Joshua Springthorpe is the younger son of Grammy-winning singer and actor Rick Springfield and his longtime wife, Barbara Porter. Unlike his famous father, Joshua has spent most of his adult life away from entertainment headlines. However, Rick revealed an interesting update in 2025: after experimenting with work as an agent and playing drums, Joshua was studying to become a child therapist, a career his father said suited his warm and caring personality.
Quick Bio of Joshua Springthorpe
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joshua Springthorpe |
| Famous For | Being Rick Springfield and Barbara Porter’s son |
| Father | Rick Springfield |
| Mother | Barbara Porter |
| Older Brother | Liam Springthorpe |
| Age | 36 in February 2025 |
| Approximate Age in 2026 | Around 37–38 |
| Birth Year | Often reported as 1989, but exact birth date is not strongly confirmed |
| Career Direction | Studying to become a child therapist as of 2025 |
| Earlier Interests | Worked/tried work as an agent and played drums |
| Acting Career | No established professional acting career |
| Relationship Status | Private |
| Children | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net Worth | Not independently verified |
| Public Profile | Very private |
Rick Springfield directly identified Liam as 39 and Joshua as 36 in a February 2025 interview with People. He also described Joshua as his younger son and explained that Joshua was studying child therapy.
Who Is Joshua Springthorpe?
Joshua Springthorpe is one of Rick Springfield and Barbara Porter’s two sons.
Growing up in this family meant being surrounded by music almost automatically.
Rick Springfield became one of the biggest pop-rock stars of the early 1980s. He scored a No. 1 hit with “Jessie’s Girl,” won a Grammy for the song, and also became familiar to television audiences through his work as Dr. Noah Drake on General Hospital. The Hollywood Walk of Fame’s official biography credits him with millions of records sold and numerous Top 40 hits.
Joshua could easily have tried to use that family connection to build an entertainment career.
For a while, it appears he did explore that world.
But his eventual direction was very different.
According to Rick, Joshua tried being an agent and spent some time playing drums before realizing he did not have to follow the same professional path as his father.
That realization seems to be one of the most important parts of Joshua’s adult story.
Why Is His Last Name Springthorpe Instead of Springfield?
This question has a surprisingly simple answer.
Springfield is a stage name.
Rick Springfield was born Richard Lewis Springthorpe on August 23, 1949. He later became professionally known as Rick Springfield.
Joshua therefore uses the family’s actual surname, Springthorpe.
His brother Liam does the same.
This often confuses people who first discover Joshua through searches about “Rick Springfield’s son.”
They may expect his name to be Joshua Springfield.
But Springthorpe is actually the surname connected with Rick’s family before he adopted his famous professional name.
How Old Is Joshua Springthorpe?
Rick Springfield gave one of the strongest recent answers to this question himself.
In February 2025, he told People that his sons were Liam, 39, and Joshua, 36.
That places Joshua at approximately 37 or 38 years old in August 2026, depending on his exact birthday.
Several secondary biographical databases and celebrity profiles list 1989 as Joshua’s birth year.
However, his precise day and month of birth are not firmly established by the strongest mainstream sources.
For that reason, it is better not to invent an exact birthday simply because one appears on a smaller biography website.
The safest summary is:
Joshua Springthorpe was 36 in February 2025 and is approximately 37–38 in 2026.
Who Are Joshua Springthorpe’s Parents?
Joshua’s parents are Rick Springfield and Barbara Porter.
Their relationship began long before Joshua was born.
Rick told People that he first met Barbara briefly during the late 1970s while working at Sound City recording studios in Los Angeles, where Barbara worked. Their paths crossed again while Rick was writing and recording his breakthrough 1981 album Working Class Dog.
That album contained “Jessie’s Girl.”
So Barbara was present during one of the biggest turning points in Rick’s life.
Rick has said that meeting her changed his attitude during a difficult period when he was struggling financially and professionally in America.
The couple eventually married on October 27, 1984. Biographical reference sources identify Liam and Joshua as their two children.
More than four decades later, Rick and Barbara are still publicly identified as husband and wife.
Who Is Joshua Springthorpe’s Mother, Barbara Porter?
Barbara Porter has never pursued fame on the same level as Rick.
She worked at Sound City during the period when Rick was creating the music that eventually transformed his career.
Their relationship developed while he was still trying to establish himself.
In his 2025 interview, Rick described Barbara as the “core” of their relationship and said that throughout their marriage they have taken turns supporting one another during difficult periods.
Barbara has also maintained a relatively quiet profile compared with her husband.
This may help explain why both sons were able to grow up without becoming constant tabloid personalities.
Joshua’s life in particular has remained surprisingly private considering how recognizable his father’s name is.
Joshua Has One Older Brother, Liam Springthorpe
Joshua’s older brother is Liam Springthorpe.
Rick identified Liam as 39 in February 2025, making him roughly three years older than Joshua.
The brothers eventually chose different career paths.
Liam has pursued acting.
Rick told People that Liam was continuing to work toward establishing himself as an actor, while Joshua was moving toward child therapy.
That difference is interesting.
Both brothers grew up with the same famous father.
One moved closer to entertainment.
The other appears to have moved toward a helping profession.
It shows that growing up in a celebrity family does not require siblings to make the same choices.
Did Joshua Springthorpe Want to Work in Entertainment?
For a period, apparently yes.
Rick provided one of the most interesting pieces of information about Joshua when discussing his sons’ careers.
He said his younger son had tried being an agent.
Joshua also played drums for a while.
Music would have been an obvious direction.
His father has spent a lifetime singing, writing songs and performing guitar-driven rock music.
Joshua apparently felt some pressure—whether internal or external—to remain within a similar world.
Rick recalled Joshua telling him that he thought he needed to be in the same business as his father.
Rick’s answer was simple: he wanted his son to be happy and told him to do whatever he wanted.
That conversation appears to have helped Joshua explore a completely different future.
Joshua Springthorpe Is Studying to Become a Child Therapist
This is the most important recent update about Joshua.
As of February 2025, Joshua was studying to become a child therapist.
That is much more specific than the older online biographies saying his profession was completely unknown.
However, wording matters.
A person studying to become a therapist is not necessarily already a licensed therapist.
There is no dependable public information establishing:
- which institution Joshua attended,
- what exact degree or qualification he was pursuing,
- whether he has since completed the program,
- what type of therapy he plans to specialize in,
- or whether he currently works independently with clients.
Those details remain private.
The confirmed fact is simply that Rick said Joshua was studying for a career helping children.
Rick Springfield Said the Career Fits Joshua’s Personality
Rick seemed especially proud of Joshua’s new direction.
When discussing child therapy, he said Joshua has a “great heart” and described the profession as a strong fit for him.
Rick also characterized his son as warm and approachable.
That comment gives readers one of the rare public descriptions of Joshua’s personality.
Most celebrity-family biographies try to describe a private person’s character using guesses.
Here, we actually have comments from his father.
And those comments suggest that Joshua’s interest in therapy is not simply a random career choice.
Rick believes it suits who his son naturally is.
Why Joshua’s Career Choice Is So Different From His Father’s
Rick’s career depends heavily on public attention.
He performs on stages.
He records music.
He acts.
He gives interviews.
He meets fans.
Joshua’s chosen direction is almost the opposite.
Therapy is centered on listening rather than performing.
It requires patience, empathy, trust and careful communication.
A therapist may make an enormous difference in someone’s life while remaining completely unknown to the general public.
That seems especially suitable for someone who has never appeared interested in becoming famous.
Joshua can have meaningful professional work without needing his father’s celebrity.
Growing Up During Rick Springfield’s Fame
Joshua was born after Rick’s first enormous wave of success.
By the time Joshua was a child, “Jessie’s Girl” was already a famous song and Rick had already built a successful career in both music and television.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame notes that Springfield eventually accumulated 17 Top 40 hits and sold approximately 25 million records.
That would create an unusual childhood environment.
Your father’s face appears on television.
Fans recognize him.
People know his songs.
Concerts require travel.
Entertainment work can mean long periods away from home.
But Rick has also discussed the importance of family throughout his adult life.
His 2025 comments about Joshua and Liam show that he and Barbara did not insist that their sons copy his career.
Joshua Springthorpe at the Hollywood Walk of Fame
One of Joshua’s clearest public appearances happened on May 9, 2014.
That day, Rick Springfield received the 2,525th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the recording category.
Joshua attended the ceremony with his parents.
UPI photographs from the event specifically identify Rick Springfield, Barbara Porter and their son Joshua Springthorpe together at the unveiling.
Getty Images also identifies Joshua in photographs from the ceremony alongside Rick and Barbara.
The pictures provide one of the easiest ways for fans to recognize Joshua.
They also show something consistent with his overall public story.
He may stay away from celebrity life most of the time, but he was there for an important moment celebrating his father’s career.
Is Joshua Springthorpe an Actor?
There is no strong evidence showing that Joshua Springthorpe has developed a professional acting career.
This is sometimes confused online because his brother Liam is involved with acting.
Rick’s own 2025 comments make the difference clear.
He discussed Liam in connection with acting while describing Joshua’s career direction as child therapy.
Joshua’s earlier interests involved working as an agent and playing drums rather than establishing himself as a screen actor.
So unless reliable new information appears, he should not be described as a professional actor.
Is Joshua Springthorpe a Musician?
Joshua has played drums, according to Rick Springfield.
However, that does not automatically make him a professional musician.
Rick said Joshua “played the drums for a while” while discussing the different paths his younger son experimented with before turning toward therapy.
There is no major solo discography attached to Joshua’s name.
He is not known for touring professionally.
He has not released famous albums under the Springthorpe name.
So it is better to describe drumming as one of his earlier interests rather than his established profession.
Is Joshua Springthorpe Married?
Joshua’s current marital status has not been reliably confirmed by major public sources.
There are no strong mainstream reports identifying a wife.
There is also no dependable wedding announcement regularly cited in reputable coverage of Rick Springfield’s family.
Because Joshua is an adult private person, his relationship life does not need to become public unless he chooses to make it so.
Claims naming a girlfriend, wife or partner should therefore be checked carefully rather than copied from another biography website.
Does Joshua Springthorpe Have Children?
There is similarly no reliable mainstream confirmation that Joshua has children.
Older celebrity profiles often answer this question simply by saying the information is unknown.
That remains the responsible answer.
Joshua’s interest in becoming a child therapist does not tell us whether he is a parent himself.
Those are completely separate things.
Joshua Springthorpe’s Net Worth
There is no verified public figure for Joshua Springthorpe’s personal net worth.
This is another area where celebrity websites can become misleading.
Rick Springfield has had a commercially successful career.
But Rick’s success should not simply be converted into an imaginary net-worth figure for his son.
Joshua’s actual finances would depend on private information such as:
income,
savings,
investments,
property,
debts,
and other assets.
None of those are publicly established in a way that allows an accurate calculation.
Therefore, any website claiming Joshua has an exact personal fortune should be treated cautiously.
Does Joshua Springthorpe Use Social Media?
There is no widely verified major public account that Joshua uses as a celebrity platform.
This matches the rest of his life.
He rarely appears in entertainment coverage.
He has not turned his family name into an influencer business.
And most confirmed details about him have come from Rick rather than Joshua’s own interviews or public posts.
That privacy helps explain why outdated biographies once knew so little about his career.
The important 2025 child-therapy update came because his father finally discussed it publicly.
Joshua and His Father Appear to Have a Supportive Relationship
Rick’s comments about Joshua are notably encouraging.
Rather than telling his son to become a musician or use the Springfield name, Rick said he simply wanted him to find something that made him happy.
That is particularly meaningful considering Rick’s own career.
He has spent decades in a highly competitive industry.
He knows how unstable creative careers can be.
Rick discussed that instability while speaking about Liam’s acting work, noting that artistic careers do not always offer the security of regular employment.
Joshua’s decision to study therapy therefore represents more than simply avoiding fame.
It is a genuine independent career choice.
Why People Search for Joshua Springthorpe
Rick Springfield’s music continues to attract listeners decades after his biggest 1980s hits.
“Jessie’s Girl” remains especially recognizable.
Fans also know him from General Hospital and later acting appearances.
As people learn more about Rick, they naturally search for his family.
Questions usually include:
Who is Rick Springfield’s son?
How many sons does Rick Springfield have?
What does Joshua Springthorpe do?
Is Joshua Springthorpe a musician?
Why does Joshua use Springthorpe instead of Springfield?
The 2025 interview finally answered one of the biggest questions.
Joshua was not simply “doing nothing” or mysteriously hiding a career.
He was studying to work with children as a therapist.
What We Actually Know About Joshua Springthorpe
The verified story is clearer than many older biographies suggest.
Joshua is Rick Springfield and Barbara Porter’s younger son.
His older brother is Liam.
Rick Springfield’s real surname is Springthorpe, explaining Joshua’s family name.
In February 2025, Rick said Joshua was 36.
Joshua had experimented with becoming an agent.
He had played drums.
He once believed he might need to work in his father’s industry.
Rick told him that was unnecessary and encouraged him to pursue what made him happy.
By 2025, Joshua was studying to become a child therapist, and Rick publicly said he was proud of him.
Joshua also attended his father’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 2014.
His exact birthday, current relationship status, children and finances remain private.
That is the most dependable picture available.
Final Thoughts
Joshua Springthorpe’s biography shows how differently two generations of the same family can approach success.
His father became famous by standing on stages, recording hit songs and appearing on television.
Joshua grew up close to all of that.
He even tried a few entertainment-related directions of his own, including working as an agent and playing drums.
But he eventually realized that he did not need to become another version of Rick Springfield.
His father supported that choice.
By 2025, Joshua was studying to become a child therapist—a path focused more on helping individuals than entertaining crowds. Rick described the career as an especially good match for his son’s caring personality.
That is perhaps the most interesting thing about Joshua.
He comes from a famous family but appears comfortable choosing something completely different.
And although he rarely steps into the spotlight, his appearance beside Rick and Barbara at the 2014 Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony shows that he remains part of his father’s important family moments.
For readers searching for Joshua Springthorpe, the clearest answer is this: he is Rick Springfield and Barbara Porter’s younger son, Liam Springthorpe’s brother, a former drummer and would-be agent who was studying child therapy as of 2025, and an adult who has largely kept his personal life away from celebrity attention.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joshua Springthorpe
Who is Joshua Springthorpe?
Joshua Springthorpe is the younger son of singer and actor Rick Springfield and his wife, Barbara Porter.
How old is Joshua Springthorpe?
Rick Springfield said Joshua was 36 years old in February 2025. That puts him at approximately 37–38 in August 2026, depending on his birthday.
When was Joshua Springthorpe born?
Several secondary sources report 1989, but his exact date of birth has not been firmly confirmed by a strong mainstream or primary source.
Who is Joshua Springthorpe’s father?
His father is Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and actor Rick Springfield, born Richard Lewis Springthorpe.
Who is Joshua Springthorpe’s mother?
His mother is Barbara Porter, who met Rick through Sound City recording studios before they built their life together.
Does Joshua Springthorpe have siblings?
Yes. His older brother is Liam Springthorpe, who has pursued acting.
What does Joshua Springthorpe do for a living?
As of February 2025, Joshua was studying to become a child therapist. His father did not provide the specific institution or program.
Was Joshua Springthorpe a talent agent?
Rick Springfield said Joshua tried to be an agent before choosing another direction. It is unclear how long he worked in that field.
Does Joshua Springthorpe play music?
Rick said Joshua played drums for a period, but there is no evidence that he built a major professional music career.
Is Joshua Springthorpe an actor?
No established source shows Joshua pursuing a professional acting career. His brother Liam is the sibling Rick discussed as an actor.
Why is Joshua’s surname Springthorpe?
Because Rick Springfield’s birth name is Richard Lewis Springthorpe. “Rick Springfield” is his father’s professional stage name.
Was Joshua Springthorpe at Rick Springfield’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony?
Yes. Joshua attended the May 9, 2014 ceremony with Rick and Barbara Porter, and photographs from UPI and Getty identify him there.
Is Joshua Springthorpe married?
His current marital or relationship status has not been reliably confirmed publicly.
Does Joshua Springthorpe have children?
There is no dependable public confirmation that he has children.
What is Joshua Springthorpe’s net worth?
Joshua’s personal net worth is not publicly verified. Exact numbers on celebrity biography websites should be treated as estimates rather than established facts.
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