Josh Duhamel, known for his role in the new Netflix series Ransom Canyon, has made headlines not just for his acting but also for his unique lifestyle choice. The star has opted to reside in a "doomsday cabin" in Minnesota, stepping away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for a more grounded family life.
Duhamel, along with his wife Audra Mari and their 1-year-old son, Sheperd, live a serene life 40 minutes away from the nearest civilization on their lakeside property in northwest Minnesota. The actor’s 11-year-old son, Axl, from his previous marriage to singer Fergie, also enjoys spending time at this rustic retreat.
The actor's property, humorously dubbed his "doomsday cabin," is accessed via a two-mile dirt path leading to his forested home. "It’s an exhale whenever we get here," Duhamel expressed in an interview with Country Living. He appreciates the opportunity for his children to experience childhood in a natural setting, free from the distractions of urban life.
"Here my kids get to be kids, catching frogs, collecting sticks. They come home and they’re filthy, and I think that’s so good for them," he remarked. Duhamel believes that the current climate of anger in the world stems from people being too absorbed in their devices rather than connecting with nature. "Nature helps ground you to what’s important," he added.
Over the past 15 years, Duhamel has invested time and effort into building his cabin, which he describes as a labor of love. He initially purchased land and gradually expanded it, adding a hunting shack and another home. "We were basically homesteading the first 12 years. For the longest time, we didn’t have plumbing. We were using outhouses and washing dishes in the lake," he shared.
Despite the upgrades to the property, Duhamel maintains a live-off-the-land mentality. "I feel so connected to it. I didn’t just buy the place, I shaped this place. While we’ve made a lot of improvements, you still feel like you’re roughing it, and I love that," he explained.
Living in such a remote area does come with its challenges, including encounters with wildlife. On Easter Sunday 2025, Duhamel humorously documented a moment when he had to remove a goose from the grille of his SUV while dressed in a blue suit. "I guess we're having goose for Easter," he captioned the video shared on Instagram.
In a recent interview with Parade, Duhamel emphasized the sense of community he enjoys in Minnesota. "Part of the reason I built my place out in Minnesota, deep in the woods, is it’s removed from everything. The closest store is 40 miles away. Once we get there, it's really about everybody taking care of each other – making memories, spending time with family and friends," he said.
Duhamel is committed to ensuring that his children have lasting memories of their time spent at the cabin. "My son is going to have memories of this place forever. He's not on his iPad when he's out there. He's out there in the boat with me, or he's playing soccer on the beach, or he's out there in the woods doing whatever I'm doing," he stated. He hopes to pass this legacy to his children, emphasizing that it's about family rather than luxury.
As Duhamel navigates his personal life, he reflects on his previous marriage to Fergie, with whom he shares a son, Axl. The couple was married for 10 years, from 2009 to 2019, and while their romantic relationship ended, they have maintained a strong friendship and co-parenting partnership.
Duhamel and Fergie first met in 2004 when The Black Eyed Peas made an appearance on the show Las Vegas, where Duhamel was acting. The couple married in 2009 after Duhamel proposed in 2007. Their son Axl was born in the summer of 2013, and both parents have shared insights into the challenges of balancing their careers with family life.
In an interview with People in 2018, Fergie discussed the challenges of juggling their busy schedules. "As any hard-working mom knows, it is a delicate balancing act that I have to be juggling all of the time with the different schedules, the family schedules, the work schedules," she said. Duhamel echoed similar sentiments in a 2014 conversation with Daily Mail, expressing his desire to raise a child who understands the value of hard work and education.
In 2017, Duhamel and Fergie announced their separation, and by 2019, they had officially divorced. Despite their split, both have emphasized their commitment to co-parenting. Duhamel stated in 2023, "We both have the same priority and that’s raising a good son. We want him to be a good, kind, compassionate, hard-working, thoughtful young man and we both have that common goal with him."
Fergie has also spoken fondly of their relationship post-divorce, saying in 2017, "We’re great friends, Josh and I, there’s so much love that we have for each other. We really like each other, we have fun with each other. We’re just not a romantic couple anymore."
Since his separation from Fergie, Duhamel has moved on and married Audra Mari, with whom he welcomed a new baby in 2024. This new chapter in his life reflects his desire for a family-oriented lifestyle, away from the Hollywood spotlight.
In a 2023 interview with "In Depth with Graham Bensinger," Duhamel opened up about his discomfort with Hollywood. "I don't think I ever really got comfortable with all of it. It was just a lot. I missed the simplicity of who I really am," he confessed. He added, "You know Hollywood and L.A., that whole lifestyle can suck the soul out of you if you're not careful."
As Josh Duhamel continues to balance his career and family life, his commitment to creating a nurturing environment for his children remains at the forefront of his priorities. His return to a simpler lifestyle in Minnesota seems to reflect a broader desire for connection and authenticity in a world often dominated by superficiality.
