David Atticus Sohmer’s life story begins with a groundbreaking entry into the world through surrogacy, as the son of celebrated actress Deidre Hall and entertainment executive Steve Sohmer. His journey from a uniquely publicized birth to his adult life reflects both his famous heritage and his individual path. As reported by Business Broadsheet, David’s story offers an interesting glimpse into the life of someone born into Hollywood fame who has charted his own course.
Early Life and Birth
David Atticus Sohmer was born on August 23, 1992, at 6:16 PM in Los Angeles, California. His birth was notable not just because of his famous parents, but because he was carried by a surrogate mother named Robin, a 28-year-old divorced mother of four.
This surrogacy arrangement was particularly significant for the time, as it occurred during an era when such reproductive assistance was less common and less publicly discussed than today. Deidre Hall was remarkably open about her fertility struggles and the surrogacy process, helping to normalize and bring attention to alternative paths to parenthood.
The decision to pursue surrogacy came after Hall had experienced difficulties conceiving naturally. Her willingness to share this personal journey with the public helped many women facing similar challenges.
Notable Family Background
David was born into a family with deep ties to the entertainment industry. His mother, Deidre Hall, had already established herself as a household name through her iconic role as Dr. Marlena Evans on “Days of Our Lives.”
His father, Steve Sohmer, brought equally impressive credentials as an author, screenwriter, and high-ranking television executive who had served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Columbia Pictures and as an Executive Vice President for NBC.
This dual heritage placed David at the intersection of on-screen talent and behind-the-scenes production power in Hollywood, providing him with a unique perspective on the entertainment world from his earliest years.
Parents’ Marriage and Family Life
Steve Sohmer and Deidre Hall married on December 31, 1991, shortly before David’s birth. Their family expanded with the arrival of David’s younger brother, Tully Chapin Sohmer, born on January 19, 1995, also through surrogacy.
The brothers grew up in Los Angeles, surrounded by the influence of the entertainment industry but also with parents who sought to provide a grounded upbringing despite their public profiles. The family remained intact until 2006 when Sohmer and Hall divorced after nearly 15 years of marriage.
The boys’ childhood likely balanced the extraordinary circumstances of having a mother who was recognized nationwide with the more typical experiences of growing up in a family with two working parents.
Mother’s Legacy: Deidre Hall
Deidre Hall’s influence on daytime television cannot be overstated. Her portrayal of Dr. Marlena Evans on “Days of Our Lives” began in 1976 and has made her one of the most enduring and beloved figures in soap opera history.
Throughout David’s life, his mother has remained a fixture on television, balancing her demanding career with her commitment to motherhood. Hall has often spoken about how becoming a mother was one of her greatest life achievements, particularly meaningful given the challenges she faced in building her family.
Her openness about surrogacy helped change public perceptions and provided visibility for alternative family-building options, making her not just an entertainment icon but also an important figure in conversations about fertility and family.
Father’s Professional Influence
Steve Sohmer brought a different kind of entertainment industry experience to David’s upbringing. As a high-level executive who helped shape programming decisions at major networks and studios, Sohmer understood the business side of Hollywood.
Beyond his executive work, Sohmer established himself as an accomplished author and screenwriter. His literary achievements include historical novels and scholarly works, demonstrating a range of intellectual interests beyond television and film production.
This combination of creative and business acumen likely influenced David’s later interest in investment and advisory roles, suggesting that his father’s multifaceted career may have provided a template for pursuing diverse professional interests.
Personal Life and Career Path
As an adult, David Atticus Sohmer has maintained a lower public profile than his famous parents. According to information available from 2017, he described himself as an “Investor | Advisor” on his Instagram account under the username @davidatticus.
This professional description suggests he may have followed more in his father’s business-oriented footsteps rather than pursuing the performance path of his mother, though with a focus on financial rather than entertainment ventures.
While details about his education and specific career achievements remain private, his self-identification as an investor indicates an interest in business and finance that differentiates his professional identity from his parents’ entertainment careers.
Legacy and Present Day
Today, David appears to maintain a level of privacy that contrasts with his early life, when his birth through surrogacy was publicly discussed. This choice to step back from the spotlight reflects the different relationship many children of celebrities develop with fame as they establish their own identities.
While his mother continues her storied career in television, David seems to have carved out a separate professional niche. The Sohmer-Hall family connections remain, but David has established boundaries between his personal life and his parents’ public personas.
This balance of acknowledging his unique family history while creating his own path characterizes David’s apparent approach to navigating his adult life with famous parents.
Conclusion
David Atticus Sohmer’s life story represents an interesting intersection of Hollywood fame, groundbreaking reproductive technology, and the universal experience of finding one’s own way regardless of family background. His birth through surrogacy in 1992 made him part of medical and cultural history.
As he continues his adult life with interests in investment and advisory work, David carries forward both the legacy of his notable parents and his own distinct identity. His journey demonstrates how children of famous parents often find ways to acknowledge their unique heritage while establishing their own personal and professional identities.
The privacy he maintains today stands in contrast to his highly publicized entry into the world, perhaps reflecting a thoughtful approach to balancing his family’s entertainment legacy with his own individual path forward.
