Shia LaBeouf has had a very successful career, but sadly, it's been greatly marred by issues with his personal behavior and troubling personal issues. He has most certainly made a name for himself in Hollywood and has a stellar repertoire depicting his incredible talents as an actor. He has worked alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names, and there is absolutely no question about the fact that he's skilled at his job.
The unfortunate thing is that he has made an equal splash on the headlines for his troubled family life and outlandish behavior, which many have traced back to the tumultuous, abusive relationship he has with his father. With his mental health in question, and his physical altercations under the microscope, fans are drawing parallels between the man that Shia is today, and the relationship he has with his father, Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf.
10 Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf Is A Fugitive
In spite of being active on social media, Jeffrey Craig lives a largely private life, and that's due to the fact that he is a wanted fugitive. Amomama has revealed that he has been on the run from U.S. authorities since 2013.
It was at that time that Jeffrey is known to have refused to register as a convicted sex offender, meaning he was in direct violation of his court orders. By refusing to register, the authorities had a warrant out for his arrest, and to this day, he remains in an undisclosed location.
9 Jeffrey Was An Abusive Father
By all accounts provided to the press by both Shia LaBeouf and by Jeffrey himself, Jeffrey was an abusive father that failed to raise his son in a healthy environment.
According to Gen, "his approach to fatherhood consisted of raising his son in a squalid motel; subjecting him to emotional and psychological (and borderline physical) abuse; tormenting him with erratic tirades on the finer points of juggling and other comedic techniques, and once threatening physical harm to a Disney Channel production liaison."
Jeffrey fought in the Vietnam war, and Shia doesn't believe he was ever quite the same after that.
8 Jeffrey's Artistic Side Shines Through
As troubled as he is, Jeffrey LaBeouf has an artistic flare and sees that very same talent in his son. He has a great appreciation for art in various forms, and now, even in his older age, he applies this passion in many forms.
He has worked as a clown for much of his life and has also explored the world of poetry and become a passionate painter. He is currently teaching art classes on a daily basis.
He has indicated that clowning has been one of the most impactful influences on his life, and he is proud of the fact that he has been a circus clown, theater clown, rodeo clown and even a street clown in his day.
7 Jeffrey Did Time In Jail And Has A Serious Criminal Record
Referencing Jeffrey as being abusive isn't just a statement made in passing. Shia's father has a long standing history of violent and dangerous behavior that is visible by way of his criminal record.
In 1981 alone, he was charged with kidnapping, as well as assault with a deadly weapon.
That very same year, he attended court to clear up a previous criminal charge of a very serious nature. He was convicted of attempted rape of a minor - an incident that he doesn't even recall participating in, stating that at the time it was alleged he partook in this crime, he was using illegal substances and was "blackout drunk."
He served time in jail for the attempted rape charge, to which he entered the plea of "no contest," since he had no memory of the incident whatsoever.
6 Alcoholism And Addiction Ran Rampant For Father And Son
Alcoholism and addiction seems to run rampant in the LaBeouf family. Jeffrey admits that his parents were both alcoholics and has revealed that in addition to having issues with booze, his mother would also pop pills.
He has also admitted that seeking help through AA was one of his biggest achievements, and that this was a necessary step in reclaiming his relationship with Shia. Perhaps not so shockingly, Shia has also struggled with alcoholism and substance abuse, and the cycle seems to have continued throughout his life.
5 Jeffrey LaBeouf Describes 'Reparation' Between Himself And Shia
During an interview, Gen states that Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf gave a candid depiction of where his relationship with Shia stands today. He called their father/son bond a state of "reparation" and went on to describe it by using the analogy of a flat tire. He stated that; "If you have a flat tire, you’re going to repair that tire before you go anywhere. That’s reparation. That’s what Shia and I have gone through in our relationship. "
He went on to state that redemption is between him and God, and that he doesn't believe anything he does in this lifetime will ever clear him of his sins.
4 Shia Financially Supported His Father At A Young Age
Sadly, Shia was forced to grow up very early on in life, and much of his childhood was lost. His father was such a mess due to his issues with alcohol and addiction, that Shia quickly became the man of the house and began paying for his father's lifestyle by using the income earned through his acting career.
When Shia was working on the set of Even Stevens, his parents were also on set with him. At that very young age, Shia was earning $800 a week and handing over enough money to pay for his parents rent. He supported them to such a degree that Jeffrey recalls himself having an cigarette addiction at the time, and stated that Shia even funded his smoking habit. Shia then went on to eventually purchase a home for his mother, a home for his father, and a motorcycle for his dad, as well.
3 Jeffrey Is Proud Of Shia's Success
Jeffrey and Shia remain in a clouded space, with Jeffrey still touting his son as being successful rather than addressing his serious run ins with the law or his obvious mental breakdowns in front of the public sphere. He easily shrugs off the abusive and neglectful past by putting the focus on the fact that Shia went on to be a millionaire at the age of 18. To Jeffrey, Shia's successful career is evidence enough that "everything is ok," and he sweeps the rest of the details under the rug.
After declaring how proud he is of his son, Amomama quotes Jeffrey as saying; "Shia can be a bada--. He has that ability. But he is the sweetest, kindest soul. He’s a wonderful person who went through some s--t. I mean, he went through some s--t. And now he’s stepping into some amazing s--t."
2 Jeffrey And Shia Were Estranged For Years
Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf and Shia LaBeouf have been on-again, off-again with their relationship. The two have found peace and forgiveness and have also defaulted back to being estranged. The tug of war has continued well into Shia's adulthood.
In 2010, the two were so estranged from one another that Jeffrey was not in attendance at Shia's wedding to Mia Goth.
Shia and his father worked together on the movie Honey Boy, which is foundationally about their troubled past and admits that this helped to reunite them again, in spite of admitting that their relationship remains "complicated."
1 Shia Maintains He Greatly Respects His Father
Shia recognizes that the war left his father very psychologically damaged, and that his childhood was far from being a normal one. Yet, he states he still has a profound level of respect for his father. He also says he has learned a lot from his father. Amomama quotes Shia as saying: "My dad handed me a lot, and his legacy was an emotional one. And it wasn't scarring. He handed me texture. My dad blessed me that way."