Matthew Broderick: Back Surgery ‘Hard to Explain’ to the Twins

Dara Kushner/INF

Matthew Broderick is officially on the mend.

After undergoing back surgery, the actor admits he’s feeling better — but the recovery time is already taking a toll on Tabitha and Loretta, his 2-year-old fraternal twin daughters with wife Sarah Jessica Parker.

“I’m not allowed to pick them up for awhile and it’s hard to explain,” Broderick, 49, told PEOPLE at the Showtime and Cinema Society’s premiere of Homeland in East Hampton on Saturday.

“But they’re pretty good about it. They got it very quickly. I keep telling them, ‘I’ll be back…’”

And it won’t be long before the girls can express their own opinions, reveals the doting dad.

“They are into talking, saying every new word,” Broderick says. ”They repeat everything a lot of times. Their ‘R’s and ‘L’s are not so good, but that will come.”

Meanwhile, James Wilkie, 8½, is in far better shape than his famous father.

“He likes to take tennis in sports camp,” says Broderick, adding his son‘s goal isn’t to better his skills. ”There is a girl and on the tennis court they actually just take out their Bey Blades and play … they don’t give a damn about tennis.”

– Jeffrey Slonim

Comments

Wishing Mathew a speedy recovery. I was wondering why he looked so uncomfortable in the picture & back surgery explains it all.

- jess on August 16th, 2011

I didn’t know he had had back surgery.

- eribri on August 16th, 2011

‘R’ and ‘L’ are two of the hardest sounds to gain…it’s all developmental…it’ll come to them! Glad to hear they are doing good and he’s back on the mend…I didn’t even know he had surgery! Doesn’t surprise me we didn’t know, he’s very private!

- Stacey on August 16th, 2011

eribri: Matthew said he meant to call you and tell you about his surgery but then he realized he does not know you.

- Joelle on August 16th, 2011

LOL at Joelle. But eribri, if it makes you feel any better I didnt know he had surgery either! You would have thought we’d read it in the news somewhere. Seems like TMZ reports everytime Lindsay Lohan belches.

- Leo on August 16th, 2011

I thought one of the twins was names Marion. Im confused lol

- Me on August 16th, 2011

Little ones just don’t understand why Daddy can’t pick them up. I remember my oldest having a huge problem with not carrying him all over the place when I was pregnant with my own twins. He would say “I won’t hurt the babies, I promise”.

Get well soon Matthew and I hope you are having as much fun with your three as I am with mine!

- dawn on August 16th, 2011

..This is why it sucks when celebrities call their kids by their middle names…..explaining constantly.

Me – Loretta’s name is actually Marion Loretta, but she goes by Loretta only.

- Brooke on August 16th, 2011

Matthew and Sarah have the reputation of keeping their private lives private, and it’s refreshing to see. You never read anything unflattering about them, and they are obviously taking marriage and parenthood seriously. Congrats to them on their beautiful daughters and son (obviously already a charmer LOL), and best wishes to Matthew on a speedy and complete recovery.

- Cinder Lou on August 16th, 2011

Joelle’s comment is the best part of the article. Ha ha!

- janedoe on August 16th, 2011

Oh that sad but I hope you get better soon Matt.

- KS on August 17th, 2011

Get Well Ferris!

- Jackie on August 17th, 2011

Awww..I love them both..he still looks boyish at 49..hope he recovers soon so he can pick them up.

LOL…some of these comments are hilarious!

- akri on August 17th, 2011