Norman Reedus and Helena Christensen welcomed their son Mingus in 1999

Norman Reedus poses with his son Mingus Lucien Reedus at his Star Ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022. PHOTO: ALBERT L. ORTEGA/GETTY

Mingus Lucien Reedus is the only child of actor Norman Reedus and model Helena Christensen.

The former couple met through a mutual friend in 1998 and dated for five years before splitting in 2003. They welcomed their son a year into their relationship on Oct. 13, 1999.

“When we met, it was just perfect. I met her through a friend of mine, a DJ and an artist in L.A., at a birthday party downtown at this Japanese restaurant,” Norman told Nylon in 1999. “She was sitting right across the table, and I didn’t want to look at her, because I knew if we started up a conversation, it would be serious from that time on.”

While the pair are no longer together, they have maintained a good co-parenting relationship and often celebrate their son’s milestones together. They reunited for Mingus’ high school graduation in 2018 and later for his college graduation in 2023.

On Mother’s Day in 2022, Christensen reflected on raising her son. “Being your mom is the most magical journey and most rewarding honor of my life,” she captioned photos of the two on Instagram. “So grateful for you.”

From his modeling career to his love of chess, here’s everything to know about Norman Reedus’ son Mingus Lucien Reedus.

He was born on Oct. 13, 1999

Norman Reedus, Helena Christensen and son Mingus during Cirque du Soleil’s Latest Production “Varekai” Grand Opening.ROBIN PLATZER/FILMMAGIC

Mingus was born to Norman and Christensen on Oct. 13, 1999. His unique moniker was a nod to the famous jazz musician Charles Mingus.

“His father especially is into Charlie Mingus,” Christensen told The Independent in June 2006. “I was more into Thelonious Monk, Chet Baker, Billie Holiday — but we thought ‘Mingus’ sounded cooler than ‘Monk’ for a first name.”

Norman and Christensen raised Mingus in New York City. The Walking Dead actor told Men’s Journal in December 2017 that after his split from the model, they shared custody of their son and only lived a “five-minute walk” away from each other in Lower Manhattan.

He has a younger sister

Norman Reedus with his kids, Nova and Mingus.HELENA CHRISTENSEN INSTAGRAM

Mingus has a younger half-sister named Nova.

Norman welcomed Nova with fiancée Diane Kruger in 2018, which gives the siblings a nearly two-decade age gap. Kruger told PEOPLE in April 2019 that Mingus was embracing his new role as a big brother.

“He’s great! You know 19 years is a big gap so he’s really stepping up to be this protective big brother,” she said.

In June 2021, Christensen posted a sweet photo on Instagram of Norman walking with Mingus and Nova as part of a Father’s Day tribute to the actor. “Happy Father’s Day to the father of our son (and his lil sis). We raised a good one,” she captioned the image.

He’s a model

Mingus Lucien Reedus at the Versace fashion show on the second day of Milan Fashion Week Men’s Collection Spring Summer 2023.MATTEO ROSSETTI/ARCHIVIO MATTEO ROSSETTI/MONDADORI PORTFOLIO/GETTY

Mingus began modeling in 2017 and signed with The Society Management, according to his Instagram bio.

In addition to walking the runway for designers including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Versace, Mingus has also starred in a few fashion campaigns with his supermodel mom. The pair posed together in a Mother’s Day campaign for Victoria’s Secret in 2021 and again for Marcell Von Berlin, a Berlin-based fashion brand, in 2022 to celebrate their Suits Collection.

During an interview with Grazia Magazine, Christensen said it’s “always great” working with her son but she rarely shares any modeling advice with him.

“We have a lot of fun together sharing little jokes between us throughout the day. It’s good to have a secret language on set, that way you can really let the dark humor flow and my son is a master that,” she said. “We have a very easy approach to it. You go do the job as fast as you can and have fun with it.”

Christensen also told the outlet that while Mingus is “grateful” for modeling opportunities, it’s not his main passion as he “spends all his time making music and studying film.”

He likes to play chess

Mingus Lucien Reedus.HELENA CHRISTENSEN INSTAGRAM

Mingus has many artistic interests, but he’s also a very talented chess player. In 2007, Christensen told Express that her son is “great” at the complicated game.

“We’ve just discovered he’s a great chess player. He went to his first tournament and came third out of 50 children and was asked to play on the American national team,” she said. “He’s only played for two years. He already beats his dad with his eyes closed. Mingus is very blasé about it, of course.”

He showed off his chess skills in an episode of his father’s show, Ride with Norman Reedus, in 2017. In a clip shared with Entertainment Tonight, Mingus and Norman can be seen playing chess at a N.Y.C. park, where the then-18-year-old quickly beat his opponent.

“I taught Mingus when he was young. We’d come here, play game after game, and I’d watch him beat people in minutes. And I’d think, ‘That’s my kid,’ ” the actor said. “Seeing Mingus in his element, I’m reminded of how great it is that he’s grown up here. He’s got that armor you find in every real New Yorker.”

He graduated from New York University

Helena Christenson, Mingus Lucien Reedus, and Norman Reedus.HELENA CHRISTENSEN INSTAGRAM

Mingus studied film at NYU’s Tisch School of Arts and received his degree in May 2023.

His parents were on hand to celebrate his big achievement. Christensen shared a selfie photo alongside Mingus and Norman on Instagram with the caption, “You did it!!” The post also included a video of father and son, who was in his purple and white graduation gown, lifting their hands triumphantly in the air while walking down the street.

In an interview with Flaunt Magazine, Mingus said he has always had a passion for art and film. “Both my parents live through art and they made sure I grew up with the same passion for it,” he told the outlet. “In preschool, I was part of this stop-motion class where we made clay monsters, wrote a story for them, and turned them into short films. I still have all the CDs.”

He also opened up about the directors and films that have influenced his creative direction. “My current favorite directors are the Safdie brothers,” Mingus shared. “I love their dark and chaotic style. I remember the first time I fell in love with a movie, Trainspotting. I was 14 and must have watched it three times in a row. It was every aspect of the film: the acting, the script, the sets and the soundtrack playing together that really hypnotized me — created a vibe.”

During his time at NYU, Mingus had a brief brush with the law and was arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman in N.Y.C. in September 2021. Mingus’ attorney Isabelle Kirshner told PEOPLE in November 2021 that the charges were “baseless and will be met with a rigorous defense. He was the victim is this incident.” The model later pled guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct.

He’s a musician

Norman Reedus and Mingus Reedus at Madison Square Garden in 2014.JAMES DEVANEY/GC IMAGES

In addition to film, Mingus also has a passion for music. As a music producer, he goes by his middle name, Lucien, and often posts original beat tracks to his SoundCloud.

“Making beats has really become therapeutic for me,” Mingus told Flaunt Magazine. “Producing melodies is essentially painting, but instead of the final product showing something, it tells something — not a story, but a vibe. At the end of the day, it’s my favorite way to absolutely zone out. I must have over 400 beats on my laptop.”

His parents post birthday tributes to him on social media every year

Helena Christensen with her son Mingus Lucien Reedus on Christmas, 2022.HELENA CHRISTENSEN INSTAGRAM

Norman and Christensen always take an opportunity to praise their son, especially on his birthday. In 2021, the former couple celebrated Mingus’ 21st birthday by posting sweet tributes to him on their respective Instagram accounts.

“21 years with this awesome person whom I love more than anything ♥️. I am constantly inspired by your interesting, clever, cool, kind mind and graceful way of being,” Christensen captioned a slideshow of Mingus throughout the years. “Happiest 21st birthday Mingus ♥️🎁♥️. Can’t wait to share a bottle of sake with you later.”

Reedus also shared a carousel of photos, including an image of The Walking Dead actor riding on a bike with a young Mingus standing on the back. “I love u like the ocean ❤️ happy birthday !!!🎈,” he captioned the post.