Jerry O'Connell on Twins' Personality Differences

Fame

Each working actors in the industry, Jerry O’Connell and wife Rebecca Romijn have no problem providing for their fraternal twin daughters Charlie Tamara Tulip and Dolly Rebecca Rose, 10 months. That said, if the stars align, Jerry — noting that his girls are Capricorns — jokes that the tables will soon be turned!

“It means that they’re going to be independently wealthy, so I’m hoping they can make some money and help fund my horse racing habit. Note I said habit and not addiction,” the doting dad, on hand to celebrate the 2009 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, laughs.

Although they may be twins, Charlie and Dolly’s personalities are like night and day, Jerry notes. While one twin is “go with anything, you put her down, she’s cool with it,” her sister makes sure her needs don’t go unnoticed!

“One is just a little more demanding, and wants her way,” he explains to Celebrity Baby Blog. “If you have something shiny near you, she wants it and if you don’t give it to her she’s very upset.”

And while he’s more than willing to dish on his girls, Jerry stays mum on which twin possesses which personality!

“I just shouldn’t say, but one is a little more diabolical than the other one, but I like that…it shows spunk.”

With Jerry a stay-at-home dad by day and law student by night and Rebecca wrapping up work on the just-canceled Eastwick, alone time is a rarity. Fortunately, the couple call in the troops — both sets of grandparents! — on occasion to lend a helping hand.

“We throw the kids at them and then we’ll take off for a couple of hours and go out to dinner,” Jerry shares.

“Sounds pretty tame, but when you have kids, you can’t fly off to Bora Bora for a weekend. Even a quiet dinner at Chili’s away from the kids is just — I love them! — [but] it’s a relief!”

– Anya with reporting by Nina Tyler

Comments

My twins personalities are the same way. But I always try to word things so that it doesn’t make the more “high needs” twin look negative. He is more spirited, more emotional, but also very loving and nurturing.

- urbanadventurertales on November 15th, 2009

Jerry is such a funny guy!

- CelebBabyLover on November 16th, 2009

Oh he just cracks me up. A great guy and a great Dad.

- Mari on November 16th, 2009

I love Jerry! He seems like such a great Dad. And I have to say that I hate that Eastwick has been canceled. That was my favorite new show of the season.

- Ashley on November 16th, 2009

i hope that awful show being canceled means she will be re added to the cast of ugly betty… i miss her there…

- fay on November 16th, 2009

my twins are also very different in personalities. i mean they are a boy and a girl but still, i don’t think that has that much to with it. my daughter is very outspoken, giggly, extrovert, active, sporty, energetic, witty but also more demanding. my son is more sensitive, gentle, quiet, interested in arts and crafts and nature, very cuddly and peaceful, introverted and good-natured, but it is sometimes more difficult to figure out what his needs are because he finds it difficult to just tell us, where his sister is more demonstrative. but luckily she often seems to be able to read him like a book and can often figure out what’s bothering him quicker than we can.
but like a previous poster mentioned, although they are different i try to never word it in a way that suggests that one is easier to get along with or deal with that the other. they are individuals and i cherish their differences.

- JM on November 16th, 2009

Spoken like a dad. Lighten up, it is cute that he actually knows what kind of personality the kids have, no matter how he words it.

- MaryAnne on November 16th, 2009

I think he is so funny.

- Karen on November 16th, 2009

He is funny. This is cracking me up.

- Why? on November 16th, 2009

Good for them getting out for a date night. It is soooo important!!! (My hubby and I need one! It’s been awhile!!) =)

- mmh on November 16th, 2009

I absolutely LOVE Jerry!
He is truly a success story of a child actor who has grown into a capable and functional adult!
What an awesome dad and husband!

- Mrs. R. on November 16th, 2009

I don’t think anyone was criticizing how Jerry worded his comments here, even though he has been criticized in the past. Maybe that’s why he declined to say which twin has which personality.

- Terri on November 16th, 2009

He’s funny. I have a more “spirited” child, and most of the other babies her age (that I know personally) are the more mellow type of kid. I happen to like my daughter’s spunk. During the first 4 months, it wasn’t fun, because she basically screamed all day long, but now it’s great. She’s smart, inquisitive, active. While other babies may be content to just sit around all day, she wants to be constantly exploring, and I think it’s pretty cool. I can see the mellow baby having it’s perks too, but I’m happy with my spunky girl

Also, I’m coming to realize that I am a total oddball amongst parents, because I never like doing anything without my daughter. The few times my husband has forced me to do baby-free activities, I’ve been miserable, so now our policy is that we do everything with her. All my friends with babies think I’m weird, and I’m coming to realize that I may be every time I read about people enjoying baby-free time. Ahh well… I’m okay with being weird.

- mrsh on November 16th, 2009

Mrsh, I agree with you. I have a 10-month-old daughter, and my husband and I have yet to have a dinner out alone or a date night without her. I just refuse to leave her. He always offers up his mother as a babysitter, which is a bit of a sore spot in and of itself, so I always refuse. I’m going to have my first outing without her in a few weeks, which is probably going to be very hard for me. A friend and I are going out to eat and then are going to see New Moon in the theater. Yes, I admit it! My husband will have to put her to bed, which is what I do every night, and to miss even one night of holding her and reading to her, will probably make me cry.

So, you’re not alone in your weirdness, mrsh!

- Jessica on November 19th, 2009

I have fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, and like Jerry’s, mine have totally different personalities too! Haha, one even has more hair than the other. I supposed it’s less odd to see differences among twins of the opposite sex, but its amazing to me that they spent 9 months in my womb and have much different temperaments!

- Kathleen on November 23rd, 2009