# 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:** 6
**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 26, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/101 "2012-06-26T20:53:47Z")
Naw, I don’t get pissed over things like this. Finding a dead skunk in my pool (like I did last night)… that’s the sort of thing that pisses me off. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/102 "2012-06-27T00:23:35Z")
What about Lon Chaney Sr. and Lon Chaney Jr. (Although I believe his real first name was Creighton) Angelina Jolie and Jon Voight. Martin Sheen and his sons, Charlie and Emilio. There’s the [Sutter family](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_family) probably one of the largest and most famous family in the NHL. There were initially six brothers, back in the 1980s, and now the second generation is starting to break in. Mark and Marty Howe, while not reaching the greatness of their father, Gordie (very few could!), where no slouches, and Mark was inducted into the Hall of Family this year. The Geoffrion family as well – and all of them played for the Montreal Canadiens. And the first generation, Bernie Geoffrion married the daughter of Howie Morenz, so you could add him in as well. Then there’s Bryan and Ron Hextall. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/103 "2012-06-27T02:34:15Z")
How about Mary Martin’s kid, Larry Hagman? ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/104 "2012-06-27T02:40:13Z")
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. -poet/physician Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. - U. S. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall Harlan and John Marshall Harlan II - both Supreme Court Justices, but grandfather and grandson. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/105 "2012-06-27T03:05:01Z")
Has anyone mentioned Donald and Kiefer Sutherland? They are both pretty talented actors. I also thought of Jon Voight and Angeline Jolie, also both talented, but that’s been mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/106 "2012-06-27T03:38:56Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Well, it’s “Cal,” for one thing, and the father was a very modestly talented player, and a pretty mediocre coach, so what’s your point? If you note the time stamp that is a very obvious typo and I find this unnecessarily hostile for a Cafe Society post. This is not “talented adult/child THROWDOWN” jeez. We are regs, c’mon. ---
**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 27, 2012, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/107 "2012-06-27T04:18:27Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Has anyone mentioned Donald and Kiefer Sutherland? Yes. Yes someone did. \ f ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/108 "2012-06-27T06:14:06Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > Zach Starkey is actually a much better drummer than his father Richard (alias Ring Starr) Well, I was gonna mention Ringo and Zak, so how about another enormously talented pair of father-and-son drummers? John “Bonzo” Bonham of Led Zeppelin fame and his son, Jason, who has performed with his father’s bandmates and also played drums for Foreigner for a few years. Billy Joel’s daughter Alexa Ray is also supposed to be a quite talented musician. ---
**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:** [June 27, 2012, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/109 "2012-06-27T08:55:04Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Well, I was gonna mention Ringo and Zak, so how about another enormously talented pair of father-and-son drummers? This might not qualify as “enormous talent,” but doesn’t Bun E. Carlos alternate with his son at Cheap Trick concert dates? ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/110 "2012-06-27T22:09:50Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > 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? Nitpicking, but the specific question — an equally talented offspring… how would you gauge that two people are equally talented? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/111 "2012-06-27T22:22:24Z")
> [@denquixote](#): > > … > Quincy Jones/Peggy Lipton and Rashida Jones… Not seeing the enormously talented offspring here. ---
**Author:** ![Chipacabra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Chipacabra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chipacabra)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/112 "2012-06-28T07:57:12Z")
How about Mary Shelley, daughter of William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft? ---
**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/113 "2012-06-28T08:13:00Z")
George Du Maurier was a highly successful, famous cartoonist and author. The original Svengali comes from his novel _Trilby_ which was a bestseller in its day. (So does the name of the hat, I think, via the stage adaptation of the play. The actress playing the heroine wore one and the name stuck). His daughter Daphne Du Maurier went on to be a highly successful author in her own right. ---
**Author:** ![denquixote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@denquixote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/denquixote)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/114 "2012-06-28T15:18:07Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Not seeing the enormously talented offspring here. Well I feel the same way about Keifer Sutherland;,Larry Hagman, Zak Starkey and most of all Hank Williams Jr. Different strokes. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/115 "2012-06-28T15:41:14Z")
> [@Chipacabra](#): > > How about Mary Shelley, daughter of William Godwin and Mary Wollstonecraft? They were both Famous Thinkers Of Their Day–but [adaptations of her creation](http://www.cinemablend.com/new/See-Benedict-Cumberbatch-Frankenstein-Your-Movie-Theater-June-30820.html) are still packing them in… ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/116 "2012-06-28T17:54:36Z")
[Hugh Everett III](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Everett_III), physicist, originator of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, and his son, [Mark Oliver Everett](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Oliver_Everett), better known as E, head of the magnificent Eels (clicking the links is worth it just to compare the pictures). ---
**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 28, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/117 "2012-06-28T19:53:16Z")
Since we seem to be focusing on “famous parents whose offsprings got lucky” what about Ryan & Tatum O’Neil? John, MacKenzie & Bijou Phillips? Patty Duke & Sean Austin, Duke, John Austin & MacKenzie Astin? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/118 "2012-06-28T20:36:32Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > “famous parents whose offsprings got lucky” … John, MacKenzie Too soon[.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackenzie_Phillips#Allegations_of_sexual_relationship_with_father) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/119 "2012-06-28T20:49:56Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > > > “famous parents whose offsprings got lucky” … John, MacKenzie > > Too soon[.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackenzie_Phillips#Allegations_of_sexual_relationship_with_father) Huh? **Annie-Xmas** ’s post was, I think, about [Mackenzie Astin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackenzie_Astin) while yours was about [Mackenzie Phillips](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackenzie_Phillips). Different people. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244/120 "2012-06-28T22:01:59Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Huh? **Annie-Xmas** ’s post was, I think, about [Mackenzie Astin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackenzie_Astin) while yours was about [Mackenzie Phillips](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackenzie_Phillips). Different people. Emphasis mine: > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Since we seem to be focusing on “famous parents whose offsprings got lucky” what about Ryan & Tatum O’Neil? **John, MacKenzie** & Bijou **Phillips**? Patty Duke & Sean Austin, Duke, John Austin & MacKenzie Astin? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-any-enormously-talented-person-have-an-equally-enormously-talented-child/626244.md?page=7)