Richard Dreyfuss’ son Ben is opening up about his family’s “complicated” relationship with the Oscar-winning actor.
The former Mother Jones reporter, 39, took to social media last week to claim that he and his siblings, Emily and Harry Dreyfuss, have been “estranged” from the 78-year-old “Jaws” star following an incident that occurred several years ago.
Richard welcomed his three children with ex-wife Jeramie Rain before the pair’s 1995 divorce.
Richard Dreyfuss at the premiere of “Waltzing with Brando” in Los Angeles, California, on Sept. 15, 2025. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
Ben and Richard Dreyfuss at the DGA Theater in Los Angeles, California, on Aug. 8, 2013. Frazer Harrison
“Everyone assumes my siblings and I are wealthy from our dad and we’re all a bit too uncomfortable to make it clear, but we have no money from my dad,” Ben wrote in a since-deleted tweet on Nov. 13, per USA Today.
“My dad has no money,” he continued. “If he did, we wouldn’t get it since we’ve been estranged ever since some complicated family drama to do with MeToo.”
He claimed that the “complicated family drama” stemmed from his younger brother’s sexual assault allegations against Kevin Spacey, which Harry, now 35, detailed in a Buzzfeed essay in November 2017 and which Spacey has denied.
Richard Dreyfuss and his family attend the premiere of “Paradise Road” at the AMPAS Theater in Beverly Hills, California, on April 4, 1997. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Richard Dreyfuss and his family at the premiere of “High Fidelity” at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, on March 28, 2000. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Ben said that he shared a post in support of Harry from their father’s Twitter account, which he believes led an unnamed woman to come forward with her own sexual assault allegations against the “American Graffiti” star.
“That tweet prompted someone to MeToo my dad. He blames us for that,” Ben wrote in his since-deleted tweet. “This led to years of acrimony.”
However, Ben has since taken to his Substack blog to make additional claims about his family’s estrangement from their famous father and to share the most recent email exchange he’s had with the Oscar winner.
Ben Dreyfuss explained why he and his siblings no longer speak with their father. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Ben claims Richard Dreyfuss blames the kids for triggering a woman to come forward with sexual assault allegations against him. Frazer Harrison
“You’ve possibly already seen this in the papers, but I don’t talk to my dad anymore,” he wrote on Monday. “It’s easy to write that like it’s nothing, but it’s been sitting in my head like a monster for years.”
“The simplest way to own this is to show you the last email exchange I had with him – the last one he actually responded to,” Ben continued. “I’ve sent plenty since, but he hasn’t replied.”
As for the email, it appeared to have been from Ben to Richard sometime following a tense family dinner in San Francisco in 2022.
Richard and Ben Dreyfuss during the premiere of the ABC miniseries “Madoff” on Jan. 27, 2016. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
After apologizing for “screaming at each other” over “a completely separate tangent over who is to blame for what,” Ben received a mostly all-caps response from his father regarding money, Ben, and his sister Emily.
“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,” the “Goodbye Girl” actor wrote in what his son said was their last correspondence.
Richard Dreyfuss during the premiere of “Waltzing with Brando” at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, on Sept. 15, 2025. JAST / BACKGRID
Ben ended his Substack post by clarifying that he still “loves” his dad.
“I love my father. I have always loved him. I think he’s better than this email,” he concluded. “But it’s been two years, and this appears to be the last email I’m ever going to get from him, so f–k it.”
Emily Dreyfuss, 42, weighed in on her brother’s claim with a social media post of her own on Tuesday.
Richard Dreyfuss with his children Emily and Ben at the 68th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on March 25, 1996. Penske Media via Getty Images
Richard, Emily and Ben Dreyfuss at the 68th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on March 25, 1996. Penske Media via Getty Images
“Ever since we became estranged from our dad, it’s been nearly impossible for me to write,” she wrote on X Tuesday. “For the first time, the thing most on my mind was something I couldn’t talk about.”
“Ben and I have different experiences of this sadness,” Emily added, “but I’m relieved it’s finally out in the open now.”
The Post has reached out to Richard Dreyfuss’ reps for comment.