Owen Wilson's father has Alzheimer's.

The 'Zoolander' star has admitted that it has been difficult for the whole family to cope with Bob Wilson's battle with the disease.

He said: ''It's one of those things where if somebody had said 10 years ago, when my dad and I were joking around, having a putting match, that this is the position your dad's going to be in, where he basically needs 24-hour care, you'd think, 'Gosh, I won't be able to handle that. That's just not possible.'

''But it does happen. Such things just happen in life. You just have to do your best to deal with it. You've got no choice but to accept it. And then, you sort of still look for the things to be grateful for. He is at home, taken care of, and he has people around that love him.

''For me and my brothers, there just wasn't a bigger influence on us. Maybe it sounds trite or something, but I really believe that his spirit gets carried on through me, the way I like to joke around.''

And being a father himself to four-year-old Robert and 18-month-old Finn, the 46-year-old actor has admitted fatherhood can be ''stressful'' at times.

He told Dallas Morning News: ''There's a lot of stress inherent in being a parent. And worrying about your children and wanting them to be OK.

''When they're born, you feel this love you've never felt before. If they were in danger, you'd just do anything that you could to help them.''