Josh Duhamel has traded the glitz of Hollywood for the tranquility of rural Minnesota, embracing an off-grid lifestyle he meticulously crafted over fifteen years. The actor, now 52, relocated from Los Angeles and built a secluded home deep within the woods, a space designed to offer respite from the demands of his career.
“A key reason I constructed my place out here in Minnesota is that it provides distance – a genuine separation from everything,” Duhamel shared with Parade.
He emphasized the remoteness of the location: “The nearest store is forty miles away, which means we really rely on each other—making memories, spending quality time with family and friends.”
Duhamel has openly attributed his divorce from Fergie, in part, to the pressures of Hollywood. He suggests that the industry can be draining.
“Hollywood can suck the soul out of you if you’re not careful,” he remarked.
The home is a haven for Duhamel, his wife Audra Mari, and their one-year-old son Sheperd. His eleven-year-old son Axl, from his previous marriage to Fergie, also enjoys the property. It’s a place where childhood memories are being forged away from screens and closer to nature.
“My son will have lasting memories of this place,” Duhamel said proudly. “He’s not on an iPad when he’s out here; instead, he’s in a boat with me, playing soccer on the beach, or exploring the woods.”
Duhamel envisions passing down this legacy to future generations.
- “I hope to share it with them someday so they can experience and pass it on to their own children.”
- “It’s not just about having all the amenities and luxuries we become accustomed to; it’s truly about family and creating a lasting legacy.”
In a 2023 interview with “In Depth with Graham Bensinger,” Duhamel expressed his longstanding discomfort within Hollywood. He described feeling out of place, yearning for the simplicity of his true self.
“I never quite felt comfortable in that world. There was just too much going on. I missed the straightforwardness of who I really am.”
His career began with modeling and a role on “All My Children,” gaining wider recognition through “Las Vegas.” He cemented his stardom as Colonel William Lennox in the “Transformers” franchise, yet despite this success, he sought a different path.
Duhamel acknowledged that his approach to fame differed from Fergie’s leading to their eventual split after eight years of marriage and a finalized divorce in 2019.
“We had a wonderful time together, but I think we simply evolved separately, developing distinct interests,” he reflected.
He emphasized the amicable nature of their parting:
“I’m incredibly fortunate that she is such a kind person; I truly mean that.”
