One Direction Alum Liam Payne’s Family Guide: Meet His Mom, Son Bear, More

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

Payne skyrocketed to fame after auditioning for the U.K. version of the X Factor in 2008, and returned in 2010 when he was recruited to be a member of the boy band One Direction. Created by Simon Cowell, the group consisted of Payne, Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik.

Years after reaching stardom, Payne welcomed son Bear with Cheryl Cole in 2017. The pair split the following year.

“My mum brought all my old toys to the house, and then Cheryl came one day to my house and she was like, ‘Oh, he’s playing with this red car all the time. It was yours,’” Payne exclusively told Us Weekly in 2019. “I was like, ‘Is it 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 age 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 mom shares daughters Nicola and Ruth as well as Liam with Geoff Payne. Following the birth of Bear in 2017, Karen took to Instagram to express her excitement for her new role as a grandmother.

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

Geoff Payne

Liam’s dad.

Nicola Payne

Liam’s eldest sister penned 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. “Hope you’ve had a fabulous day. Love you lots xx .”

Ruth Payne

Liam’s second eldest sister has shared several photos of Liam through the years. In 2014, she uploaded a sweet Instagram pic with Liam and Nicola, writing, “For national sibling day because i will be looking after these two forever #payneos.”

Bear

Liam welcomed Bear with Cole in 2017. “My close friends and family know there are very few times when I’m left speechless… wow!” he wrote via Instagram at the time. “I’m incredibly happy to welcome our new baby boy into the world, it’s a moment that I will never forget for the rest of my life and my favourite [sic] memory I have so far.”

He continued, “I’m completely in awe of his incredible mother and how she has been the whole way through this, she’s really made my dreams come true. We haven’t named him yet but he’s already capturing hearts including mine. I feel very blessed. Happy Mother’s Day everyone!”