Rita Wilson Opens Up About Late Father’s Hidden Past in Bulgaria

Rita Wilson has shared new details about a long-hidden chapter in her family history, describing the discovery as both “shocking and unusual” during a recent appearance on the How To Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, released April 22, 2026.

The actress and producer first learned about the secret in 2012 while appearing on the genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?, but said the emotional weight of the revelation has continued to unfold over time.

Wilson’s father, Hassan Halilov Ibrahimoff—later known as Allan Wilson—lived in Bulgaria before immigrating to the United States in 1949. There, he had a first wife, Alice, and a son, Emil, a history he never shared with his American family.

According to Wilson, Alice died just three days after giving birth due to complications. Their son Emil, born on December 26, survived only four months before dying from an infection, likely worsened by the harsh conditions in post-war Bulgaria.

Wilson said her father never spoke about this loss to her or her siblings. After arriving in the United States, he married her mother, Dorothy, and the couple stayed together for 59 years until his death.

In the podcast interview, Wilson also reflected on what she described as “weird” and poignant coincidences tied to the date of Emil’s birth. Her sister’s first child was born on December 26, as was Wilson’s youngest son with actor Tom Hanks.

She noted that her father would have celebrated those birthdays each year while privately remembering the child he had lost decades earlier.

Despite the secrecy, Wilson spoke warmly about her father, calling him an “extraordinary man.” She highlighted his difficult early life, including time in a labor camp, his escape from Bulgaria, and his journey to the United States by jumping onto a freighter ship.

Once in America, he built a life from scratch, working his way up from a barback to a bartender in Hollywood and supporting his family without going into debt.

Wilson said she wishes she had been able to speak with him about his past. Reflecting on the experience, she emphasized the value of openness within families, suggesting that sharing difficult histories can help people better understand one another.