Actor Josh Duhamel on Moving Family From LA to Minnesota: ‘Back to the Basics’

The ‘Transformers’ franchise alum spent 15 years building a remote home for his wife and two children in hopes of escaping the Hollywood lifestyle.

Josh Duhamel visits the SiriusXM Studios in New York City on Sept. 13, 2023. Cindy Ord/Getty Images

“Transformers” star Josh Duhamel is opening up about his decision to leave the Hollywood lifestyle behind and build an off-the-grid haven for himself and his family in Minnesota.

In an interview with Parade published April 10, the 52-year-old said he spent the last 15 years building their home and explained why he picked the remote location.

“Part of the reason I built my place out in Minnesota, deep in the woods, is it’s removed from everything,” he told the outlet. “The closest store is 40 miles away. Once we get there, it’s really about everybody taking care of each other—making memories, spending time with family and friends.”

The actor hoped that in doing so, his family would be able to enjoy the simple things life has to offer away from the spotlight, while nurturing the relationships that matter most to him.

“You really get a chance to get back to the basics. You’re not consumed by all these other distractions. When you’re out there, it’s really about having fun, making sure everybody’s warm, everybody’s got food and water.”

Duhamel—who shares 11-year-old son Axl Jack with ex-wife and singer Fergie, and 15-month-old son Shepherd with wife Audra Mari—notes the move has brought his family closer together, and they have found stability in what can be an unstable world.

“My son is going to have memories of this place forever. He’s not on his iPad when he’s out there,” he said of Axl. “He’s out there in the boat with me, or he’s playing soccer on the beach, or he’s out there in the woods doing whatever I’m doing.”

“And then I have a little baby who’s going to experience the same thing. Someday, I hope to pass this on to them [so] they’re able to share it with their kids. It’s really important to me that they have this. It’s not just about having all the amenities and all the luxuries that we become so used to. It’s really about family. It’s about legacy.”

Best known for his roles in the “Transformers” franchise, Duhamel began his career as a model.

With over 60 credits in film and television combined, the actor became a household name on the NBC comedy-drama series “Las Vegas” and in a recurring role on the hit soap opera “All My Children.”

Following his rise to fame, the North Dakota native constantly yearned for the simplicity he had growing up.

During a 2023 interview on an episode of “In Depth with Graham Bensinger,” Duhamel said another contributing factor to the move was the negativity that can come with the Hollywood lifestyle.

“I’m just not a guy who is comfortable doing red carpets, doing all the Hollywood stuff. I don’t hate it, I’m better at it now than I was, but it just took me a long time to really feel like I belong, like I fit in,” he said.

“So having this place out here really helps me get back to that kid that fell in love with nature and fell in love with the outdoors.”

Many other celebrities have opted to leave Los Angeles for similar reasons, including Matthew McConaughey, Jessica Biel and her husband Justin Timberlake, Sylvester Stallone, and Candace Cameron Bure.

Last year, actress Ana de Armas reflected on her decision to move to rural Vermont in an effort to build a “safe space” that felt “off the grid.”

Actor Ian Somerhalder and his wife, actress Nikki Reed, found living on a farm, surrounded by nature, was much more gratifying for their family and hope to teach their children that there is more to life than Hollywood.