This is the real reason Ross Gellar's son Ben disappeared from Friends ...

Eagle-eyed Friends fans will have noticed that after 8 seasons, Ross Gellar’s son Ben completely vanished from the show.

Now, the actor who played the cheeky child, Cole Sprouse, has revealed why he thinks Ben was axed.

The 26-year-old – who now stars on the hit TV series Riverdale alongside Kiwi KJ Apa – explained in a YouTube video for GQ magazine that the reason for Ben’s absence on the show may be down to Ross’ lack of skills as a parent.

"Critics would agree that Ross was never really the most present father," he said of the character played by David Schwimmer.

"And so it doesn't surprise me too much."

Fans on Reddit have also discussed why Ross' son was cast out and never met his half-sister, Emma.

"I think Ross Geller lost custody of his son Ben in the later seasons of Friends," one person posted.

• READ MORE: This is what Ross' adorable son Ben from Friends looks like now

"Friends was on for ten seasons, but Ben doesn't show up in person after episode twelve of season eight. He's only mentioned six times in the remaining fifty-four episodes after his last appearance."

They went on to consider: "People like to give Ross the benefit of the doubt, wondering if perhaps he was a better father off-screen.

"Perhaps his children met but the audience never saw.

• READ MORE: QUIZ - Which Friends character are you?

"The more likely answer is that he was such a deadbeat father that he completely faded away from his son's life, pretending to his family and so-called friends that he still saw a boy he barely knew."

As the final season of Friends wrapped up, it was never made clear if Ben and Ross maintained a relationship.