Josh Duhamel’s 12-Year-Old Son Axl Is Almost as Tall as His Dad in Rare Family Photo

Josh Duhamel’s son Axl is growing up quickly, and a recent family outing offered fans a striking reminder of just how much the 12-year-old has changed.

The actor, known for his roles in Transformers and Safe Haven, recently spent a fun-filled day at Universal Studios Hollywood with his family. Among those joining him were his wife, Audra Mari, their young son Shepard, and Axl, Josh’s son with his former wife, singer Fergie.

One detail from the family photo immediately caught people’s attention: Axl is now nearly as tall as his famous father.

The picture, taken on Aug. 26 near the recognizable Universal Studios globe at the entrance of the theme park, showed Josh standing beside his older son while holding toddler Shepard in his arms. Audra stood nearby, completing the family moment.

At 53, Josh looked relaxed in a simple white V-neck shirt paired with black shorts. Axl, meanwhile, wore a black T-shirt with matching shorts and stood almost shoulder-to-shoulder with his father. His height was a clear sign that the young teenager is rapidly entering a new stage of life.

Audra, 32, kept her look casual as well, wearing a loose green T-shirt. Two-year-old Shepard looked comfortable in a waffle-textured outfit while being carried by his dad.

The outing also highlighted the blended family dynamic that Josh and Fergie have worked to maintain since ending their marriage.

Josh and Fergie, whose real name is Stacy Ann Ferguson, announced their separation in 2017. Their divorce was officially completed two years later. Despite going their separate ways romantically, the former couple have continued to prioritize Axl and have made an effort to maintain a positive relationship as co-parents.

Josh has spoken publicly about how grateful he is that the arrangement has worked so well.

During an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Show in September 2023, the actor praised Fergie and described her as an exceptional person. He also acknowledged that she has welcomed Audra into their family dynamic, something that could have been much more difficult under different circumstances.

“Fergie is an amazing woman,” Josh said at the time, emphasizing how much he respects his former partner.

According to Josh, Fergie’s attitude has played an important role in creating a healthy environment for everyone involved. Rather than allowing the past to create tension, she has embraced the people who are now part of Axl’s life.

Josh previously admitted that he did not know exactly how their relationship would develop after the divorce. Maintaining a friendly relationship with an ex-partner can be complicated, particularly when both people eventually enter new relationships and build separate families.

However, he credits Fergie’s generous personality for helping make their situation work.

Josh explained that Fergie is naturally compassionate and has shown genuine affection toward Audra. He said she has been supportive of his relationship with Audra and appears genuinely happy for the couple.

The actor described the relationship between the families as remarkably peaceful, saying they have managed to create a very civil co-parenting arrangement.

That mutual respect appears to go both ways. Fergie has also spoken positively about her relationship with Josh following their separation.

In a 2017 interview with PEOPLE, the singer said that she and Josh remained good friends despite deciding to end their marriage. She explained that their relationship had reached a point where remaining together romantically no longer felt right.

Fergie acknowledged that there is rarely a perfect moment to make a major personal decision. Rather than waiting for an ideal time that might never come, the couple ultimately decided that separating was the right choice for them.

While their marriage ended, their commitment to Axl remained a shared priority.

As Axl has grown older, both of his parents have occasionally offered fans glimpses into his life. Fergie, in particular, has shared heartfelt messages about watching her son develop his own personality and become increasingly independent.

In an Instagram post last August, the singer expressed how proud she was of the young person Axl is becoming. She highlighted his growing independence and described him as a kindhearted person.

For Fergie, seeing Axl discover his interests and develop his own identity has been an especially meaningful experience. Like many parents, she appears to be enjoying each stage of his childhood while recognizing that he is quickly approaching his teenage years.

The recent Universal Studios outing is another rare public glimpse of Axl, who has largely grown up away from the constant spotlight surrounding his parents.

Although Josh and Fergie are both major celebrities, they have generally kept their son’s life relatively private. That makes family photographs such as the recent one particularly interesting to fans, especially when they reveal how much Axl has grown.

The latest image is also a reminder that Josh’s family has continued to evolve. Since marrying Audra, Josh has welcomed another child, Shepard, while maintaining a close relationship with Axl.

The family outing shows the children growing up in a blended household where relationships between parents, stepparents and siblings appear to be based on mutual respect and affection.

Axl’s increasing height may have been the most noticeable detail in the photograph, but the bigger story is the family bond behind it. From Josh’s supportive comments about Fergie to Fergie’s positive relationship with Audra, the adults have worked to create a stable environment for their children.

Over the years, fans have also seen occasional photographs documenting Axl’s journey from childhood into his teenage years.

Back in 2016, when Axl was still much younger, he appeared alongside Josh and Fergie at a Pandora Summer Crush event in Los Angeles. The family posed together for photographs, offering fans a glimpse of the couple and their young son during their marriage.

The following year, Axl was photographed with his mother at a SiriusXM Studios event in New York. At the time, he was still a little boy accompanying Fergie on a public appearance.

Those older photographs provide an interesting contrast to the latest family snapshot. Axl has gone from being a small child appearing beside his celebrity parents to a nearly teenage boy who is now approaching his father’s height.

His rapid growth is especially noticeable next to Josh, who stands well over six feet tall. If Axl continues growing at his current rate, it may not be long before he is taller than his dad.

For now, however, the father-and-son photo captures a special moment in time. Josh appears to be enjoying watching Axl grow into his own person, while the family continues to make memories together.

From theme-park adventures to milestone celebrations and heartfelt social media messages, Axl’s childhood has been marked by the love and support of both of his parents.

As he moves further into his teenage years, fans will likely continue to be fascinated by how quickly he is growing and how much he resembles the famous people who raised him.

The latest family photo may have started conversations about Axl’s height, but it also offers a warm glimpse into the close-knit family Josh Duhamel, Fergie and their respective partners have created around him.