# Did any enormously talented person have an equally enormously talented child? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 25, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244 "2012-06-25T14:45:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/1 "2012-06-25T14:45:04Z")
As Kinky Friedman puts it “No matter how good Hank Williams Jr. is, someone has to come up to him after every concert and say ‘You’re not as good as your daddy was.’” So who was/is the highest talented offspring of a highly talented person? ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/2 "2012-06-25T15:04:16Z")
Well, theres Dumas \*pere \*and Dumas _fils_, for starters. In the sports world, near Hall-of-Famer Bobby Bonds sired multiple record holder Barry Bonds. Likewise, the very good right fielder Ken Griffey, Sr. is father to All-Century Teamer Ken Griffey, Jr. This might raise some hackles, but George Bush, Sr. fathered George Bush, Jr. Being POTUS, even a derided one, must be seen as involving a good deal of talent. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/3 "2012-06-25T15:08:33Z")
Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/4 "2012-06-25T15:11:21Z")
Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas were both pretty good in their primes. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/5 "2012-06-25T15:13:53Z")
[The Bach family.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bach_family) ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/6 "2012-06-25T15:17:05Z")
Also forgot to point out John Adams and John Q. Adams. Neither were among my favorites to hold the office, but as I said, POTUS is nothing to sneeze at. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/7 "2012-06-25T15:20:48Z")
Don’t forget Hank Jr’s son Hank III! Baseball player Cecil Fielder produced a powerhouse of a son in Prince Fielder. The two are not on speaking terms IIRC. Also in baseball you have Sandy Alomar with his sons Sandy Jr. and Roberto. Roberto was better than the other two but all 3 were all stars. And more in baseball, Filipe Alou played in the 60s (along with his brothers Matty and Jesus) and his son Moises played in the 90s. Both were multiple All-Stars. In music you have Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle with their famous kids Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/8 "2012-06-25T15:21:27Z")
Alan Hale Sr. and Alan Hale Jr. Titans of the big and small screens, respectively. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/9 "2012-06-25T15:23:01Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Baseball player Cecil Fielder produced a powerhouse of a son in Prince Fielder. The two are not on speaking terms IIRC. > > … > > In music you have Loudon Wainwright and Kate McGarrigle with their famous kids Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright. I understand the Wainwright family’s relations are a little strained as well;) ---
**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:** [June 25, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/10 "2012-06-25T15:23:37Z")
Tim and Jeff Buckley. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/11 "2012-06-25T15:24:05Z")
```auto Games Goals Assists Points Bobby Hull - 1474 913 895 1808 Brett Hull - 1269 741 650 1391 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/12 "2012-06-25T15:24:14Z")
Not that unusual in sports; I can think of Yannick Noah (tennis) and Joachim Noah (basketball), Calvin Hill (football) and Grant Hill (basketball), and Ken Norton (boxing) and Ken Norton (football) off the top of my head. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/13 "2012-06-25T15:40:52Z")
Clearly **George HW Bush** and **George W Bush**! Yeah, I know - not funny. **Kingsley Amis** was a very, very highly-regarded Brit author mid-century. His son \*\*Martin Amis \*\* has gone on to outshine him as an author. Also you have to define “enormously talented” - Paul McCartney’s, Pete Townshend’s and Billy Corgan’s dads were all working musicians with some level of talent. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/14 "2012-06-25T15:54:14Z")
[Tug McGraw](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tug_McGraw)(baseball), father of [Tim MCGraw](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_McGraw)(country music). ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/15 "2012-06-25T16:12:46Z")
[Renoir (pere)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renoir) and [Renoir (fils)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Renoir). ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/16 "2012-06-25T16:28:27Z")
Pitt the [Elder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pitt,_1st_Earl_of_Chatham) and Pitt the [Younger](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Pitt_the_Younger) were both very successful Prime Ministers of the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Evin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@Evin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/17 "2012-06-25T16:37:02Z")
Archie Manning had Peyton and Eli. There is a third son Cooper who is reputed to have been just as talented, but who suffered spinal stenosis, and so he could not play. ---
**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:** [June 25, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/18 "2012-06-25T16:37:47Z")
Academy Award winner [Jon Voight](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Voight)and Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie. Ditto with the [Fonda](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Fonda) and [Redgrave](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanessa_Redgrave) families, among others. In science, there’s the ridiculously talented [Curie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Curie) family. Marie and Pierre shared a Nobel prize (and Marie won another on her own), their daughter, Irene, shared a Nobel prize with her husband, and THEIR children and grandchildren are hotshot scientists on their own. There are so many Curies in the world of science that [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eve_Curie) has this understated and sad comment about the other Curie daughter. > [@](#): > > Ève was the only member of her family who did not choose a career as a scientist and did not win a Nobel Prize, although her husband Henry Richardson Labouisse, Jr. did collect the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965 on behalf of UNICEF. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/19 "2012-06-25T16:40:57Z")
The [Bernoulli family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernoulli_family) is a pretty legendary group of mathematicians. In particular, Johann Bernoulli’s children were all pretty seriously talented, and the old man was no slouch either. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/20 "2012-06-25T16:40:59Z")
I’m surprised someone mentioned the Bach family. While several of JS’s sons were very talented, I don’t think anyone considers any of them to be the absolute once-in-a-millenium genius that their father was. I’ll offer [Frederick Law Olmsted](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmsted) and [Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Law_Olmsted,_Jr.), father and son who pretty much wrote the book on park design and (to a degree) public landscape architecture/urban design as we know it today. While they were perhaps equally important in terms of actual designed and build output, you still have to give the dad the nod, because he came first, and so by definition was more of a pioneer in the field. ETA: Turns out it took two brothers (sons) – the other being [John C. Olmsted](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Olmsted) – to live up to the output of their father. So maybe this turns out to be not such a good example after all. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244.md?page=2)