Sandra Bullock “spent a lot of time healing” with her kids after her longtime partner Bryan Randall’s tragic death three years ago.
“After everything she went through with Bryan, she needed time to care for herself,” a source close to the actress told People on Thursday, referring to Randall’s secret three-year battle with ALS, which he ultimately lost in August 2023.
“She spent a lot of time healing, being with her kids and being at home,” the insider added. “She needed to ensure that she and her kids were in the best possible place for her to go back to work.”
While the Oscar winner and Randall did not share any kids together, they blended their families.
Bullock, 61, adopted her son, Louis, now 16, in 2010. Five years later, she adopted a 3-year-old girl, Laila, now 14, from a foster home in Louisiana.
As for Randall, he already had an adult daughter named Skylar from a previous relationship.
The photographer died on August 5, 2023. At the time, his family confirmed the tragic news in a statement shared with Page Six.
“It is with great sadness that we share that on Aug. 5, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with ALS,” his family shared.
“Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request.”
Randall — who was 57 at the time of his death — first met the “Blind Side” actress at Louis‘ birthday in January 2015. The pair immediately hit it off and started dating soon after.
They made their red carpet debut at the premiere of Bullock’s film “Our Brand Is Crisis” in October of that year.
Although the couple mostly kept their relationship out of the spotlight, the Oscar winner gushed over Randall and their family while he was already privately struggling with ALS.
“I found the love of my life,” she said in a “Red Table Talk” interview from December 2021. “We share two beautiful children — three children, his older daughter. It’s the best thing ever.”
“He’s the example that I would want my children to have.”
During the interview, she also shared how Randall was a “saint” when she told him her intention to adopt a second child even though they “hadn’t been together that long.”
She has not publicly addressed his passing, either.
She also explained that she had no plans on marrying Randall despite their deep love for one another because she wanted to put their children first.
“I don’t need a paper to be a devoted partner, devoted mother,” she explained. “I don’t need to be told to be ever-present in the hardest of times. I don’t need to be told to weather a storm with a good man.”
Bullock has never publicly addressed his passing, or had another public relationship since.
