Shemar Moore is opening up about how his 3-year-old daughter, Frankie, helped him find joy again after the death of his mother.
In a recent interview with USA TODAY, the 56-year-old actor pointed to a tattoo of his daughter on his arm as he reflected on one of the most difficult periods of his life.
Moore’s mother, Marilyn, passed away unexpectedly in 2020. He recalled that on the morning she died, she had plans to go swimming and meet friends for brunch, while he was supposed to see her for dinner.
“Instead I got a phone call that morning,” he recalled. “God called her name, and it messed me up. It messed me up tough.”
The loss left Moore in a dark place.
“I didn’t want to get out of bed. There was no light out there for a moment,” he shared.
Moore later reconnected with Jesiree Dizon, whom he had dated years earlier. The two welcomed Frankie in January 2023.
“And when I say saved my life, she gave me purpose again,” he explained. “She brought my light back, my light within myself, inside myself. She made me enjoy just the moments, and the days were brighter.”
The proud dad, who has since separated from Dizon, also spoke about growing up without his father and why he is determined to be present for Frankie.
“I didn’t grow up with my father, so the last thing I’m going to do is not be a father to Frankie and not be present,” he said.
He continued, “I want her to explore the world. I want her to see the world through my eyes, my past, and I want to see the world through her eyes and her curiosity and what she’s about.”
Moore’s personal experiences have also influenced his latest role in S.W.A.T. Exiles, which premiered on Starz in September. His character, Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, is dealing with the death of his mother while trying to remain a part of his young daughter’s life.
“Now my life is about being the best version of myself for myself, but for my daughter,” he said. “Hondo needs to finish what he started, and now Shemar’s inspired to see how high I can continue to fly.”
