Acting bloodlines run deep through Hollywood creating a very large and vaste Hommywood Family Dynasties. Entertainment is a family business for some of the biggest stars in the industry. So it’s no secret that having a famous last name can get you through the door, especially in a place like Hollywood.
some Hollywood families have managed not just to earn their spot in the firmament, but to improve their legacies generation after generation.
We’ve ranked the 5 most important and oldest families in Hollywood history, based on their contributions to the industry as well as the extent to which their power is felt today. Some are old-school Hollywood moguls, some are unforgettable stars, and some are the behind-the-scenes managers who really make the town run; all of them have made the business what it is today.
1/The Barrymores :
The First Family of American acting, The Barrymore family has been involved with acting for 4 generations, since the 1800s.
1st generation : Maurice Barrymore and wife Georgiana Drew
Maurice Barrymore :
Real name : Herbert Blythe, (September 1849– 25 March 1905), was a British stage actor who started his acting career in 1875 when he moved from london to new york.
Georgiana Drew :
His Wife, actress Georgiana Drew (July 11, 1856 – July 2, 1893), is also a member of a famous theatrical family. The pair got married in 1876.
2nd generation : The Children
1/ Lionel Barrymore : (Apr.28, 1878 – Nov.15, 1954)
Their eldest child was an actor/director/writer/producer/composer, who won an Oscar in 1931 for “A Free Soul”.
Lionel became a leading Broadway actor in the World War I era, then moved to Hollywood in 1926, where he made more than 200 films.
2/ Ethel Barrymore : (August 15, 1879 – June 18, 1959)
She acted on Broadway for 30 years, before opening the theater named for her in 1928. In 1945, she won an Oscar for None but the Lonely Heart.
3/ John Barrymore : (Feb.14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942)
Their brother, John, was also an actor, and arguably the most prominent of the siblings appearing in many classic films of the 20s and 30s.
3rd generation : John Barrymore’s children
1/ Diana Barrymore: (March 3, 1921 – Jan.25, 1960)
Diana was a film and stage actress.
2/ John Drew Barrymore: (June 4, 1932 – November 29, 2004)
he was also a film actor.
Only two of his children are actors entered the family profession. But neither had the kind of recognition or work their father had, and both led rather troubled lives.
4th generation : John Drew Barrymore’s children
John Drew Barrymore produced two actors :
1/ John Blyth Barrymore : (born 1954)
John is a retired actor, known for his role as Zeke in the 1970s television series Kung Fu, which was his first role on television.
2/ Drew Barrymore : (born in 1975)
The family legacy is now carried on by: actress, producer, and director Drew Barrymore.
who has starred in over 50 films and heads her own production company, Flower Films. And has her own talk show the drew barrymore show.
2/The Coppolas
The Coppola family is one of Hollywood’s most successful extended families alive today, Who left a huge mark on Hollywood.
The Coppola family tree branches wide_over three generations- but its root system is strong thanks to its spiritual patriarch: director Francis Ford Coppola.
1st generation :
1/ Francis Ford Coppola : (born 1939)
He is a 5 time Academy Award winner director, who defined 70s Hollywood with The Godfather (1972), The Conversation (1974), and Apocalypse Now (1979).
– Francis’ wife, Eleanor, (born May 4, 1936)
she is a writer and documentarian. Perhaps most famously in “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse.”
2/ Talia Shire : (born 1946)
His younger sister Talia is an actress famous for starring opposite Sylvester Stallone in Rocky. she was also featured in The Godfather trilogy.
3/ August Coppola : (February 16, 1934 – October 27, 2009)
The older brother August has preferred to work behind the scenes as an executive at Zoetrope, and the chairman and champion of various film festivals and organizations.
2nd generation :
1/ Francis’ children :
– Sofia Coppola (born May 14, 1971)
Francis’ acclaimed writer-director daughter Sofia, won an Oscar for writing Lost in Translation. She’s also the third woman to be nominated for Best Director.
– Roman Coppola, (April 22, 1965)
Her older brother Roman, is a Golden Globe-winning filmmaker, who produces and writes (Moonrise Kingdom).
– Gian-Carlo Coppola, (September 17, 1963 – May 26, 1986)
Son Gian-Carlo was a film producer.
2/ Talia’s children :
– Jason Schwartzman, (born June 26, 1980)
Talia’s son Jason, has starred in over 40 film and television projects, many of them Wes Anderson’s films.
– Robert Schwartzman, (born December 24, 1982)
His brother Robert is a filmmaker, director, screenwriter, director, actor and musician. He is best known for directing Dreamland, The Unicorn, and The Argument.
He also starred in “The Princess Diaries” and some other films, but is best-known as the lead vocalist of the band Rooney.
3/ August’s children :
-Nicolas Cage (real name Nicolas Coppola, born January 7, 1964)
Cage is an Oscar-winning actor, who has been in nearly every film ever made in the 21st century.
-Marc Coppola, (born in 1958)
Cage’s older brother Marc is a famous D.J. who has played extras in several of his family’s films.
– Christopher Coppola, (born January 25, 1962)
Their brother Christopher is a film director and a producer.
3rd generation :
1/ Nicolas cage’s children :
-Weston Coppola Cage, (dec.26, 1990)
Nicolas’ oldest son, Weston, is an actor, musician and comic book writer. Who has dabbled in acting alongside his father.
2/ Gian-Carlo’s children :
-Gia Coppola, (born January 1, 1987)
His daughter, Gia Coppola, is a film director and a screenwriter. Her debut film was, Palo Alto, in 2013.
3/The Redgraves
Five generations of Redgraves have left their marks in Hollywood. Books have been written about their vast, impressive, and ongoing family.
1st generation :
George Ellsworthy “Roy” Redgrave (26 April 1873 – 25 May 1922)
The first recorded member of the Redgrave acting dynasty is George Ellsworthy Redgrave (Roy to his friends and fans).
He was an English stage and silent film actor. He was acting onstage by 1894, and started working in silent films in 1911. and racking up a resume of 10 films, finishing his career in 1920.
2nd generation : George Redgrave’s children
He had five children including Michael Redgrave
Michael Redgrave (March20, 1908 –March 21, 1985)
He was an Oscar-nominated actor in the 1950s and ’60s, a legend on the British stage, director, manager and author. And was eventually knighted for his contribution to the arts.
3rd generation : Michael Redgrave’s children
-Vanessa Redgrave (born January, 30, 1937)
Legendary actress Vanessa is the most prominent of the group. Over a six decades career, she has won every other acting award that exists. She’s been nominated six times for a Best Actress Oscar, and won once for a supporting role in Julia (1977).
Vanessa has been called “the greatest actor of her generation”. She’s made over 80 films, and 35 plays.
-Lynn Redgrave, (March 8, 1943 – May 2, 2010)
Late sister Lynn, has won two Golden Globe Awards throughout her career. She was nominated for an Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy but never won.
She continued acting until her death from breast cancer in 2010. And none of her children have pursued acting.
–Corin Redgrave (July 16, 1939 – April 6, 2010)
Their late brother Corin has enjoyed a long career on the stage and screen. He continued acting until his death in 2010.
4th generation :
1/ Vanessa’s children :
– Natasha Jane Richardson (11 May 1963 – 18 March 2009)
Late Natasha was a Tony Award-winning actress, known for films including “The Parent Trap.” She enjoyed a successful acting career before her untimely death following a skiing accident at age 45 in 2009.
She was married to the Irish star Liam Neeson at the time of her death.
– Joely Kim Richardson (born 9 January 1965)
Her sister, Joely is still going strong in Hollywood. She has made her mark on shows like “Nip/Tuck” and “The Tudors.”
– Carlo Gabriel Redgrave Nero (born Carlo Gabriel Sparanero; 16 September 1969)
Their brother Carlo Gabriel Nero, is an Italian-English screenwriter and film director.
2/ Corin’s children :
Jemima Rebecca Redgrave (born 14 January 1965), known as Jemma Redgrave
Of his five children, only one has chosen to join the family trade and became an actress.
5th generation : Joely’s children :
-Daisy Carmen Bevan (born 28 March 1992)
Roy’s great-great-granddaughter Daisy Bevan, daughter of Joely, made her West End stage debut.
4/The Fondas
The Fondas are a compelling Hollywood dynasty who have been in the industry since the 1930s, producing three generations of fine, quality actors.
1st generation :
Henry Fonda : (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982)
Oscar winner Henry Fonda was one of the greats with a career that spanned five decades on Broadway and in Hollywood.
He appeared in over 80 movies, and finally won an Oscar for 1981’s On Golden Pond.
2nd geberation :
1/ Jane Fonda, (born December 21, 1937)
Henry’s Daughter Jane is a two-time Oscar winner and one of the greatest actresses of her generation.
2/ Peter Fonda, (February 23, 1940 – August 16, 2019)
Little brother Peter has more than 100 credits to his name, best known for his role in the iconic 1969 film Easy Rider.
3rd generation :
1/ Peter’s children :
-Bridget Fonda : (born January 27, 1964)
Bridget starred in 1990s hit films such as Single White Female and Singles. But hasn’t acted in more than a decade.
She’s married to award-winning composer (and former Oingo Boingo frontman) Danny Elfman since 2003.
2/ Jane’s children :
-Troy Garrity : (born July 7, 1973)
Janes son is a film actor. He is primarily known for his role as Isaac in the Barbershop film series and as Barry Winchell in the television movie Soldier’s Girl (2003).
– Vanessa Vadim : (born september 28, 1968)
Her daughter, Vanessa is a producer and cinematographer.
5/The Hustons
The Huston family has 3 generations of Academy Award winners.
1st generation :
-Walter Huston : (April 5, 1883– April 7, 1950)
One of the first big stars in “talkie” films, appearing in over 50 movies.
He won an Oscar for his role in 1948’s The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, directed by his son John Huston.
2nd generation :
-John Huston, (August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987)
His son John wrote and directed some of Hollywood’s most legendary films featuring its greatest stars, including The Maltese Falcon (1941), The African Queen (1951), and The Misfits (1961),
A two time Oscar winner, including one for directing his father’s Oscar-winning performance In 1948 for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
He also directed his daughter Anjelica to an Oscar of her own in Prizzi’s Honor (1985).
3rd generation : John’s children :
He had three biological children: Angelica, Danny, and Tony, and adopted Allegra and Pablo Huston.
-Anjelica Huston, (born July 8, 1951)
His daughter Angelica is a third-generation Huston to win an Oscar for Prizzi’s Honor (1985) and is also considered one of the great actresses of her time.
– Danny Huston, (born May 14, 1962)
Anjelica’s half-brother, Danny, is an actor and director who appeared in Martin Scorsese, Sofia Coppola, Tim Burton films.
– Walter Anthony Huston, (born April 16, 1950)
Anjelica’s other half-brother, tony, is an actor, writer, and assistant director. Who wrote a few well-received screenplays, including Academy Award-nominated The Dead (1987).
– Allegra Huston, (born 26 August 1964)
John’s adopted daughter Allegra is an author, editor and writer.
4th generation : Tony’s children :
-Jack Huston, (born December 7, 1982)
Anjelica’s nephew Jack, has brought the family into its fourth generation, with roles on Boardwalk Empire and in American Hustle.
