# Children More Talented Than Their Father (or Mother) (Famous People) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 24, 2008, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518 "2008-12-24T06:35:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/1 "2008-12-24T06:35:38Z")
I know I am probably in a minority but I just love Rosanne Cash. I think she is so much more talented than her father Johnny Cash. I know there are a lot of children of celebrities and famous people. Which on of these do you think are more talented than their mother or father (which ever one is famous) I also realize that it’s just an opinion but I still like Rosanne MUCH better 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WoodenTaco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@WoodenTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WoodenTaco)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/2 "2008-12-24T06:52:22Z")
Peyton Manning is a much, much better quarterback than his father, Archie Manning. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/3 "2008-12-24T09:06:57Z")
At the risk of turning this into a sports thread, Ken Griffey Sr. was a very good ballplayer but Ken Griffey Jr. is a much better one (at least before injuries got to him). ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/4 "2008-12-24T09:22:00Z")
Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was more talented than Johann Georg Leopold Mozart. I just love the long names. Jeff Buckley was better and more celebrated than Tim Buckley. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/5 "2008-12-24T09:31:15Z")
Robert Downey, Jr. has contributed more to the culture than his dad, IMO, though since one’s an actor and the other is/was a director, I may be comparing apples to oranges. Respecting Bob Dylan’s importance as an artist and as a songwriter, I always did prefer his son Jakob’s music, certainly his singing. I like Hank Williams III better than his daddy, though not as much as his grandpa. Drew remains my favorite Barrymore. I like Natasha Richardson, Maya Rudolph, Rashida Jones and Gwyneth Paltrow better than any of their assorted parents. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/6 "2008-12-24T09:56:07Z")
Both Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti were great composers, but in the end Domenico edged out his father, who was however more famous in their lifetimes. Painter Artemisia Gentileschi was arguably a greater artist than her father Orazio. ---
**Author:** ![Sofis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Sofis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofis)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/7 "2008-12-24T10:09:38Z")
[Emmy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmy_Noether) and [Max](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Noether) Noether were both notable mathematicians, but (as you can tell from the relative sizes of their Wikipedia articles) Emmy (Max’s daughter) is definitely the more famous one. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/8 "2008-12-24T10:28:58Z")
Miley Cyrus? I mean, I’m not familiar with her music, but she’d kinda have to be, right? … Right? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/9 "2008-12-24T13:49:15Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > Miley Cyrus? I mean, I’m not familiar with her music, but she’d kinda have to be, right? > > … > > Right? Amen. Re Robert Downey Jr. vs. Sr.- I dunno; could Jr. have come up with GREASER’S PARADISE (which I have yet to see but just love the concept of)? ---
**Author:** ![batsto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@batsto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/batsto)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/10 "2008-12-24T14:07:13Z")
I think Arlo Guthrie has a much better singing voice than his father. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/11 "2008-12-24T14:59:34Z")
I don’t know about more talent but it is reported that Jack Cassidy was very jealous of the success and adulation of his son David Cassidy of “The Partridge Family” fame. A fine and respected old time actor Vs a pop teen music sensation who drew huge crowds. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/12 "2008-12-24T15:39:15Z")
Emily and Zooey Deschanel’s mother was an actress, but without any big, starring roles that I know of. (I liked her in _The Right Stuff_, though; my favorite movie.) Their father has been nominated for five Oscars as a cinematographer. > [@Krokodil](#): > > I like Natasha Richardson, Maya Rudolph, Rashida Jones and Gwyneth Paltrow better than any of their assorted parents. Gwyneth Paltrow is at least open for debate. She’s been very good in some roles, but she was the weak link in _Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow_. She was too fragile and hesitant for the 1930’s, fast-talking, girl reporter role. Her mother would have been great. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/13 "2008-12-24T16:33:28Z")
I suppose it would depend on your point of view, but one could argue the Jean Renoir was greater (or, at least, his equal in his own field) than his father Pierre-August. Fritz Leiber, Jr. (the science fiction writer) is definitely more talented than his father Fritz Leiber, Sr. (an actor of the 30s and 40s). George M. Cohan definitely surpassed his father and his mother (both vaudevillians). I prefer Loudon Wainwright III (who surpassed his father, a Life Magazine editor), but his children (Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, and Lucy Wainwright Roche) are probably better known and more successful now. John Huston surpassed his father Walter. His daughter Angelica was also pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/14 "2008-12-24T16:39:34Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > JJeff Buckley was better and more celebrated than Tim Buckley. Nunh uh. (More celebrated and prettier, yes. More talentled? Hell no!) ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/15 "2008-12-24T16:47:30Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Amen. > > Re Robert Downey Jr. vs. Sr.- I dunno; could Jr. have come up with GREASER’S PARADISE (which I have yet to see but just love the concept of)? _ **nitpick** _ _Greaser’s Palace_, actually. Zak Starr is a much better drummer than Ringo, IMHO. Some say that John Huston was a better director than his father Walter. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/16 "2008-12-24T16:56:19Z")
John Quincey Adams was a better POTUS than John Adams was. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/17 "2008-12-24T17:01:44Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > Nunh uh. > > (More celebrated and prettier, yes. More talentled? Hell no!) **koeeoaddi** , have you seen [this](http://www.waysidemusic.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=21/MVD%204566%20SPECIAL)? It’s _awesome_. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/18 "2008-12-24T18:20:54Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > John Quincey Adams was a better POTUS than John Adams was. And George W. Bush was a better president… oh wait… nevermind. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/19 "2008-12-24T19:16:20Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > **koeeoaddi** , have you seen [this](http://www.waysidemusic.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=21/MVD%204566%20SPECIAL)? It’s _awesome_. No, I haven’t. Just ordered it for myself, though. 🙂 Thanks, **Biff**! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518/20 "2008-12-25T02:50:40Z")
Ed Wynn was a famous vaudeville and radio star. Keenan Wynn was a fine character actor and a decent song and dance man. I can’t say more talented, but certainly more versatile. Robert Alda was a leading man on Broadway. Alan Alda is certainly a better actor, although not as good at song and dance. I think Bonnie Raitt is more talented than John Raitt, but I know there are a lot of Broadway lovers that would disagree. Going back a few centuries, Alexandre Dumas _pere_ wrote more novels, Alexandre Dumas _fils_ wrote more (and better) plays. You be the judge. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/children-more-talented-than-their-father-or-mother-famous-people/478518.md?page=2)