Meghan Trainor‘s husband, Daryl Sabara, is mourning the loss of his estranged father, Roland Sabara. The “Spy Kids” star, who has previously spoken candidly about growing up without a father, shared the heartbreaking news with fans in an emotional social media post on Friday. Sabara revealed that his father had passed away, despite the pair having only spent limited time together throughout his life.
The actor announced Roland’s death on Instagram alongside a rare photo of the two together.
“My Dad, Roland Sabara, passed away last night,” Sabara wrote. “We only saw each other a couple of times, and I will cherish those memories forever. I know he did the best he could, and I know he’s in a better place now.”
The touching tribute reflected the complicated nature of their relationship, which was marked by years of separation after Roland left the family when Sabara was still an infant.
The ‘Spy Kids’ Star Grew Up Without His Father
According to previous interviews, Sabara was just one year old when his father walked out, leaving his mother, Sandra “Sandy” Sabara, to raise him and his twin sibling as a single parent.
Despite the challenges, Sabara found success at an early age, landing the role of Juni Cortez in the blockbuster “Spy Kids” franchise alongside Alexa PenaVega. The films launched him into international stardom and helped establish him as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable child actors.
Over the years, Sabara has remained open about how his father’s absence shaped his outlook on family and parenthood.
Fatherhood Helped Daryl Sabara Heal
Long before Roland’s passing, Sabara spoke about how becoming a father helped him process his own childhood experiences. After welcoming his first son, Riley, with wife Meghan Trainor, the actor shared a heartfelt message reflecting on what parenthood meant to him.
“Growing up without a Dad…I didn’t know what starting a family would mean to me,” Sabara wrote in a social media post while Trainor was expecting their second child. “But I get to be the Dad I always wanted, and I’m loving every second [of] it.”
He later described fatherhood as both “cathartic” and an “existential experience,” explaining that raising his children gave him a new perspective after growing up without a father figure.
Today, Sabara and Trainor share three children together: Riley, 5, Barry, 2, and baby Mikey, who was born earlier this year via surrogate. “It wasn’t our first choice, but we had endless conversations with our doctors on this journey, and this was the safest way for us to be able to continue growing our family,” Trainor told PEOPLE regarding the decision to move forward with a surrogate. “We are forever grateful for that option.”
Meghan Trainor Recently Opened Up About Welcoming Daughter Mikey Via Surrogate
The Grammy winner also used the opportunity to speak out in support of surrogacy, encouraging people to view it as another valid way to build a family. “I want people to know that surrogacy is just another beautiful way to build a family. It’s not something to whisper about or judge. It’s rooted in trust, science, love, and teamwork,” she said. “Every family’s journey looks different, and all of them are extremely valid.”
Trainor went on to praise the woman who carried Mikey, describing her surrogate as “one of the most selfless, strong and loving people I’ve ever met.” “Our surrogate is one of the most selfless, strong and loving people I’ve ever met. We felt so connected throughout the entire journey, and I’ll always be grateful for the care and love she showed our daughter,” Trainor added. “She gave us the greatest gift of our lives.”
Family Loss Comes Months After Meghan Trainor Canceled Her Tour
The heartbreaking family news arrives just months after Trainor made the difficult decision to cancel her planned summer tour in order to focus on her family. At the time, the Grammy-winning singer explained that balancing a new album, a nationwide tour, and life with a newborn had become overwhelming.
“Balancing the release of a new album, preparing for a nationwide tour, and welcoming our new baby girl to our growing family of five has just been more than I can take on right now,” Trainor said. “I need to be home and present for each and all of them at this time.”
