by Cary O'Dell
Recently, there was a news story on showbiz “nepo-babies.” “Nepo-babies” are those kids of celebs (and often, too, of big business leaders) who seem to have a leg-up when it comes to breaking into film and TV thanks to their famous last name. Among the names discussed was everyone from Kate Hudson to Chet Hanks to Lily Rose Depp. The article set off a firestorm of comment online and across Twitter and other platforms. But I couldn’t help but think, “Sometimes talent runs through generations.”
Then began I began to think of how, sometimes now, now that that filmmaking is over 100 years old and TV is in its 70’s, how frequently this familial phenomenon is occurring, spanning now to THREE generations of family all working in what has become the “family business”—show biz. Here are some of them….
The Redgraves: The grand dynasty and most esteemed example of a three-generation show biz family is probably the Redgraves whose lineage of acting legends began with the great Michael Redgrave and then journeyed down to his three children, Vanessa, Corin, and Lynn. The children of each of these three have all gone onto some sort of job in entertainment, with the acting bug having bit two of Vanessa’s children, Joely Richardson and the late Natasha Richardson. (Meanwhile, the son of Natasha and her widower Liam Neeson has started to act some—that makes generation #4!)
The Barrymores: If there’s an American equivalent to the Redgraves, it is probably the Barrymores. Ethel, John and Lionel were all theater and/or screen legends. Ethel had two children who followed her onto the stage but her brother John Barrymore had far more famous children via various wives. His offspring included actress Diana Barrymore (who died in 1960) and actor John Drew Barrymore (1932-2004). John Drew also had multiple wives. With one, he had a daughter, actress and TV talk show host, Drew Barrymore.
The Fondas: And, of course, we can’t exclude the all-American Fondas. Dad Henry was a star from the 1930s all the way up through “On Golden Pond” in 1981. Beginning in 1960, his daughter Jane Fonda began making films. She scored her first Oscar in 1971 for “Klute.” Her brother, Peter, began in films in 1963. Before her voluntary retirement from acting, Peter’s daughter, Bridget, appeared in films like “Point of No Return,” “Single White Female,” and “Jackie Brown.” Peter’s son, Justin Fonda, is also an actor as is Jane’s son, Troy Garity.
The Pines: Some may not realize that current action star Chris Pine (of the “Wonder Woman” film franchise and other roles) is a third generation performer as well. His dad is actor Robert Pine, most famous for his role as Sgt. Getraer on the NBC series “CHiPs.” Meanwhile, Robert’s mother was Anne Gwynne, an actress, popular pin-up and early “scream queen” of some beloved Universal horror films of the 1940s.
The Nelsons: Often overlooked among showbiz dynasties for some reason are the Nelsons. This family is most famous as the stars of TV’s “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” That immortal sitcom ran from 1952 to 1966. It starred not only the patriarch and matriarch of the family, Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Nelson, but also their two handsome sons—David and Ricky. After the show came to a close—and sometimes during it—the two younger Nelsons struck out on their own, David, in acting and, for Ricky, in music. Ricky was named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, two years after his untimely death in 1985. Ricky had four children. The twins Matthew and Gunnar became the popular rock duo Nelson. His other son, Sam, has dabbled in “the family business” and his daughter, Tracy Nelson, was on TV’s “Square Pegs” and “Father Dowling Mysteries.”
The Carradines: Another family where the acting bug bit hard is the Carradines. Father John Carradine was a legendary character actor of film, stage and TV whose on-screen credits number well over 200. He had five sons, who, at one time or another, all appeared in movies or TV. Three of them have had highly successful careers: Robert Carradine, Keith Carradine and the late David Carradine. Of the Carradine boys’ offspring, at least two have followed their elders into show business, including Ever Carradine, daughter of Robert, and actress Martha Plimpton, the daughter of Keith Carradine.
The Elliots: Did we forget about this funny family? The patriarch was Bob Elliot, one half of the legendary radio duo Bob and Ray. Bob’s son is Chris Elliot, who followed up his famous appearances on David Letterman’s various shows, with appearances in TV shows like “Get a Life” and “Schitt’s Creek” and in big screen vehicles like “Cabin Boy.” Chris has two daughters carrying on the family tradition. There’s Bridey and his daughter Abby. Abby was a member of the cast of “Saturday Night Live” for a time and, more recently, was on the NBC sitcom “Indebted.”
The Reynolds: The late Debbie Reynolds—star of films like “Singin’ in the Rain” and “How the West Was Won”—was the mom to the funny and famous Carrie Fisher who appeared in, among other things, a little film titled “Star Wars.” Carrie’s daughter is Billie Lourd and she’s been seen in everything from “American Horror Story” to the films “Ticket to Paradise” and “Booksmart.”
The Chaplins: They don’t come any more famous than Charlie Chaplin, a.k.a. the “Little Tramp.” Nor, it seems, do they come more prolific in terms of children: Chaplin would sire 11 kids over the course of his lifetime. Many of the Chaplin offspring had acting roles in their father’s films with Sydney Chaplin and, especially, Geradline Chaplin before going onto successful acting careers of their own. Among the grandkids, Geraldine’s daughter Oona Chaplin has had recent high-profile roles in “Avatar,” “Game of Thrones” and other recent film/TV works.
The Cassidys: Jack Cassidy was a Tony Award winner and multiple Emmy nominee and a regular on 1960s TV. He had three sons: David, who became a mega-star via “The Partridge Family” co-staring his step-mom, Shirley Jones; Shaun, who also became a major teen idol thanks to TV’s “The Hardy Boys” and some best-selling records; and Patrick, who, along with a plethora of TV appearances, has been very active on the stage. David Cassidy (who passed away in 2017) had two children, both now actors. They are Beau and Katie. Katie Cassidy has had roles on the show “Arrow,” among other film and TV credits.
The Hedrens: Hitchcock’s great leading lady Tippi Hedren (of “The Birds”) is, of course, the mom to Oscar-nominated actress Melanie Griffith. Griffith was married for a time to “Miami Vice” vet Don Johnson and, together, they had daughter Dakota Johnson. Johnson is most famous for her role in the “Fifty Shades of Grey” films.
The McQueens: Steve McQueen, with his first wife, Neile Adams, had a son, Chad McQueen. Along with following in his dad’s footsteps by racing cars, Chad is also an actor who appeared in the original “Karate Kid.” His son, Steven R. McQueen, is now also an actor who has been on “Everwood,” “The Vampire Diaries,” and, now, “Chicago Fire.”
The Sutherlands: Donald Sutherland, of course, is known for a litany for great films and his son Kiefer is known for films like “Lost Boys” as well as TV programs like “24” and “Designated Survivor.” Kiefer’s daughter, Sarah Sutherland, is acting now too and is best known for her role as Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ daughter on “Veep.”
The Hustons: And, of course, we can’t forget the Hustons. Oscar-winning actor Walter Huston beget film director John Huston who beget Oscar-winning daughter Anjelica Huston as well as actor/director Danny Huston. John’s other son, Tony (an actor/writer) had a son, Jack Huston who is now acting. His most high-profile role so far has probably been in “Boardwalk Empire.”
Post-Modern Sitcoms / Actors That Wrote Books / 1987 Gilbert Gottfried Pilot Written By Larry David / Tarantino, DiCaprio & Pitt on Once Upon A Time In Hollywood / Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci Talk Goodfellas / Coming to America - The Awful Sitcom? / Robert Wagner Interview / Helen Mirren on 1923 / Lucky 19-Year Old Birthday Boy on The Price is Right / 1990-1999 TV Commercials / James Hong on the First & Only Asian Talent Agent in Hollywood / More Than Myagi: The Pat Morita Story / Chevy Chase 2021 Interview / Ally McBeal and that Darn Dancing Baby / Ed Begley Jr. Interview / Rap Folk Artist Demeanor Interview / Peter Boyle's Heart Attack on the Set of Everybody Loves Raymond / Patrick Swayze Refused To Do 'Ghost' Without Whoopie Goldberg / Clark Furlong on Stephen King's Mini-Series Lisey's Story / 14-Year Old Brody Bett Steals the Show at a David Foster Concert / Worst Big Budget Superhero Movie of All Time / Jerry Springer's Toxic TV Legacy / Three Generations of Talent / Mary McCormack on The West Wing / One Season Too Many / Dick Wolf on the Writer's Strike / Angela Lansbury Tribute / Sam Fribush Organ Trio / Why The Nanny Matters / Houston Knights / Rissi Palmer is Still Here / Uncle Buck Sitcom / My Brush With King Charles / Bonnie Bartlett Daniels Interview / Frank Zappa Talk Show? / Remembering Marvel & Buffy Scribe Pierce Askegren / Piper Laurie Tribute / 1993 Route 66 Reboot / David Hyde Pierce on the Last Days of ‘Frazier’ / Angela Lansbury Interview / The Shadow Movies of the 1930s & 40s / Remembering Hal Holbrook / Remembering Angela Lansbury / Greensboro Movie Theaters : Star Theatre / Police Squad Shot-By-Shot Remake of M Squad! / A Painting Saved Bill Murray's Life / Why Jim Carrey Fought to Cast Jeff Daniels in 'Dumb and Dumber' / Meredith Baxter Talks Breast Cancer / Sopranos Creator David Chase Had to Fight to Make Tony Soprano the Mobster He Was / Joan Collins on Working With Drunk Actors / Snowmaggedon 1969 / Joe Pesci HATES Practical Jokes / Books About Showbiz / Making It in Showbiz / Dark Justice / My Fave Book About Showbiz / Remembering Billy Packer / More Celebrity Biographies / Peter Falk : Inside The Actor's Studio / Jason Alexander on Duckman / Robert Ebert on Robert Mitchum / Watch Dave Chappelle's New Netflix Special for Free / Margaret (Wicked Witch of the West) Hamilton Was Almost Scarred For Life Filming Wizard of Oz / Restaurant Chains We Might Lose In 2020 / Night Heat / Short History of TV Advertising / Is Ellen A Monster? / To Binge Or Not To Binge? / 1986-87 TV SEASON / Celebrity Bios 4 / 1988-89 TV SEASON / 1990-91 TV SEASON / Can Comic Book City Survive? / When TV Plays Politics for Laughs / The Worst Thing I Ever Saw (Part 2) / Greensboro's Beef (Biff) Burger Has Closed! / Sally Field Looks Back on Smokey and the Bandit / Actors Writing Memoirs 2 / Gene Wilder's Sexual Chemistry with Richard Pryor / WORST Pizzas Served On Kitchen Nightmares / Ricky Gervais' Cruelly Funny 2020 Golden Globe Monologue / What It's Like To Win A New Car on The Price Is Right / Night Train! 3 - Las Vegas Comic Pat Cooper / Night Train! 4 - Resurrection and Death of Louis Prima / Denis Shepard of Paradise Lost / Space Force Logo is a Ripoff from Star Trek! / Batman Movie from 1939? What?!? / Michael Richards (Kramer) Really Hated It When his Seinfeld Co-Stars Messed Up / Melissa McCarthy Almost Quit Acting Days Before Landing Gilmore Girls / Bar Rescue's Wildest Customers! / How The Golden Girls and Elvis Got Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs Made / Charlie Brown Voice Actor Released From Prison / New Year's Eve on TV / Sir Laurence Olivier on the 'Genius' of Marlon Brando / 1967 Futurists Predict The 21st Century / Remembering Diahann Carroll / 50 Funniest Niles Crane Insults / TV HITS - By the Numbers / How Tom Hanks Played Mr. Rogers / Colin Farrell as The Penguin? / Alex Baldwin On His TV and Film Roles / Ray Charles' BIG Problem With TV / Malcolm Gladwell on TV Crime Dramas / Why Dolly Parton Would Not Let Elvis Record 'I Will Always Love You' / Top Ten Sitcoms of the 1970s / Danny McBride Rebooting Hogan's Heroes? / Fashion on TV / Alive & Well / James Cameron Made No Money for Titanic / Whatever Happened To Miss Cleo? / Lucy Blows Off Burt Reynolds / Dave Navarro Meets His Mother's Killer / The Real Mindhunters Killers / John Goodman Breaks Down His Iconic Roles / Growing Up In The Playboy Mansion / Ed McMahon Drunk on the Air! / Lucy Interviewed by Barbara Walters / Valerie Harper Cancer / Jeff Bridges Breaks Down His Iconic Roles / Dog Fight! The KCNC Scandal / Buckley vs Hefner / Laurence Olivier vs Marilyn Monroe / Dallas vs Eight is Enough / 1974 MAD Magazine TV Special - Never Aired! / Iconic M*A*S*H Restaurant Coming To Kroger? / Matt Damon, Bill Murray, and Graham Norton - Big Laughs! / When Lucy Got Fired / Partridge Family and Brady Bunch at Kings Island theme park 1972-73 / Awkward Talk Show Moments / Allan Blye Interview / Jack Benny's Last Tonight Show 1974 / Patricia Heaton's Audition for Everybody Loves Raymond / Luke Perry's Last Role / Johnny Cash's Last Interview / Judy Garland's Last Film / Who Was Bob Gordon? / Richard Dreyfuss vs Bill Murray / Jeff Ross vs Everybody / Tennessee Williams 1972 Interview / Ed Asner Interview / Norm Macdonald vs OJ Simpson / Tony Kornheiser Interview / Freddy's Nightmares TV Series / Awful 1990s TV Shows / The Funniest Comebacks in Talk Show History / Was Sonny Bono Murdered? / Robin Williams' Mrs. Doubtfire Screen Tests / Robert Downey Jr Asks for Forgiveness for Mel Gibson / Russell Brand / Hank Williams: The Show He Never Gave / Judy Garland vs Liz Taylor / Emmy Award Multiple Winners / Nathaniel Taylor aka Rollo Lawson / Anthony Zuiker: Mr. CSI / Jimmy & Cher / Diana Muldaur: A Viewer's History / Uncle Andy's Funhouse / Bea Arthur vs Betty White / Skidoo: Worst All-Star Comedy Ever? / Every Marvel Cartoon Opening Theme From 1966 - Present / When Stars Play Themselves / My Pen Pal is in the Pen, Pal / Small Roles Big Performances / Barbara Hall / Stars Before They Were Famous / Stars Before They Were Famous 2 / Stars Before They Were Famous 3 / A Better Classic TV Network / Bill Paxton / Who Was the Black Daliah? / How Frasier Was Created / Music Videos / Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - Behind the Scenes / Shirley Jones Interview / What We Lost When We Lost VHS / When Hit TV Shows Return / Commercials Starring Sopranos Cast Members / Shows Nobody Remembers But Me 4 / Shows Nobody Remembers But Me 1 / Bryan Cranston Interview / FREE streaming movie service you didn’t know you have / The Great Cable TV Migration / Sportscaster Woody Durham / Movie Posters and the documentary 24x36 /Chris Robinson /Dallas Reboot /David Letterman /Auditioning For Game Shows in the 80s /Ghosts of Cable TV past / Honey Boo Boo - WTF?!? / Steven Bochco Tribute / Ian Abercrombie / Joe Franklin / John Nettles / Gotham / Family Fued: Gilligan's Island vs Lost In Space / Jon Cryer / Jon Stewart / Lana Wood / David Letterman / Matt Bomer / Molly Ringwald / Morgan Brittany / Music Rights for TV Shows / Neilsen Ratings / Norman Lloyd / Not Your Dad's TV / TV Series Reunions / Rich Little / Special Bulletin with George Clooney / Howard Stern VS Jamie Foxx / Top Ten Action Movies / 2013 Emmy Awards / 2010 Celebrity Deaths
|
It is what it is!
|
