Dax Shepard became visibly emotional when his recent interview with Dove Cameron took a surprisingly personal turn.
Cameron was discussing the 2011 death of her father, Philip Alan Hosterman, during a Monday appearance on Shepard’s “Armchair Expert” podcast. The host began tearing up over a tattoo on the “Descendants” actor’s hand dedicated to her late dad, which reads: “We’ll be friends forever.”
“You did make me cry today though because I was seeing the tattoo that you got and I have little girls that I say that same thing to all the time,” said Shepard, who shares daughters Lincoln, 12, and Delta, 10, with wife Kristen Bell.
“If they had to tattoo that on them at some point, because something went sideways ... you know, it was just heartbreaking,” he continued. “I say it to them, like, almost every day on the way to school. Like, ‘You know, we’re going to be best friends for the rest of your life ― the rest of my life.’”
Watch Dove Cameron’s “Armchair Expert” interview with Dax Shepard below. Their discussion about her tattoo begins around the 50:23 mark.
Cameron was 15 years old when Hosterman died by suicide at age 67. Just two years later, the actor landed her breakout role as the titular twins of the Disney Channel’s “Liv and Maddie,” winning an Emmy Award.
The experience, she told the fashion outlet Byrdie in 2023, made her a passionate advocate for mental health at a young age.
“I’ve had times in my life when I was incredibly suicidal. And I think that needs to be destigmatized,” she said. “My father [died by] suicide. I’ve spoken about that a lot. And I always think about how much shame and stigma there is around suicide.”
She went on to add, “If we could be more open about suicide and mental health, I think there would be so many people [who would say], ‘Hey, I feel like there’s no other option. Can you show me that there are?’”
In her chat with Shepard, Cameron said she was “so moved” to witness the “Parenthood” actor becoming choked up when speaking about his children.
“I truly was best friends with my dad,” she recalled. “He tried his best.”
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.