Oliver Hudson Reveals Why Son Wilder, 19, Is Taking a Break From College After Just One Semester

Hannah MalachFri, November 6, 2026 at 11:17 PM UTC

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Oliver Hudson and his son Wilder in 2025.Credit: Getty ImagesThe Gist -

Oliver Hudson discussed his son Wilder’s decision to take a break from college after just one semester.

The 19-year-old started at the University of Colorado Boulder in August.

He’s deferring his enrollment due to “stress.”

Oliver Hudson’s son Wilder is deferring his enrollment at the University of Colorado Boulder following a series of “complications.” The actor, whose sister is Kate Hudson, made the admission on the latest episode of their podcast, “Sibling Revelry.”

“He had a bit of a false start in the sense that we moved him in, it was all very exciting [and] then he had to have his wisdom teeth out,” Oliver, 50, said of his 19-year-old son. “We brought him home. There were some complications there, so [his teeth] weren’t taken out.”

Oliver Hudson and his son Wilder in 2025.Credit: Getty Images

“He was home for almost three weeks, went back to school and then came home a week and a half later, got his wisdom teeth out and was home again for three weeks, living in his room, recovering,” Oliver explained, adding that Wilder “just got used to being home again” before he returned to college.

“Going back to school was a bit of a task,” the Rules of Engagement star said. “When he went back, he just felt a little depressed, like he didn’t belong there anymore, even though his best friend is his dorm-mate.”

Erinn Bartlett and Oliver Hudson in 2025.Credit: Getty Images

Oliver and his wife of two decades, actress Erinn Bartlett, dropped their son off at UC Boulder back in August. The couple also shares a 16-year-old son named Bodhi and a 13-year-old daughter, Rio.

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Speaking on “Sibling Revelry,” Oliver explained that he and Wilder had several heart-to-hearts before he officially decided to defer his enrollment.

Oliver Hudson, his wife Erinn, their children Wilder and Rio, and Goldie Hawn in 2024.Credit: Getty Images

“He just felt that he needed to experience adult life, and college will still be there waiting for him, so we’ve had long talks,” Oliver said. “[We] just chatted and really got to the heart of what he was feeling, and he was just carrying so much stress. And at 19, I don’t want that. Stress is a killer. I’d rather you smoke a fucking pack of cigarettes than be stressed.”

“He knows what he wants to do. He’s already an actor. He did a job with me, and after pontification and good, deep conversation, we came up with a plan,” Oliver continued, explaining that although Wilder will be living at home, he’s still expected to get a job.

“I’m trying to instill that into my kids that you are owed absolutely nothing,” Oliver went on. “You deserve absolutely nothing. You have to go and work for it and study it and get better at it.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”