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Mike Holmes Jr., an esteemed figure in the realm of home renovation, stands as the sole son in a family celebrated for its influential home improvement television series and expansive business ventures. Alongside his father, Mike Holmes, and sister, Sherry Holmes, he has been a fixture in several HGTV shows. Their journey began with “Holmes on Homes,” which made its debut on HGTV Canada in 2001, followed by other popular series like “Holmes Inspection,” “Holmes Makes It Right,” and “Holmes and Holmes.”
In recent years, the Holmes family has continued to captivate audiences with their latest endeavors. “Holmes Family Rescue” premiered in late 2021, marking a new chapter for the family on HGTV in both Canada and the U.S. Their storytelling continued with “Holmes on Homes: Building a Legacy,” which began airing in October 2025. Viewers are drawn to Holmes Jr.’s upbeat demeanor and heartfelt interactions with his family. However, beneath the surface of this public persona lies a personal history marked by adversity.
Holmes Jr. has found joy in his personal life, celebrating milestones with his wife, Lisa Marie Holmes (née Grant). The couple welcomed their daughter, Azura Vie Holmes, in 2023, followed by the birth of their son, Aurélien Holmes, in 2025. While the Holmes family is now thriving and growing, their past is tinged with hardship. Shortly after Holmes Jr.’s birth in 1989, his family faced a series of trials and tribulations.
Reflecting on those challenging times, Mike Holmes Sr. shared insights during an interview with Maclean’s. The early 1990s saw a severe economic downturn that crippled his business. The elder Holmes was forced to lay off his entire workforce and sell both his company’s premises and his personal vehicle. These financial setbacks strained his marriage, leading to a separation from his wife, Alexandra Lorex, when their son was just a young child.
Mike’s family has experienced a lot of loss
Tragedy compounded when, merely a month following his parents’ separation, Holmes Jr. experienced the loss of his paternal grandfather. As recounted to Maclean’s, his grandfather died at the age of 55 in a tragic accident: “My dad went down to the basement one night, missed the top step, fell down the stairs and broke his neck.” The family dynamic further shifted with the official divorce of Holmes and Lorex in 1993.
His father, Mike Holmes, opened up about this period in an interview with Maclean’s. He recounted how a major economic slump in the early 1990s devastated his business, with the elder Holmes having to lay off all his employees and sell not only his company’s building but his own car. The financial woes affected his marriage, with Holmes and his wife, Alexandra Lorex, separating when their son was just a toddler.
Just one month after his parents’ separation, Holmes Jr. lost his grandfather on his dad’s side. Speaking to Maclean’s, Holmes explained that his father died at the age of 55 from an unexpected accidental death: “My dad went down to the basement one night, missed the top step, fell down the stairs and broke his neck.” The family further fractured when Holmes and Lorex officially divorced in 1993.
Only a few years later, Holmes Jr. lost his grandmother, Shirley Holmes, at the age of 56. While the elder Holmes didn’t share many details about her death, he did tell Maclean’s that the medication she took for a heart condition was what led to her death. The Holmes family’s history of health issues has unfortunately persisted — one of Holmes Jr.’s sisters, Sherry Holmes, had a brain tumor; the other, Amanda Holmes, has Crohn’s disease.
He mourned the death of a close friend and castmate
In late 2025, Mike Holmes Jr., his father, and everyone else who worked on “Holmes Family Rescue” said goodbye to a friend and castmate after electrician Frank Cozzolino died. The Holmes family shared the sad news on social media, where they paid tribute to their late friend. Mike Holmes wrote on Instagram, “Frank made us better. His impact will live on in every home he helped … Frank will forever be part of the Holmes family. Miss you buddy.”
Holmes Jr. also posted a touching memorial to Cozzolino after his death, sharing a photo of himself posing with his sister, Sherry Holmes, and the electrician on a job site. Holmes Jr. wrote on Instagram, “Rest in peace Frank … It’s hard to believe you’re gone. You were one of a kind.” Fans of the show and people who knew Cozzolino shared their condolences.
Also in 2025, Holmes Jr.’s family dog, Caicos, died just days before his son was born. The HGTV star shared the news on social media with a post including plenty of photos from Caicos’ life with him and his wife, Lisa Marie Holmes. Holmes Jr. also mentioned how their young daughter was taking the loss, writing on Instagram, “Azura has asked for him every day since he left us.” He signed off with a message about how they love and miss the sweet pup.
Mike’s family business is facing a lawsuit and trying to stop scams
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Audiences know that things always seem to wrap up nicely by the end of any episode on HGTV. It’s not that simple in real life, though. Mike Holmes Jr. and his family know that business can get complicated, as evidenced by an $8 million lawsuit against them for a housing project advertised as “Mike Holmes Approved.” CBC News reported that the lawsuit was filed in December 2021 by a consumer protection organization called Tarion.
The suit alleged that houses in the TerraceWood development, which Holmes helped promote, were filled with defects, involving “a perfect storm of errors and neglect by multiple parties.” In 2024, multiple homes in the development were demolished as a result of the defects. After receiving backlash, Mike Holmes attempted to do damage control with a since-deleted statement on his Facebook page (via CBC News). The Holmes family and their Make It Right brand criticized the media for allegedly selective reporting that took things out of context.
Holmes admitted that his company advertised inspection services and material upgrades for the homes, but said they never had actual access to the homes because they were not hired to inspect those specific properties. The ongoing lawsuit is one scandal that continues to mar Holmes’ reputation.
Along with the lawsuit, Holmes and his family have been the victims of scammers, with many people impersonating them in order to scam money out of prospective clients. According to CBC News, one woman was almost scammed out of $21,000, and she wanted to warn others of the dangers. The Holmes family has tried to warn people about this through social media and YouTube messages, attempting to thwart any more potential tragedies.