Kyle MacLachlan and Son Callum: From Cringe to Creative Collaboration
Veteran actor Kyle MacLachlan, celebrated for iconic roles from Agent Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks to Trey MacDougal in Sex and the City, has cultivated a surprising second act on TikTok. Now, at 66, he’s not just embracing the platform; he’s actively collaborating with an unexpected, yet essential, stylist: his 17-year-old son, Callum. This unique father-son dynamic recently played out in a viral video, highlighting a heartwarming evolution from teenage “cringe” to shared creative endeavor.
MacLachlan first ventured onto the short-form video platform five years ago, building a devoted following by blending nostalgic nods to his extensive career with contemporary, often humorous, content. With a finger firmly on the pulse of internet culture, the actor has shown a willingness to step outside his comfort zone and get “silly,” garnering a significant online presence.
A Son’s Stylist Eye: The Viral Jeans Moment
The latest chapter in his TikTok journey unfolded in June, when MacLachlan envisioned a dance sequence set to Lorde’s track “What Was That.” To fully embody the desired aesthetic, he realized he needed a specific wardrobe — one far removed from his usual attire and strikingly similar to his son’s cutting-edge style. This led him directly to Callum, his son with wife Desiree Gruber, who, it turns out, is a skilled creator of contemporary fashion.
“I said I needed a kind of a pant or something,” MacLachlan recounted to PEOPLE earlier this year, detailing how Callum “sews stuff” and “makes the pants that the kids wear — listen to me — that the kids wear today.” The request resulted in a pair of wide-leg, distressed “baggy” jeans, custom-fitted by Callum himself. “He did the wardrobe for me for the video,” the Dune star proudly shared.
The ensemble, perfectly suited for MacLachlan’s frolicking dance, was an instant hit. The TikTok comments section erupted with praise, with one user declaring, “the baggy jeans go hard diva,” a sentiment MacLachlan enthusiastically liked. Another comment celebrated his transformation, stating he dressed “like the cool kid in high school.” MacLachlan himself admitted to PEOPLE, “I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, these actually look pretty good, you know?’… ‘Well, maybe I’ll start wearing baggy pants.'”
Beyond the Jeans: A Shared Wardrobe
Beyond the now-famous jeans, Callum’s closet has become a regular resource for his dad’s online escapades. The Portlandia alum revealed that he’s also “borrowed” items like a pair of glasses and a hoodie from his son’s curated collection. “He’s got an exceptional fashion sense,” MacLachlan affirmed, emphasizing Callum’s “very specific” and “cutting edge” style.
From “Cringe Dad Post” to Collaborative Bond
This sartorial assistance marks a significant shift in Callum’s perception of his father’s internet fame. Just three years prior, in 2021, a then 12-year-old Callum candidly expressed his “embarrassment” over his dad’s TikToks. “He says ‘Dad, please don’t.’ Once in a while he’ll give me a thumbs-up but more often than not it’s the cringe Dad post,” MacLachlan joked at the time.
However, MacLachlan notes a newfound acceptance. “He’s been a little more accepting, I think,” he told PEOPLE in June. “He’s pretty good actually.” The actor further explained that Callum now navigates school interactions with ease when classmates comment on his dad’s videos, with feedback “usually positive.” This evolution from a “cringe Dad post” to a collaborative fashion partnership underscores a delightful and modern father-son bond, proving that even Hollywood icons can find their freshest style inspiration right at home.
