# Families with more than three generations of celebrities **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 7, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163 "2009-07-07T04:16:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/21 "2009-07-07T16:38:10Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > In music, the [Bach family](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bach_family) qualifies. Four generations, from JA Bach to WFE Bach. Don’t forget PDQ Bach. 😃 ETA: Dang, that’s what I get for replying before I’ve read the whole thread. ---
**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:** [July 7, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/22 "2009-07-07T16:57:51Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > If politics counts, then I’m guessing this one qualifies: [Kennedy family - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_family) Joseph P. never held elected office. He was best known as a financier and an ambassador. His father, a Boston ward politician, was never a national figure. Kind of knocks them out of consideration. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/23 "2009-07-07T17:26:29Z")
I’m just posting in this thread so I can remember to update it in 2065 with my great grandson’s appointment to the Supreme Court. ---
**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:** [July 7, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/24 "2009-07-07T19:04:14Z")
Nicholas Fish (Revolutionary war hero) \> Hamilton Fish \> Hamilton Fish II \> Hamilton Fish III \> Hamilton Fish IV. All in politics. The original Hamilton Fish was a member of the House of Representatives and Governor of New York. His descendants were all elected to the House. A great great grandson, Hamilton Fish V, also ran but was defeated. The original Nicholas Fish ran for Congress twice, but lost both times. There was also the original Hamilton’s son Nicholas Fish, who was minister to Belgium. His son Hamilton (not any of the Hamiltons mentioned above) was one of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. Various other relatives of the original Hamilton Fish who became active in politics include Prescott Bush, George Bush, George W. Bush (distant cousins) and Hamilton Kean (grand nephew) and Thomas Kean (great grand nephew). ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/25 "2009-07-07T20:20:02Z")
Arthur MacArthur Sr\>Arthur MacArthur Jr \> Douglas MacAurthur ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/26 "2009-07-07T20:51:04Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Acting: Rance Howard, Ron Howard, Bryce Dallas Howard. Rance is a reach, but with 100 film credits and over 120 TV credits, chances are you’ve seen him in something. THANK GOD you did not include Clint. He may be a Howard, but I don’t think he inherited the acting gene. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/27 "2009-07-07T20:52:07Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I’m just posting in this thread so I can remember to update it in 2065 with my great grandson’s appointment to the Supreme Court. Yeah, but who the hell are you? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ginman999](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@ginman999](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ginman999)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/28 "2009-07-07T22:31:13Z")
Conrad Nicky {Male) Paris ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/29 "2009-07-08T13:56:14Z")
> [@The\_Surb](#): > > THANK GOD you did not include Clint. He may be a Howard, but I don’t think he inherited the acting gene. lmfao. I was just talking about him the other day at work and how we can’t stand him! ---
**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:** [July 8, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/30 "2009-07-08T15:39:02Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > In Ohio, we have the Taft family: To brag a bit, these are my relatives on my mother’s side, whose great-grandmother was Anne Lucy Howard. We’ve kept the Howard as a middle name to this day. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/31 "2009-07-08T15:55:01Z")
> [@ginman999](#): > > Conrad > Nicky {Male) > Paris Nicky’s brother Barron is a celebrity, as well…he succeeded Conrad as the head of Hilton Hotels, was involved in a number of different businesses, and was one of the founders of the American Football League (being the original owner of the Los Angeles / San Diego Chargers). ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/32 "2009-07-08T16:35:21Z")
Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think Paris is famous for the same things her father and grandfather were. Unless there are some details about the elder Hiltons I’ve never heard about. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/33 "2009-07-08T16:39:25Z")
I can find several examples of families in which three generations played major-league baseball, including the Bells, the Boones, and the Hairstons, but I haven’t found any with a fourth generation. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/34 "2009-07-08T16:40:02Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Auto racing: > Mario \> Michael \> Marco Andretti > Lee \> Richard \> Kyle Petty > (I’m sure there are more, but I’m not a big NASCAR fan.) Ralph Earnhardt–\>Dale Earnhardt–\>Dale Earnhardt Jr. ---
**Author:** ![Diz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Diz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diz)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/35 "2009-07-08T17:54:14Z")
> [@Casey1505](#): > > Ralph Earnhardt–\>Dale Earnhardt–\>Dale Earnhardt Jr. Also, Dale Earnhardt had an older son Kerry, who raced without a lot of success. Kerry’s son Jeffrey is now a driver in the lower NASCAR levels. Four generations, but it’s debatable how well known they are. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/36 "2009-07-08T20:37:45Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > Yeah, but who the hell are you? > > 😛 Please allow me to introduce myself. I’m a man of wealth and taste I’ve been around for a long, long year. Stole many a man’s soul and faith [sub]in other words…a lawyer.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/37 "2009-07-08T21:04:36Z")
Wrestling Promoters Jess McMahon, Vince (J) McMahon, Vince (K) McMahon, Shane and Stephanie McMahon ---
**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:** [July 9, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/38 "2009-07-09T01:21:26Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > I can think of a few families in which members of three generations are renowned in the same field: > > Auto racing: > Mario \> Michael \> Marco Andretti > Lee \> Richard \> Kyle Petty > (I’m sure there are more, but I’m not a big NASCAR fan.) > > Writing: > Robert \> Nathaniel \> Peter Benchley > (Nathaniel is best known for writing the book on which _The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!_ is based.) > > Painting: > N.C. \> Andrew \> Jamie Wyeth > > Acting: > Henry \> Peter \> Bridget Fonda > John \> John Drew \> Drew Barrymore > (I’d never heard of Drew’s dad before starting this thread.) > > The only case I know of with more than three generations is also in acting: > > Roy Redgrave \> Michael Redgrave \> Vanessa Redgrave \> Joely Richardson > > (I also hadn’t heard of Roy before looking up Michael on IMDB. He did a few silents back in the second decade of the 20th century, but he’s not exactly a household name.) > > Do you know of any others? I suspect 3-gens are relatively common, so while I’m mildly interested in hearing about more of them, I’d be much more impressed by 4-gens or more. > Of course, if you think you have an interesting case that doesn’t quite meet my criteria, I won’t be too rigid about it. I don’t have any families with four generations of members being famous, but you did say you’d be interested in more 3-gen family members, so… Walter Huston - actor (Yankee Doodle Dandy, Treasure of the Sierra Madre) John Huston, son - screenwriter, director, and actor (directed the Maltese Falcon, The African Queen, and directed his father in Treasure of the Sierra Madre) Anjelica Huston, granddaughter - actress (Prizzi’s Honor, Addams Family) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/39 "2009-07-09T02:16:20Z")
> [@The\_Surb](#): > > THANK GOD you did not include Clint. He may be a Howard, but I don’t think he inherited the acting gene. Maybe (maybe? what’s so maybe about it?) he didn’t, but he’s done so many movies, including many his brother DIDN’T cast him in, that the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon often looks like the Five Degrees of Clint Howard. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163/40 "2009-07-09T02:19:45Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > To brag a bit, these are my relatives on my mother’s side, whose great-grandmother was Anne Lucy Howard. We’ve kept the Howard as a middle name to this day. But not Taft? 'Cuz if you moved to Ohio there’d be a political career waiting for you. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/families-with-more-than-three-generations-of-celebrities/502163.md?page=3)