Actress Sarah Jessica Parker is in the spotlight once again with the premiere of the long-awaited Hocus Pocus 2.
The Sex and the City actress attended the film premiere with her long-term husband and fellow actor Matthew Broderick. Their two daughters made a rare appearance in public with the couple by accompanying them as well.
Unfortunately, Parker was recently forced to miss her next Hollywood event at the New York City Ballet’s 10th annual Fall Fashion Gala when she received some troubling news.
At the event, sources disclosed that Parker, originally meant to be an honoree there, was called away for a family emergency. No further details followed, so many fans and peers were left worried and wondering.
Later, it was reported that Parker had rushed to the side of her stepfather in his final moments.
When Sarah Jessica Parker was just two-years-old, her parents divorced. Barbara Parker, her mother, soon remarried. Her new husband was Paul Forste, a man she met at a regional theater production of “Once Upon a Mattress” in Ohio.
Barbara was a teacher and Paul was a truck driver. The pair played the roles of Lady Larken and Sir Harry, respectively, for fun. The two quickly fell in love.
Parker was three when her mother and Paul married. After their union, the entire family moved from a coal-mining town in Ohio to Cincinnati. Barabara quit her teaching job in order to raise the blended family, which included eight children.
With so many mouths to feed, the family struggled financially throughout Parker’s upbringing. The actress has explained on more than one occasion that with her family’s poverty did not come worry over being fed, but instead worry over how much the parents were agonizing each night.
The family was forced to skip birthdays and Christmas holidays at times. When bills were missed, lights and phones could be turned off.
Even still, Parker and her siblings were able to develop strong work ethics and motivation because of the struggles they watched their parents endure.
She explained:
“It sounds crazy, but I’m grateful for all that now.”
Poverty also fostered a sense of respect and closeness in the family. That is why Parker missed her engagement at the Fall Fashion Gala on September 28th.
The Thursday after, Parker and her family released a statement on Paul’s passing: “Our family is sad to announce that after an unexpected and rapid illness, Paul Giffin Forste passed away yesterday at age 76.”
The family’s statement went on to express how everyone would always remember Paul’s loving and kind nature, his endless faith, his love for his 13 grandchildren, and his desire to always continue making the world a better place for all.
“In his last moments, he was surrounded with the love and gratitude of his adored wife Barbara of 54 years, and children, including Sarah Jessica Parker,” the family stated.
So sorry for your loss, SJP! You’re a good person for caring and loving a man who chose to be your stepfather. Sounds like he was a kind man!
My heartfelt prayers and condolences are with your family. Cherish all the memories you shared with him.
