How Three of Mia Farrow’s Kids Tragically Died

Mia Farrow, an acclaimed actress and humanitarian, is also known for her extensive and diverse family. She has 14 children, a mix of biological and adopted, each with their unique backgrounds and stories.

Mia’s children mean everything to her as she has consistently spoken about them with love and passion. The actress adopted 10 of her children from all over the world, some as a single parent, and four of the 14 are her biological children.

Sadly, Farrow lost three of her 14 children, and was heartbroken by their deaths, writing, “Any parent who has suffered the loss of a child knows that pain is merciless and ceaseless.”

As much as Mia is famous, some of her kids have chosen to lead a private life. Additionally, the actress later stepped away from the media circus to take up activism as she raised her kids.

Mia’s beloved kids have blessed her with grandchildren. Here is a look into the lives of Mia’s 14 children and how three of her kids died.

Thaddeus Wilk Farrow

Thaddeus Wilk Farrow was adopted from Calcutta, India in 1994. He was a paraplegic due to polio. Thaddeus was once a car mechanic as he was studying to become a police officer. He died at the age of 27 in 2016.

A police report said he was found in Connecticut inside his vehicle suffering from a life-threatening injury and was taken to Danbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:30 p.m.

Mia Farrow was devasted by the loss of her son, whom she described as a “wonderful, courageous person who overcame so much hardships in his short life.” She thanked people for their condolences and kind words, adding, “We miss him.”

Lark Song

Mia adopted Lark Song when she was living in England with her first husband, André Previn. It was in 1973, and as the Vietnam War was ending, Mia and André decided to adopt a Vietnamese baby.

André recalled that they had been told to wait at the airport in Paris for the baby. They waited for 10 hours and at one point, Mia wondered, “How will we know who she is?” André replied that there couldn’t be many nuns carrying an Asian baby.

Eventually, a nun approached them carrying and basket, handed it to them, and said, “Voici votre bébé” and then she left. As a baby, Lark was very ill.

As much as she wasn’t well and weighed only five pounds, Mia was thrilled. The actress went through a lot of stress and worked hard to ensure Lark became a healthy and happy child. Unfortunately, she died at the age of 35.

Tam Farrow

Tam Farrow, who was born in Vietnam, joined Mia’s family in 1992. She faced numerous health challenges throughout her life, including being legally blind. Tam’s life was tragically cut short when she passed away at the age of 19 in 2000.

Moses Farrow

Moses Farrow was adopted from Korea when he was two. He has cerebral palsy and is a family therapist and photographer. Moses is not in touch with his siblings and separated from his wife and two kids.

He has also shared distressing accounts of his childhood. Moses revealed, “It was important to my mother to project to the world a picture of a happy blended household of both biological and adopted children, but this was far from the truth.”

As per Moses, life at home was far from idyllic. He painfully recalled witnessing his siblings, including those who were blind or physically disabled, being harshly disciplined.

He described instances where they were dragged downstairs and locked in bedrooms or closets. Moses specifically mentioned his brother Thaddeus being confined to an outdoor shed overnight as punishment for minor misbehavior.

Moses delved into the death of his siblings. He noted that the commonly reported cause of his sister Tam’s death said to be heart failure at 21, is not accurate.

According to Moses, Tam battled depression. This condition was worsened by Mia’s refusal to let her seek professional help, dismissing her daughter’s struggles as mere moodiness.

In 2000, after a heated argument with Mia that ended with the actress leaving the house, Tam took her own life by overdosing on pills. Mia later claimed the overdose was accidental, attributing it to Tam’s blindness and an inability to recognize the pills.

However, Moses pointed out that Tam’s blindness did not affect her excellent memory and spatial recognition. Moses said the details surrounding Tam’s tragic end, including the argument with Mia, were recounted to Moses by Thaddeus.

Thaddeus witnessed the events firsthand but due to his death, he cannot corroborate this story. Moses revealed that Thaddeus also died by suicide, shooting himself in his car near Mia’s house.

Moses also spoke about their sister Lark, who faced a tragic fate. Lark succumbed to a life of self-destruction while battling addiction. She ultimately died from AIDS-related complications in 2008 at the age of 35.

Moses emphasized, “For all of us, life under my mother’s roof was impossible if you didn’t do exactly what you were told, no matter how questionable the demand.”

Mia on the Death of Her Kids

Mia spoke out after Moses shed light on his siblings’ deaths. The actress said she was speaking out to address some vicious rumors based on untruths about her children’s lives.

“To honor their memory, their children, and every family that has dealt with the death of a child, I am posting this message,” she said.

She insisted that Tam died due to an accidental prescription overdose. As per Mia, Tam was taking the medications for her painful migraine and heart ailment. She also shared that Lark died at 35 from complications of HIV/AIDS. She died in the hospital on Christmas, in her partner’s arms.

Mia said Lark got the disease from a previous partner but lives a fruitful and loving life with her kids and longtime partner. She described her as an “extraordinary woman, a wonderful daughter, sister, partner, and mother to her own children.”

As for Thaddeus, Mia explained that he was living happily with his partner and planning their wedding when their relationship ended suddenly. This breakup pushed Thaddeus to die by suicide.

Mia ended her statement by saying, “These are unspeakable tragedies. Any other speculations about their deaths is to dishonor their lives and the lives of their children and loved ones.”

Soon-Yi Previn

Soon-Yi was adopted by Mia and André from South Korea in 1978. One of the most controversial aspects of Mia’s family life is the relationship between Soon-Yi and her former partner, Woody Allen. As per Moses, Mia learned about this relationship when Soon-Yi was 21.

Mia called Woody a “monster,” “the devil,” and “evil” when she found out he was sleeping with her adopted daughter. According to Moses, Soon-Yi was often the target of Mia’s anger.

Moses recalled that Soon-Yi, who had an independent streak and was the least intimidated by Mia. The two frequently clashed.

These confrontations sometimes turned violent, like when Mia reportedly threw a large porcelain centerpiece at Soon-Yi’s head. The object missed but shattered and hit her legs. In another instance, Mia beat her with a telephone receiver.

Despite the unconventional nature of Soon-Yi’s relationship with Woody, it provided her an escape from the tumultuous environment at home. Unfortunately, as Moses pointed out, other siblings were not as fortunate in finding a way out.

Moses narrated further, “Then, of course, the news of Woody and Soon-Yi went public – and everything changed. My mother insisted that we remove both of them from our lives, and we had no choice but to accept.”

According to Moses, Soon-Yi was not Woody’s daughter in any capacity—adopted, step, or otherwise. He added that she was not developmentally challenged and had earned a master’s degree in special education from Columbia University.

He went ahead to counter claims about her being underage or vulnerable when her relationship with Woody began. In reality, Woody and Soon-Yi had minimal interaction during her childhood.

Moses shared that it was Mia who suggested when Soon-Yi was 20, that Woody spend time with her. This led to their outings such as attending Knicks games together.

“That’s how their romance started. Yes, it was unorthodox, uncomfortable, disruptive to our family and it hurt my mother terribly,” noted Moses.

However, he emphasized that the relationship itself was not as damaging to the family as Mia’s fixation on this perceived betrayal, which she made the focal point of their lives.

Dylan Farrow

Dylan Farrow was adopted in 1985 from Texas. She was also caught up in the life of Woody when she accused him publicly of molesting her when she was seven years old.

Woody denied the serious allegations involving Mia’s adopted daughter. Years later, when Dylan spoke of what she went through with Woody, she refused to say his name.

However, Dylan, who described her fears of Woody as “crippling,” divulged, “I’m scared of him, his image. I have never been asked to testify. If I could talk to the seven-year-old Dylan, I would tell her to be brave, to testify.”

Dylan also described her alleged abuse by Woody, vividly recalling specific incidents. She remembered the discomfort and confusion she felt, thinking she was at fault for not wanting to comply with her elder’s demands.

The traumatic experience in the attic was a breaking point for her, compelling her to speak out despite her young age. Dylan believed that the abusive behavior was how fathers typically treated their daughters and thought she was abnormal for feeling uncomfortable.

Years later, Woody, who married Soon-Yi, sent a letter to Dylan Farrow in college. He told her that he still thought of her as her daughter and his daughters regard her as their sister.

Woody’s attorney was asked about the letters and he replied that it was a private matter, still maintaining that his client was innocent of all matters.

Ronan Farrow

Ronan Farrow is Mia’s biological child. When Mia was asked if Ronan could be the biological child of Woody, she replied, “Possibly.” Ronan is proud of the diverse family his mother built, which taught him how to see problems and look for solutions to them.

Today, Ronan is a journalist. In 2018, he received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for his groundbreaking reporting on Harvey Weinstein.

His investigative work exposed decades of alleged sexual misconduct and assault by Weinstein, bringing significant attention to these serious accusations.

Mia was proud of her son for the work he did during the #MeToo movement, noting that now, the men in power who sexually assaulted women confidently, feared the repercussions.

Ronan also works with his mother as she conducts activism in Africa as a UNICEF ambassador. Mia has been to more than 20 missions, mostly in Darfur, Sudan, and the neighboring country Chad.

Rebecca Hamilton, the author of “Fighting for Darfur” said that the most valuable outcome from Mia’s work could be the special bond she has created with Ronan.

Rebecca also revealed, “How they work together is amazing. They are both incredibly smart. People know that about Ronan, but people don’t appreciate how smart Mia is.”

Rebecca described Mia and Ronan as confident in their knowledge and meticulous about their words when crafting an op-ed. She noted that writing 800 words with them is a painstaking process, involving numerous drafts to ensure everything is absolutely perfect.

Furthermore, the similarities between Mia and Ronan are remarkable as they share the same porcelain complexion. They also have similar striking blue eyes and remarkable talent.

At just 11 years old, Ronan began attending Bard College, with Mia driving him 90 minutes each way almost daily for four years. Now he is a successful man. Ronan has written a book and is writing another about America’s proxy wars. He also enjoys writing songs and scripts.

Fletcher Previn

Fletcher Previn, who was adopted into the Farrow-Previn family, works in the technology industry. He is also a devoted protector of his mother. Fletcher used his technical skills to build his first computer at the age of 13.

His dedication to his family was notably displayed when he meticulously removed Woody from all family photos and videos. He said he did this to ensure that the painful memories associated with Woody were erased. This allowed the family to focus on happier times.

Fletcher’s wife is a graphic designer, and together they have created a close-knit family. Interestingly, Fletcher, who once worked as Woody’s personal assistant on three films, chose to live next door to his mother.

His two young daughters, aged seven and three, often visit their grandmother. They enjoy exploring the nearby woods and spending quality time with Mia. The actress indulges them with reading sessions, toenail painting, and playtime with her pet parakeet.

Reflecting on the family’s past, particularly the crisis involving Woody, Fletcher Previn acknowledged the deep impact it had on their lives.

He recalled that Woody was considered a father figure by his siblings and him. This made the betrayal deeply unsettling and reshaped their sense of security.

The ramifications of Woody’s actions were far-reaching, affecting each family member differently. He expressed a strong sentiment that Woody bore responsibility for some of the family’s suffering.

Matthew and Sascha Previn

Matthew Previn and his twin brother Sascha Previn were born on February 26, 1970, to Mia and André. Matthew is married to, Tarnisha Antoinette Graves, a graduate of Duke University and Harvard Law School.

When Matthew first asked Tarnisha out, she declined because she had doubts about a biracial relationship. Eventually, Tarnisha, who was not all against dating Previn, gave in.

She admitted that she accepted to go on a date with Matthew when she felt kind of jealous seeing him flirt with one of her female colleagues. The couple started dating in February 2000. Previn proposed in February 2001 and they got married on July 26, 2003.