Liam Payne’s Family Guide: Meet His Mom, Son Bear, and More

Liam Payne sang his family’s praises over the years.

Payne shot to fame after auditioning for the British version of “X Factor” in 2008 and returned in 2010 when he was recruited as a member of boy band One Direction. Created by Simon Cowell, The group consisted of Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson And Zayn Malik.

Years after his fame, Payne welcomed his son Bear Cheryl Cole in 2017. The couple separated the following year.

“My mom brought home all my old toys, and then one day Cheryl came to my house and said, ‘Oh, he plays with this red car all the time.’ “It was yours,” Payne said exclusively Us weekly in 2019. “I asked myself, ‘Is that a jaguar?’ And it was my favorite car when I was (young). So he’s literally like a little me.”

Us confirmed in 2024 that Payne died at the age of 31 after falling from the third floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Scroll down to meet his family:

Karen Payne

Liam’s mother has daughters Nicola and Ruth and Liam with Geoff Payne. After Bear was born in 2017, Karen took to Instagram to express her excitement about her new role as a grandmother.

“I can finally boast about being a grandmother!” she wrote via Instagram at the time Daily Mail. “The happiest grandmother. I am very proud of my children. All I’ve been doing lately is crying because I’m very happy, now I have the most beautiful grandson in the world… Thank God.”

Geoff Payne

Liam’s father.

Nicola Payne

Liam’s eldest sister wrote a sweet message for her younger brother in 2019. “Happy birthday to my not-so-little brother @liampayne,” she wrote via Instagram alongside a collage. “I hope you had a fantastic day. I love you very much xx 💞.”

Ruth Payne

Liam’s second eldest sister has shared several photos of Liam over the years. In 2014, she uploaded a sweet Instagram picture with Liam and Nicola and wrote: “For National Siblings Day because I will look after these two forever #payneos.”

Carry

Liam welcomed Bear with Cole in 2017. “My close friends and family know that there are very few moments where I’m speechless…wow!” he wrote via Instagram at the time. “I am incredibly happy to welcome our new baby boy into the world. It is a moment I will never forget for the rest of my life and my favorite (sic) memory I have so far.”

He continued: “I am in awe of his incredible mother and how she got through it all. She really made my dreams come true.” We haven’t named him yet, but he’s already winning hearts, including mine. I feel very blessed. Happy Mother’s Day everyone!”