Simon Cowell built a career on being brutally honest and almost impossible to impress.
But behind that tough exterior, he once revealed a surprising fear about becoming a dad.
Now, 12 years later, his son Eric is all grown up, and new photos are giving fans a glimpse of the boy who changed Simon’s life forever.
Many celebrities prefer to keep their children out of the spotlight, allowing them to grow up away from the cameras and public attention.
But Simon Cowell has taken a different approach. His son Eric has often joined his famous father on the red carpet, and the American Idol and The X Factor judge has spoken openly about how becoming a dad changed him in ways he never expected.
The famously tough TV judge welcomed his only child, Eric, with fiancée Lauren Silverman in February 2014.
By then, the entertainment mogul was nearing 55, having devoted most of his adult life to building the hugely successful career that made him a household name.
”Twenty years ago, I would have said I didn’t think I was going to have kids because I thought I was too old,” Simon later recalled.
”God, no, I couldn’t have children”
He also once admitted that he couldn’t imagine having children, explaining:
”God, no, I couldn’t have children. If I had them here drawing on the walls I’d go nuts. You’ve got to be up at a certain time. Got to listen when all you want to do is sit in a corner thinking.”
But when Eric arrived on Valentine’s Day in 2014, the man famous for his sharp tongue and tough judgments discovered a whole new side of himself. And over the years, Cowell has made no secret of just how deeply he loves being a dad.
Just weeks after Eric’s birth, he told Extra: ”I was born to be a dad.”
In later interviews, Cowell opened up even more about fatherhood, explaining why becoming a dad had such a profound impact on his life.
”After I lost my parents, I genuinely felt … I would never feel that kind of love for anyone ever again. I thought that was it … until I saw the scan of (Eric) for the first time,” he said shared during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
”From that moment I saw the scan, I was like ‘That is it, I’m besotted.’ Now, I cannot imagine my life without him.”
Eric’s arrival was almost a race against the clock. Simon was in London when Lauren called early one morning with the news that their baby was on the way.
Realizing he needed to get across the Atlantic as quickly as possible, he rushed to arrange a flight to New York. He made it just in time, arriving at the hospital only two hours before Lauren gave birth. Simon later said he couldn’t hold back the tears when Eric was born.
Just days after Eric was born, the BGT star shared the first photos of his baby boy with the world. One sweet picture showed the newborn lying against his dad’s chest, giving fans a rare glimpse of a softer, more tender side of the famously outspoken TV judge.
The name carries a special meaning
Eric wasn’t just a name Simon and Lauren Silverman happened to like. It was also the name of someone who had played a huge role in Simon’s life: his father, Eric Cowell, who passed away in 1999.
Simon had been incredibly close to his dad, who supported and guided him during the early stages of his career in entertainment. Losing him was devastating, and naming his own son Eric gave him a special way to keep his father’s memory alive.
”I look at him, Eric, and I think of my dad all the time,” Simon said shortly after his son’s birth.
It was a heartfelt tribute to a man he wished could have been there to meet his grandson.
Eric was lucky enough to meet his paternal grandmother, Julie. Simon joked shortly after the birth that his mother was so excited about the new arrival that she had probably already told everyone in her village.
Julie got to spend time with her grandson during his early years, making memories that would become especially precious after her death in July 2015, at the age of 89.
The former ballet dancer had been a devoted supporter of Simon throughout his television career. One small gift she gave Eric would later become a particularly meaningful reminder of her.
She had bought her grandson a brown blanket, and he continued to treasure it even after she was gone. For Simon, the blanket was more than just something his son had grown attached to. It was a reminder of a grandmother who had been so excited to welcome him into the family.
Simon later spoke about how deeply losing both parents had affected him. Despite all the success and material things he had accumulated throughout his career, he admitted that he had struggled to find happiness after their deaths.
He explained that after his mother’s passing, many of the things he had once worked so hard to achieve suddenly seemed far less important. Becoming a father, however, brought something into his life that money and professional success never could.
Eric was soon getting a taste of Simon’s world
As Eric grew from a baby into a toddler, Simon began discovering more things that made fatherhood so rewarding.
By 2017, the youngster was already tagging along to some of his dad’s television appearances. Growing up around talent shows meant that the world of music and entertainment was becoming familiar to him from an early age.
Simon proudly carried his three-year-old son during The X Factor auditions at Tobacco Dock in London on July 6, 2017. Eric wore a Rolling Stones T-shirt, giving fans an early glimpse of the musical world he was growing up around.
On another occasion, Eric was spotted enjoying satsumas while spending time backstage at The X Factor. It was a wonderfully ordinary childhood moment in the middle of a television production filled with cameras, performers, and famous faces.
And although he was still very young, Eric was already developing opinions of his own. Simon would soon discover that his son could be surprisingly good at judging performances.
The little critic Simon actually listened to
Simon had spent years making a career out of telling aspiring singers and performers exactly what he thought. But at home, he had a very different kind of critic.
Eric became fascinated with the acts on America’s Got Talent, and Simon soon noticed that his young son had a surprisingly good instinct for entertainment.
He even described the three-year-old as ”a brilliant judge.” When Eric enjoyed a performance, Simon often found himself agreeing. And when his son lost interest, that was something the experienced TV judge paid attention to as well.
The youngster was also fascinated by the judges’ buzzers and loved getting the chance to press them whenever he visited the set.
Unlike his father, Eric didn’t need a carefully delivered critique or a dramatic pause to make his feelings known. His reactions were refreshingly honest – and Simon clearly enjoyed having him around.
Terrifying accident left Simon worried
In August 2020, Simon was testing an electric bicycle at his home in Malibu, California, when he suffered a serious accident.
”I knew I’d broken my back the minute I landed. It was really, really kind of sudden and it hurt,” he said.
Doctors had to stabilize his spine with metal hardware, leaving him facing a long and difficult recovery. His injuries forced him to miss the beginning of the live shows in that season’s America’s Got Talent.
But while the physical pain was considerable, Simon had another worry on his mind: how would his young son react when he saw him after the accident?
Simon later admitted that he felt embarrassed by how weak he looked after leaving the hospital. He even told Lauren that he wasn’t sure how to explain what had happened to six-year-old Eric.
He was concerned about frightening his little boy.
”Daddy, you’re like Ironman”
But when Eric finally saw his father lying in bed, his response was not at all what Simon had expected.
After learning that doctors had put metal rods in his dad’s back, the youngster came up with a comparison that made the whole situation feel a little less frightening.
”Daddy, you’re like Ironman,” Eric told him.
The sweet comment stayed with Simon. What had initially been an awkward and worrying moment turned into something he would remember with a smile.
Fatherhood was changing Simon’s priorities
As Simon gradually returned to work and his usual routine, Eric continued growing into a more independent child.
The television judge had often spoken about how becoming a father changed the way he approached life. His decisions were no longer just about his career or personal ambitions. He now had someone else to think about.
In one particularly revealing reflection, Simon explained: ”Every decision I make now [I am thinking about Eric]. Is it the right decision for him?”
Lauren also spoke about how she and Eric had helped Simon change his old habits. They encouraged him to get up earlier and make more time for everyday family life, rather than keeping the late-night schedule he had once been accustomed to.
By the time Eric reached his teenage years, it was clear that the little boy who had once sat on his father’s lap at television auditions was becoming his own person.
In August 2026, Simon took another short break from America’s Got Talent after undergoing a routine back procedure. His representative said he was expected to return after several weeks.
Exploring his own interests
Eric is now 12, and as he grows older, the bond between father and son continues to evolve. He’s also beginning to develop interests of his own. Music remains a big part of his life, particularly rock, and he has taken an interest in playing the drums. He also enjoys soccer and spending time outdoors.
On November 1, 2026, Lauren shared a new collection of family photographs from a recent holiday. The pictures, which were later featured by People, offered a glimpse of the family enjoying some time by the sea.
Simon, Eric, Lauren’s older son Adam, and the family’s dogs all appeared in the holiday snapshots. The relaxed pictures also came around two months after Simon’s back procedure in August.
But one thing was particularly hard to miss: Eric is no longer the little boy fans remember from his earliest appearances.
Noticeably taller
Now 12, he looks noticeably taller and more grown-up. His dark hair and familiar features still remind fans of his father, but the latest pictures show just how much he has changed over the years.
One photograph showed Eric carrying a checkered surfboard as he made his way toward the ocean. In another, he was pictured walking along the beach with his older brother, Adam.
The photos quickly prompted reactions from followers, with several people commenting on how tall Eric had become.
”Beautiful. Ps. Eric is definitely now taller than me!!!” one person wrote.
Another follower couldn’t quite believe how quickly the years had passed, commenting: ”Can’t believe how grown up Eric is. Gosh where does the time go.”
The comments captured a feeling many fans seemed to share. It hardly felt like yesterday that Simon was introducing his newborn son to the world.
As well as his height, Eric’s resemblance to his famous father also caught the attention of several followers.
The family resemblance has been mentioned for years, but the latest photographs gave fans another reason to point it out. As Eric gets older, some of Simon’s familiar features seem increasingly easy to spot.
”Eric is such a mimi Simon on this photo sat on the horse, his absolute double,” one fan wrote.
Another person shared a similar reaction, commenting: “Eric is so cute looks just like his daddy ❤️”.
And one more follower simply wrote: “Son looks so much like his father. Lovely”.
The comments weren’t only about Eric’s appearance, though. Some followers also reflected on how much they felt Simon had changed since becoming a father.
One person wrote: ”I’m so glad to see Simon with a son it has been the making of him he is a much nicer person now”.
Looking back at Eric’s first photographs, it’s remarkable to see how much has happened since the tiny newborn was first placed in Simon’s arms.
The baby who once slept against his father’s chest is now a 12-year-old with his own interests, opinions, and a growing sense of independence. And judging by the latest pictures, he is also becoming increasingly difficult to tell apart from his famous dad!
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