Josh Brolin Recalls When Dad James Brolin Fed the Family His Pet Pig: It Was a 'Horrible' Surprise

Mar. 15, 2025

Josh Brolinis sharing a troubling story from his childhood.During Brolin’s appearance on the Nov. 20 episode of theIn Depth with Graham Bensingerinterview series, the actor, 56, recalled when fatherJames Brolinonce slaughtered and fed their family a pig that Josh had been raising — and only told Josh he was eating his own pet midway through the meal.“Did he tell you the pig story? What a [expletive],” Josh said, when interviewer Bensinger prompted him and implied James, 84, once told him the story. “God, man. I don’t know what — my dad, oh my dad tells stories.““So this story of me raising pigs — this is a horrible story, man — me raising pigs. Oink and Snort, those were their names,” Josh continued. “And I helped raise these pigs and we’re eating dinner one night — it’s amazing to me that he would tell you this story, it makes him look so bad — he said, ‘Guess what you’re eating.’ I said, ‘What?’ He said ‘either Oink or Snort.’ “TheDune: Part Twostar did not specify how old he was when the incident happened, but he said he remains confused why his father, aGolden GlobeandEmmy Award-winning actor, chose to feed Josh his own pig.Jane Cameron Agee, Josh Brolin, and James Brolin.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty"I was like ‘What?’ And he went, ‘That’s what we’re eating, that’s who we slaughtered,’ " Josh added. “I was like ‘Why would you tell a kid that?’ It makes no sense. Why would you tell your kid that with any semblance of celebration? Or was he just looking to have an impact? I think he was looking to have an impact.“Josh is the son of James and Jane Cameron Agee, the latter of whom was a casting director in Hollywood. James and Jane, who split in 1984, also shared a daughter, Jess Brolin. Jane died in a car crash at 55 in 1995, and James later marriedBarbra Streisandin 1998.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.While Josh and James have a close relationship as adults, Josh said during his interview with Bensinger that he simply felt James was trying to make an impression on him, “whether it’s a negative impact or not.“James Brolin and Josh Brolin.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty"I can break it down to being mad, because I can’t imagine saying that to my kid,” thefather of fouradded. “It doesn’t even — it’s nowhere in my universe to say that to a kid. Why would you?“James clarified during the interview that he and Josh have talked about “the pig story.” “But my dad’s an interesting — not to reveal too much — but my dad’s an interesting guy in that he’s super friendly, but there’s a stop sign,” he said. “It’s like before you get on the freeway the red light, you’re ready to go … and the light never turns.”

Josh Brolinis sharing a troubling story from his childhood.

During Brolin’s appearance on the Nov. 20 episode of theIn Depth with Graham Bensingerinterview series, the actor, 56, recalled when fatherJames Brolinonce slaughtered and fed their family a pig that Josh had been raising — and only told Josh he was eating his own pet midway through the meal.

“Did he tell you the pig story? What a [expletive],” Josh said, when interviewer Bensinger prompted him and implied James, 84, once told him the story. “God, man. I don’t know what — my dad, oh my dad tells stories.”

“So this story of me raising pigs — this is a horrible story, man — me raising pigs. Oink and Snort, those were their names,” Josh continued. “And I helped raise these pigs and we’re eating dinner one night — it’s amazing to me that he would tell you this story, it makes him look so bad — he said, ‘Guess what you’re eating.’ I said, ‘What?’ He said ‘either Oink or Snort.’ "

TheDune: Part Twostar did not specify how old he was when the incident happened, but he said he remains confused why his father, aGolden GlobeandEmmy Award-winning actor, chose to feed Josh his own pig.

Jane Cameron Agee, Josh Brolin, and James Brolin.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty

“I was like ‘What?’ And he went, ‘That’s what we’re eating, that’s who we slaughtered,’ " Josh added. “I was like ‘Why would you tell a kid that?’ It makes no sense. Why would you tell your kid that with any semblance of celebration? Or was he just looking to have an impact? I think he was looking to have an impact.”

Josh is the son of James and Jane Cameron Agee, the latter of whom was a casting director in Hollywood. James and Jane, who split in 1984, also shared a daughter, Jess Brolin. Jane died in a car crash at 55 in 1995, and James later marriedBarbra Streisandin 1998.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

While Josh and James have a close relationship as adults, Josh said during his interview with Bensinger that he simply felt James was trying to make an impression on him, “whether it’s a negative impact or not.”

James Brolin and Josh Brolin.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

“I can break it down to being mad, because I can’t imagine saying that to my kid,” thefather of fouradded. “It doesn’t even — it’s nowhere in my universe to say that to a kid. Why would you?”

James clarified during the interview that he and Josh have talked about “the pig story.” “But my dad’s an interesting — not to reveal too much — but my dad’s an interesting guy in that he’s super friendly, but there’s a stop sign,” he said. “It’s like before you get on the freeway the red light, you’re ready to go … and the light never turns.”

source: people.com