Fathers and Sons II

Fathers and Sons II

This all started when I read over the complete cast list for the upcoming Broadway musical, Beaches, and realized that Ben Jacoby is Mark Jacoby's son and they will both be on the boards at the same time. Boy, did I fall down an internet rabbit hole looking for others. The results came in yesterday's article (HERE) and now today's article.

Here are five more fathers and sons that have been and/or are on America's stages, some at the same time on the same stage, others, years apart.

Mark and Joaquin Consuelos

Both Mark, the dad, Joaquin, the son, are both making their New York stage debut this season. Mark, famous for his TV roles in All My Children, Riverdale, and recently, 9-1-1, co-hosts LIVE with Kelly and Mark. The latter he does with his wife, Kelly Ripa. He will be making his Broadway debut in Fallen Angels, co-starring Kelli O'Hara and Rose Byrne. Their son will also be making his Broadway debut in Death of a Salesman, with Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf. What a great way to start for them!

Junius Brutus and Edwin Booth

Here is another father/son Duo that are a part of a true American acting dynasty. Junius Brutus had twelve children, three of whom were active on the Broadway stage. Junius himself, had a distinguished career as a Shakespearean actor, in both Great Britain and the United States, including the title roles in both Othello and Richard III. While his life was a rich one, it was marred by tragedy. In the space of 1833, three of his children died. One of his actor sons went on to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln.  Another of his sons, Edwin, fared much better with an illustrious career in the mid to late 1800s, when he starred in several Shakespearean and classical roles. He was also a prolific producer and owner of Booth's Theatre. In 1913, the Booth Theatre as we know it today was built and named for Edwin.

Chuck and Eddie Cooper

A modern day Broadway dynasty is headed by Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper, father of Lilli and Eddie, both of whom are following in dad's footsteps. Beginning with his debut in 1983 in Amen Corner, Chuck has amassed some 20 Broadway credits, including understudying for two Sondheim shows, Getting Away with Murder and Passion, plus the original casts of Caroline, or Change, Chicago, Prince of Broadway, and his Tony-winning turn in The Life. Recently, father and son appeared together in Encore's Titanic. Eddie has joined the Main Stem ranks with roles in Parade, Dead Outlaw and the upcoming play, The Fear of 13.

Robert and Alan Alda

The Alda men may be more famous for their giant careers on TV and film, but neither were strangers to the stage. While they did appear together on M*A*S*H, they never appeared on Broadway together. Father Robert began his enviable career as the original Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, winning a Best Actor Tony Award for his efforts. Son Alan, forever Hawkeye Pierce, also had success on The Great White Way, with four Tony Award nominations. He appeared in, among other things, The Apple Tree, Jake's Women, QED, Art, and a revival of Glengarry Glen Ross. In an interesting bookend to his stage career, he was in the original cast of Purlie Victorious, and co-produced the 2023 revival!

Bobby and Jake Cannavale

Bobby Cannavale has become a regular on the theater scene over the past two decades or so. I'm glad he makes time for the stage between TV and film gigs. Most recently, he appeared in the revival of Art, and in Sondheim's Here We Are. Among his other roles, his debut in Mauritius earned him a Tony nomination, which he followed with another Tony-nominated turn in The Motherfucker with the Hat. His son Jake is just getting started - he made his Broadway debut in Fish in the Dark. He certainly comes by his talents naturally with a family that not only includes his father, but he is also the grandson of Sidney Lumet and great-grandson of Lena Horne!