Ron Reagan

Ronald Prescott Reagan was born on May 20, 1958, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He is the only son of Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, and Nancy Davis Reagan. During his early childhood, his family resided in Sacramento, California, where Ronald Reagan served as governor from 1967 to 1975. Ronald Reagan has a sister, Patti Davis, who is approximately five and a half years older than him. He also has an older adoptive brother, Michael Reagan, who was adopted as an infant by Ronald Reagan and his first wife, Jane Wyman, and is roughly 13 years older. Additionally, he had two half-sisters, Maureen Reagan (1941–2001) and Christine Reagan, who was born prematurely on June 26, 1947, and died on the same day.

From a young age, Ronald Reagan diverged from his father’s conservative political stance. At age 12, he informed his parents that he would no longer attend church due to his identification as an atheist. His educational history includes attending The Webb School of California, from which he was expelled, allegedly for going to a dance at a neighboring girls' school in a classmate’s car—a violation that school officials cited as an infraction. Reagan later attended Yale University but dropped out after one semester in 1976 to pursue a career in ballet dancing. He joined the Joffrey Ballet, specifically the Joffrey II Dancers, and was mentored by Sally Brayley. According to Time magazine in 1980, Reagan’s parents had not attended his ballet performances at that time, although his father remarked on a particular performance on May 18, 1981, describing it as "darn good," comparing Reagan's dance style to Fred Astaire.

Throughout his adulthood, Reagan maintained a different philosophical and political path from his father. By 22, he was married and had never resided in the White House. During Ronald Reagan’s presidency, he relinquished Secret Service protection after 18 months.

In 1986, Reagan appeared hosting an episode of "Saturday Night Live." After his father left office in 1989, he became more politically active, espousing liberal views contrary to his father’s conservatism. In a 2009 interview with Vanity Fair, he explained that during his father's presidency, he did not voice political opinions publicly to avoid being perceived as criticizing his father. His media career includes hosting "The Ron Reagan Show," a syndicated late-night talk show about political issues, which aired briefly before its cancellation due to stiff competition. Reagan has also contributed as a magazine journalist and hosted programs on cable networks such as Animal Planet. He co-presented the British television program "Record Breakers" on the BBC and served on the board of the Creative Coalition, founded in 1989 to advocate for causes like arts and First Amendment rights.

From February to December 2005, he co-hosted the talk show "Connected: Coast to Coast" with Monica Crowley on MSNBC. Additionally, his show "The Ron Reagan Show" was syndicated on Air America Media from September 2008 until 2010.

Reagan published a memoir, "My Father at 100: A Memoir," in 2011, in which he discussed his observations of his father’s mental lapses, hypothesizing that his father may have experienced early stages of Alzheimer's disease during his presidency. This view received criticism from some, including his brother Michael Reagan, although Reagan clarified that he did not believe his father's lapses were definitive evidence of dementia.

Politically, Reagan votes Democratic and has publicly expressed support for various liberal causes. In 2004, he spoke at the Democratic National Convention advocating for embryonic stem cell research. He criticized the George W. Bush administration and alleged election irregularities, and later wrote an essay titled "The Case Against George W. Bush." He voted for John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election and endorsed Barack Obama in 2008. In the 2016 Democratic primaries, he endorsed Bernie Sanders. By early 2020, Reagan expressed strong opposition to Donald Trump, asserting that his father would have disapproved of Trump and lamenting the current state of the Republican Party.

He resides in Seattle and has been married twice. In 1980, he married Doria Palmieri, a clinical psychologist, who died in 2014 from neuromuscular disease; the couple had no children. In July 2018, he married Federica Basagni. Reagan identifies as an atheist and has publicly stated this position, including participation in advertisements for the Freedom From Religion Foundation and appearances discussing his atheism. In 2010, he was named to the organization's Honorary Board of distinguished achievers.