View gallery
Image Credit: Gene Reed
With her outstanding ability, Barbra Streisand has truly shaped the musical landscape. However, the vocalist’s professional life isn’t the sole thing she can take pride in. She’s also a loving parent to her sole offspring, her son Jason Gould, from her marriage to former spouse, Elliott Gould.
Even with a very recognizable mother, Jason tends to avoid fame. “I kind of enjoy staying away from the cameras,” he mentioned to People back in 2017. Still, he has experienced a bit of time under the spotlight, having been exposed to the entertainment scene at a young age.
Read on to discover more about Jason.
Barbra Streisand Has One Child
Jason and Barbra at an event. (Getty Images)
Barbra and her previous husband Elliott welcomed Jason on December 29, 1966, prior to their separation in 1971. The famed “Evergreen” singer acknowledged it was a surprise when she learned of her pregnancy, as she had believed she was unable to conceive.
“The announcement came as quite a shock. I had genuinely thought for years that something was amiss with me since I had never conceived. It seemed like having a baby was something other women did, not me,” she penned in her autobiography, My Name Is Barbra.
Jason Gould Acted as a Child
Being born to a mother who was well-known globally, Jason proceeded to explore acting. His initial role was in the 1972 motion picture Up the Sandbox. Afterward, he paused acting before featuring in one episode of The Bronx Zoo in 1988. He continued to star in other films and television programs, such as 1989’s Say Anything… and alongside his mother in 1991’s The Prince of Tides.
“As a kid, I couldn’t step outside without paparazzi confronting us,” Jason revealed to SF Gate in 2000, discussing some of his performances. “I don’t enjoy cameras flashing in my face. It feels like an assault. That’s partially why I’ve kept a low profile [since The Prince of Tides]. I truly dislike that sort of focus; I’m not fond of fame and its implications. I grew up surrounded by it.”
Jason Gould Revealed His Sexuality to His Parents in the 1980s
Jason with his dad, Elliott. (Getty Images)
Jason informed his parents he was gay in the 1980s and voiced his opinion after a publication alleged he had married a man in 1991. “It struck me as incredibly absurd that they could invent a story like that and say they had viewed snapshots of my nuptials with a man,” he told SFGate. “Then, they went ahead and published this story even though I denied it.”
“I was never keeping my sexual orientation a secret,” he added. “I never felt the necessity to come out because I never felt as if I was in, you know? I’m quite at peace with my sexuality.”
Jason Gould Began Singing in 2012
Jason accompanied his mom during her 2012 tour and performed “How Deep in the Ocean.” Performing before thousands of her supporters was a surprise to him. “I truthfully questioned whether I was up to it,” he told PEOPLE. “I had never sung in front of anyone, so transitioning from nothing to approximately 18,000 people was quite daunting.”
Barbra also commended her son’s vocal skills in a 2014 conversation with PEOPLE. “Around age 15, I overheard him from behind the door and remarked that the humming possessed such a lovely quality,” she recounted. “He responded, ‘Mom, just leave me alone!’ Imagine having such a gorgeous voice and refraining from using it due to fears of being compared [with me]. But he then mentioned, ‘My need for self-expression outweighed my fears.’ That requires bravery.”
Jason Gould Has Put Out His Own Music
Jason launched a self-titled extended play in 2012 and a record titled Dangerous Man in 2017. He has also participated in a number of musical collaborations, including some alongside Barbra. His most recent single, “Laws of Desire,” premiered on January 26, 2024. He also released an official music video, as showcased above.
“Music carries incredible healing power,” Jason once stated. “It resonates with the soul. Numerous individuals have discovered acceptance and a sense of community through music. So, without a doubt — ultimately, that’s all that matters to me.”