Pete Davidson Pays Tribute to His Late Father in New Film 'King of Staten Island'

Pete Davidson is making the transition from Saturday Night Live star to feature film actor. In the Judd Apatow-directed movie, King of Staten Island, the comedian plays a semi-autobiographical version of himself.

The SNL star plays Scott, a guy 20-something who is still grieving the loss of his firefighter father who died 17 years prior. The aspiring tattoo artist copes by smoking weed and living with his mom in the New York City borough. 

The comedy film was co-written by Pete and incorporates the actor's real-life story. Sadly, the 26-year-old lost his father Scott in 2001 when he was just 7 years old. 

Throughout the years, the comedian has been open about how the death of his father affected his mental health. 

Pete's father Scott was a New York City firefighter who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The comedian draws his material from his dark past, and has been open about his mental health struggles.

“I’ve been in and out of mental health facilities since I was 9,” he said in a 2018 candid interview with Variety.

He added: “I tried to drown myself in the pool when I was in the fourth or fifth grade. I was trying to get my head stuck in the ladder in the deep end, so I would not be able to get up. But I’m too much of a p---y, and my head is too small.”  

Though he continues to struggle with his mental health, Ariana Grande's former fiancé explained that his troubled past also helped him navigate his successful career.

"If my dad didn’t die, I wouldn’t be a comic," he stated. "I’d be a construction worker in Staten Island or a basketball coach." He continued, "I learned what death was. And you’re not really supposed to learn about that until high school, when one of your friends falls asleep in the garage, or whatever…to learn how anything can just be taken away from you early gave me this sense of ‘F–k it. Whatever, dude.’"

He added, "I’m able to do stand-up and f–k around because hopefully the worst thing that has ever happened to me happened.”  

Though he is seemingly single (at the moment), Pete hopes to one day become a father of his own. The actor opened up in an interview with Charlamagne tha God revealing that he hopes to have kids and be a father figure to his children.

"I didn’t have a man around the house, so I was just like, ‘When am I going to find my Princess Charming?’ That’s all I’ve ever wanted," he told The Breakfast Club host. "I just want to have a kid, that’s it. I think that would be awesome.”

The star is even open to adoption, saying, “I’m at the point where I’m like, ‘Maybe I should adopt.’ Me and my mom or something, just adopt."

Catch Pete in King of Staten Island available on demand June 12.