shared. “We just sat and talked, and a lot of what we discussed ended up in the book.”
And just like that, a 20-year estrangement ended with Broadway, Halloween costumes, and some deep father-son bonding. If that’s not the most Josh Gad way to reconcile with your dad, we don’t know what is.
Moral of the Story
1. Never underestimate the healing power of theater.
2. If you’re going to have an emotional reunion, maybe skip the Halloween costumes.
Want to hear Josh tell the story in his own words? Go watch the interview—because, let’s be real, no one can spin this kind of tale like the man himself.
