Slipstream PR

Liv Tyler grew up believing one rock star was her father—until an Aerosmith concert at age 11 changed everything. Born Liv Rundgren on July 1, 1977, in New York City, she was the daughter of model and singer Bebe Buell. Around the time of her birth, Buell had been involved with musician Todd Rundgren, who signed the birth certificate and raised Liv as his own even though he knew there was a chance she was not biologically his. Her biological father was Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, with whom Buell had a brief relationship in 1976. At the time, Tyler was deep in drug addiction, and Buell chose to shield her daughter by letting her grow up as Todd’s child. Liv remained unaware of the truth for more than a decade. Everything shifted in August 1988 when she attended an Aerosmith concert with her mother. Backstage she encountered another girl who looked almost exactly like her—same perm, similar outfit, same face. That girl was Mia Tyler, Steven’s daughter with his then-wife. The resemblance was unmistakable. When Liv pressed her mother, Bebe broke down and finally told her the truth: Steven Tyler was her biological father. They sat on a bench outside the amphitheater while Bebe explained the whole story. The revelation was painful for Todd Rundgren, the man who had given Liv his name, his time, and his support from birth. Liv has spoken openly about how difficult it was for him, and she has always credited him with choosing to be her father when he never had to. In 1991 she legally changed her surname from Rundgren to Tyler, but she kept Rundgren as her middle name so he would remain part of her identity. That same year she began modeling, then moved into acting. Her breakthrough came with Stealing Beauty (1996) and the blockbuster Armageddon (1998). In a full-circle moment, Aerosmith recorded “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” for the film starring Steven’s daughter; the song became the band’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. She later became known worldwide as Arwen in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Liv is now a mother of three and has spoken about the love she holds for both men. One gave her life. The other gave her a name, stability, and unconditional care—even knowing they might not share the same DNA. Her story is a reminder that fatherhood is defined by choice and presence as much as biology. 🌹