At a Glance
- Eric Clapton fathered daughter Ruth in 1985 while married to Pattie Boyd, keeping the child secret for years
- The guitarist credits Ruth with helping him cope with the 1991 death of son Conor
- Clapton has five children total: Ruth, Julie Rose, Ella May, Sophie Belle, and late son Conor
- Why it matters: Offers rare insight into how Clapton’s hidden family life shaped his music and recovery from tragedy
Eric Clapton’s image as rock’s guitar god hides a complex family story. The 17-time Grammy winner quietly fathered a daughter during his first marriage, kept her existence hidden for years, and later leaned on that child to survive every parent’s worst nightmare.
The Secret Daughter
Ruth Clapton arrived on January 12, 1985, born to Yvonne Kelly while Clapton was still married to Pattie Boyd. The musician managed to keep Ruth’s birth a secret from his wife at the time.
The truth surfaced only after Conor, Clapton’s four-year-old son, died in 1991. In his 2007 memoir, Clapton credits Ruth with pulling him back from despair.
“Yvonne knew that [being close to Ruth] would help and it was true,” he wrote. “I was able to hold a child again, and to be held by a child.”
He added: “Ruth has been a tremendous support. I had no idea how much power a child could have on an adult life, how much it can make you feel valid, unique and strong.”
Rebuilding Bonds
Father and daughter grew close during her early years, then drifted apart. They reconciled before Ruth’s 2021 divorce from Dean Bartlett.
“I’ve gone through a really rough time,” Ruth told the Daily Mail. “I’m about to navigate my way through a divorce – a decision that neither of us has taken lightly.”
Today Ruth, 41, checks in regularly with her famous dad. “He’s doing really good, I’m very grateful for that. He’s itching to get back out there like all musicians,” she said.
She now raises two children, Isaac Eric Owen and Theodore Ivan, and posts fashion and family shots on Instagram.
The Second Family
Clapton married Melia McEnery in 2002. Together they had three daughters:
- Julie Rose Clapton, born June 13, 2001, studied fine arts at Rhode Island School of Design and works as a fiber artist in Brooklyn
- Ella May Clapton, born January 14, 2003, studies sociology at Newcastle University and dates Jude Fry, heir to the British chocolate fortune
- Sophie Belle Clapton, born February 1, 2005, stays out of the public eye
The proud dad immortalized the trio in song. “Three Little Girls,” released with J. J. Cale in 2006, includes the lyrics: “Julie Rose and Ella May / Sophie Belle, you came to stay / You take my breath away / My three little girls.”
The Loss That Changed Everything
Conor Clapton, born August 21, 1986, to Italian TV personality Lory Del Santo, died March 20, 1991, after falling 49 stories from an open window in New York. A housekeeper had left the pane unsecured after cleaning.
Clapton recalled the moment Del Santo delivered the news: “I remember putting the phone down and calmly walking from my hotel to that place as if nothing happened.”
He admitted the shame of walking past the scene: “I’ll punish myself forever about why didn’t I run? Why didn’t I go to see him? … the truth is I couldn’t. I was so frightened.”
The grief birthed “Tears in Heaven,” one of Clapton’s most enduring hits.
Key Takeaways
- Clapton’s secret daughter Ruth became a lifeline after Conor’s death
- The guitarist now maintains relationships with all four living children
- His later songwriting openly celebrates fatherhood after early secrecy
- Each child has carved a distinct path, from art to academics to motherhood
