Eric Clapton, a three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and 17-time Grammy winner, has built a family story marked by both tragedy and quiet resilience while keeping his children largely out of the spotlight.
At a Glance
- Clapton has five children: Ruth, 41; Julie Rose, 24; Ella May, 23; Sophie Belle, 20; and the late Conor, who died in 1991
- Daughter Ruth was kept secret from his first wife Pattie Boyd until after Conor’s death
- His song “Tears in Heaven” was inspired by Conor’s death
- Why it matters: The rock icon’s private life reveals how fatherhood shaped his music and personal recovery
The Secret Daughter
Ruth Clapton, born January 12, 1985, remained hidden from public knowledge for years. Clapton fathered her with Yvonne Kelly while still married to Pattie Boyd. The girl’s existence stayed concealed until after Conor’s 1991 death.
In his 2007 autobiography, Clapton described how Ruth helped him process grief: “Yvonne knew that [being close to Ruth] would help and it was true. I was able to hold a child again, and to be held by a child. 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.”
Father and daughter became estranged during her adult years before reconciling prior to her 2021 divorce from Dean Bartlett. Ruth now raises two children, Isaac Eric Owen and Theodore Ivan, and shares family moments on Instagram alongside fashion content.
The Three Youngest Daughters
Clapton’s three youngest daughters arrived with second wife Melia McEnery. Julie Rose Clapton entered the world on June 13, 2001, followed by Ella May Clapton on January 14, 2003, and Sophie Belle Clapton on February 1, 2005.
Julie studied fine arts at Rhode Island School of Design and now works as a fiber artist in Brooklyn, weaving, knitting, and natural dyeing. Ella attends The University of Newcastle, pursuing sociology after stints as a waitress, receptionist, and junior associate at PR firm Global Prairie. She dates Jude Fry, heir to the British chocolate company Fry’s, as confirmed by social media posts celebrating birthdays and travels to New York and Japan.
Sophie maintains the lowest profile, avoiding public online presence. Her father honored all three girls with the 2006 song “Three Little Girls,” co-written with J.J. Cale: “Julie Rose and Ella May / Sophie Belle, you came to stay / You take my breath away / My three little girls.”
The Son Who Inspired ‘Tears in Heaven’
Conor Clapton, born August 21, 1986 to Italian television personality Lory Del Santo, died at age four after falling 49 stories from an open window in New York City on March 20, 1991. A housekeeper had left the window open for cleaning.
Clapton recalled learning the news: “I remember putting the phone down and calmly walking from my hotel [in N.Y.C.] to that place as if nothing happened. And I walked past the street and, this is a terrible thing of shame for me, which I’ll never, ever perhaps recover from and seeing that, seeing a crowd of people and a paramedic van and knowing that he was there [trying to be resuscitated] and walking by, 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 tragedy inspired “Tears in Heaven,” one of Clapton’s most beloved songs that resonated with fans worldwide.
Key Takeaways
- Clapton’s five children span four decades, each carrying a different chapter of his life
- The secrecy surrounding Ruth and the loss of Conor shaped his approach to fatherhood
- His younger daughters maintain creative and academic pursuits while staying largely out of the public eye
- Through joy and heartbreak, Clapton’s family experiences have directly influenced his music legacy
