The veteran actor Jason Isaacs shares how his expectations of his co-star Patrick Schwarzenegger were turned upside down, and the genuine bond they formed during filming
Jason Isaacs’ expectations of his The White Lotus co-star Patrick Schwarzenegger were quickly turned on their head. Appearing on the latest episode of Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware, the 61-year-old actor opened up about his deep connection with the younger cast, particularly Patrick, the 31-year-old son of Hollywood icon Arnold Schwarzenegger and journalist Maria Shriver.
“You know who I charmed up with? My kids. Patrick, Sam [Nivola], Sarah Catherine [Hook] — they became like my kids by proxy, and I fell madly in love with them,” Isaacs shared warmly. “We text each other all the time.”
Isaacs, who played patriarch Timothy Ratliff in season 3 of the hit HBO series, was pleasantly surprised by how grounded and genuine Patrick turned out to be. “I didn’t expect Patrick to be nice because he’s the son of a famous movie star,” Isaacs admitted. “But he’s such a fabulous, grounded person. And all three of them — they’re just gorgeous people.”
Beyond his on-screen family, Isaacs revealed that he also became friends with fellow actors Christian Friedel and Jon Gries.
Patrick Schwarzenegger joined the star-studded cast as Saxson Ratliff, the eldest child of Timothy and Victoria (played by Parker Posey), who works for his father’s company in the show’s third season. “To work with [series creator] Mike White and just to be part of this project was a dream come true,” Patrick told E! News in November 2024. “It was surreal, it was life-changing to learn amongst the other actors.”
When Patrick’s casting was first announced, his mother Maria Shriver, 69, took to Instagram to share her pride. “All that hard work and determination is really paying off,” she wrote. “I can’t wait to visit you on set (am I allowed to visit you on set?) and can’t wait to get all the spoilers from you (you will tell me, right? I am your mother after all!). Wow, wow, wow! See you at the White Lotus! 🪷 #proudmomalert.”
Earlier this year, Patrick revealed to PEOPLE that his love for acting was sparked early on by watching his father at work. “That’s where my first love for acting came from,” he said. “He would always pull me out of school early. I would get to go to Universal Studios—I’d watch him go in as Dad, come out as Mr. Freeze. I would sit there all day and just be fascinated with everything about film.”
As Patrick’s star continues to rise, it’s clear that the connection he shares with his co-stars, along with the grounding influence of his famous family, have set him on a path to forging his own remarkable legacy in Hollywood.