Ben Dreyfuss, the eldest son of Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss, is speaking candidly about what he describes as a long-standing and “complicated” estrangement between the legendary performer and his three adult children.

Ben, 39, who previously worked as a journalist at Mother Jones, took to social media last week to address widespread public assumptions about his family — particularly the belief that he and his siblings are financially supported by their famous father.

Richard Dreyfuss, now 78, shares his children Ben, Emily, 42, and Harry, 35, with his ex-wife Jeramie Rain, whom he divorced in 1995 (USA Today).

Richard Dreyfuss at the premiere of “Waltzing with Brando” in Los Angeles, California, on Sept. 15, 2025.

Ben and Richard Dreyfuss at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Aug. 8, 2013.

Ben says the Dreyfuss children receive “no money” from their father

In a post (later deleted) on X dated Nov. 13, Ben wrote bluntly:

“Everyone assumes my siblings and I are wealthy from our dad… but we have no money from my dad. My dad has no money. And if he did, we wouldn’t get it, since we’ve been estranged ever since some complicated family drama to do with MeToo.”

According to Ben, the rift traces back to 2017, when his younger brother Harry Dreyfuss publicly accused actor Kevin Spacey of groping him in an incident that allegedly occurred when he was a teenager. Harry detailed his account in a major first-person essay for BuzzFeed News (BuzzFeed News). Spacey has repeatedly denied the allegation.

Ben said that after Harry’s story went public, he helped amplify it by posting a message of support from his father’s then-active Twitter account. Ben claims that action triggered a domino effect that profoundly fractured the family.

Richard Dreyfuss and his family attend the premiere of “Paradise Road” at the AMPAS Theater in Beverly Hills, California, on April 4, 1997.

Ben claims a woman came forward with allegations against Richard following Harry’s story

Ben alleges that after he posted from Richard’s account in support of Harry, an unnamed woman contacted the press with her own allegation against Richard Dreyfuss related to sexual misconduct — something Richard publicly denied at the time (The Guardian).

Ben now says his father blamed his children for the fallout that followed.

“That tweet prompted someone to MeToo my dad. He blames us for that,” Ben wrote.
“This led to years of acrimony.”

The actor did face public scrutiny in 2017 when a writer accused him of inappropriate behavior in the 1980s. Richard denied the allegation, calling it “completely false,” while acknowledging he had struggled with drug use during that period (Variety).

Ben publishes last email exchange with his father

Following the viral reaction to his deleted post, Ben expanded on the estrangement in a lengthy entry on his Substack titled “The Last Email.” He explained:

“You’ve possibly already seen this in the papers, but I don’t talk to my dad anymore. It’s been sitting in my head like a monster for years.”

He then shared what he says is the final email his father ever sent him — a response to Ben’s apology after what sounds like a tense family dinner in San Francisco in 2022.

Ben Dreyfuss explained why he and his siblings no longer speak with their father.

According to Ben, the email read in part:

“AT LEAST KEEP THIS ONE LETTER. IT’LL BE THE LAST ONE UNLESS YOU STOP BEING A COWARD. OR START BEING BETTER THAN YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER.”

Ben wrote that despite the harsh tone, he still feels deep affection for his father:

“I love my father. I have always loved him. I think he’s better than this email… but it’s been two years, and this appears to be the last email I’m ever going to get from him.”

Sister Emily Dreyfuss also speaks out

Hours after Ben went public, their sister Emily added her voice to the conversation.

In a post on X, Emily wrote:

“Ever since we became estranged from our dad, it’s been nearly impossible for me to write. For the first time, the thing most on my mind was something I couldn’t talk about.”

She added that although she and Ben experienced the estrangement differently:

“I’m relieved it’s finally out in the open now.”

No comment yet from Richard Dreyfuss

Representatives for the actor — known for classics including Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and his Oscar-winning performance in The Goodbye Girl (The Hollywood Reporter) — have not responded to requests for comment.