Several famous musicians, actors, and politicians are actually love children. Their parents had brief affairs that resulted in surprise pregnancies. Several famous people grew up thinking that their grandparents were actually their parents, not knowing they were born to teenage mothers. This list of famous people who are love children has been loosely ranked by fame and popularity.
Who is the most famous love child? Liv Tyler's mother had a brief affair with Aerosmith singer, Steven Tyler. Nine months later, Liv was born. Jack Nicholson's father, Donald Furcillo, was married when he impregnated Nicholson's mother, June Frances Nicholson. June was only a teen when she became a mother.
Prince Harry is also believed to be a love child. Princess Diana was known to have had an extramarital affair with cavalry officer, James Hewitt, for many years, around the time that Prince Harry was born. Although Hewitt has denied being Harry's father, many people believe that the two look suspiciously alike.
Do you think it would be difficult to learn that you are a someone's love child? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Liv Tyler
Lord of the Rings actress Liv Tyler was born of an affair between her mother, model Bebe Buell, and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. At the time, her mother was in a long term relationship with rocker Todd Grundren, and the baby, born in July 1977, was named Liv Rundgren. Though he knew he might not be her father, Rundgren signed her birth certificate, in part, to protect the baby from Tyler's drug addiction.
Liv first met Steven Tyler at 8 years old and learned the truth of her parentage soon after. In 1994, she starred in the Aerosmith music video for "Crazy."
Liv Tyler has three half-siblings via her father: Mia Tyler (b. 1978) and Chelsea and Taj Tallarico (b. 1989 and 1991).
She has one son, Milo (b. 2004), from her marriage to ex-husband Royston Langdon.
Age: 39
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States of America
Profession: Model, Actor
Credits: The Incredible Hulk, Armageddon, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Also Ranked
#85 on The Best Living American Actresses
Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro's mother, Lina Ruz González, was the cook, housekeeper, and mistress of his father, Ángel Castro y Argiz. At the time of their affair, Ángel was father to 5 children with his first wife, María Argota y Reyes: Manuel (1913-1914), María Lila Perfidia (b. 1913), Pedro Emilio (b. 1914), Antonia María Dolores (b. 1915), and Georgina de la Caridad (b. 1918).
Castro was born out of wedlock in 1926, but his parents later got married. His parents had 6 more children after him: Ángela María (1923-2012), Ramón Eusebio (b. 1924), Raúl Modesto (b. 1931), Juana de la Caridad (b. 1933), Enma de la Concepción (b. 1935), and Agustina del Carmen (b. 1938). His father also had a son, Martin, with a farmhand in 1930.
Because it is forbidden in Cuba to talk about his private life, details about Fidel Castro's own family are scarce and a source of speculation. He is known to have at least nine children from two marriages and several affairs, and possibly up to 11 children.
Age: 90
Birthplace: Birán, Cuba
Profession: Politician, Lawyer
Credits: Comandante, Fidel, Surplus: Terrorized Into Being Consumers, Kordavision
Also Ranked
#8 on The Most Influential People of the Cold War
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren's father, Riccardo Scicolone, would not marry her mother, Romilda Villani, after she became pregnant with Loren in 1934. Although they made no commitment to one another, Loren's parents had another child, Maria, together four years later.
Loren was married to Carlo Ponti from 1957 until his death in 2007, and the couple had two children: Carlo Jr. (b. 1968) and Edoardo (b. 1973).
Age: 82
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Profession: Actor
Also Ranked
#23 on The Best Actresses in Film History
#64 on The Greatest Actress Performances of All Time
#11 on The Best Living Actresses Over 80
#56 on The Best Actresses to Ever Win Oscars for Best Actress
Jack Nicholson
When Jack Nicholson's father, Donald Furcillo, married 17 year-old June "Dink" Nicholson, the wedding was illegitimate for two reasons: the bride was underage, and the groom already had a wife... Still, Furcillo wanted to be honorable and offered to care for their baby, who was born in April 1937, 6 months after their non-binding wedding. Instead, June sent their baby to live with her parents.
In 1954, when he was 17, Jack Nicholson's grandparents, Ethel and John Nicholson, signed a "Certificate of Delayed Report of Birth" on which they claimed to be his mother and father. By then, their relationship with June and Don had been severed, and June died of cancer in 1963. It wasn't until 1974, when he was 37 years old, that Nicholson learned that the people he were always told were his mother and father were actually his grandparents. Nicholson reportedly spoke to Don Furcillo a handful of times before his death in 1997.
Nicholson was married to Sandra Knight from 1962-1968, and the couple's daughter, Jennifer, was born in 1963. His daughter Honey Hollmann (b. 1981) was born from an affair with model Winnie Hollman during his 17 year relationship with actress Anjelica Huston. His daughter Lorraine (b. 1990) was also born of an affair during that relationship. Her mother, Rebecca Broussard, was an actress in his film The Two Jakes. Broussard is also the mother of his son, Ray (b. 1992). Actress Susan Anspach also claims that Jack Nicholson, her co-star in Five Easy Pieces, is the father of her son, Caleb Goddard (b. 1970).
Age: 79
Birthplace: Neptune City, New Jersey, United States of America
Profession: Film Producer, Screenwriter, Actor, Film Director
Credits: The Shining, The Departed, As Good as It Gets, Chinatown
Also Ranked
#7 on The Best Actors Working Today
#4 on The Best American Actors Working Today
#5 on The Greatest Actors & Actresses in Entertainment History
#4 on The Best Living American Actors
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was born out of wedlock to a wealthy notary, Messer Piero Fruosino di Antonio da Vinci, and a peasant woman named Caterina. He lived with his mother until he was five years old, but then moved in with his father, who had married a 16 year-old girl named Albiera. Ser Peiro ultimately married four times and had seven legitimate sons in his later two marriages.
Though not much is known of Leonardo's private life, a court record from 1476 shows that he was charged with sodomy in an incident involving a male prostitute.
Age: Died at 67 (1452-1519)
Birthplace: Vinci, Italy
Profession: Military Engineer, Musician, Scientist, Inventor, Architect, + more
Also Ranked
#82 on The Best Writers of All Time
#3 on People We Wish Were Still Alive
#1 on The Greatest Minds of All Time
#4 on The Most Influential People of All Time
Tim McGraw
Country star Tim McGraw was the product of an affair between high school student Betty D'Agostino and her neighbor, New York Mets relief pitcher Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw, Jr. When Betty became pregnant, her parents sent her away to live with relatives. She later married Horace Smith, who her son believed to be his biological father - and they even called the boy Tim Smith.
At age 11, Tim McGraw found his birth certificate and learned from his mother that his father was actually Tug McGraw. Tug did not acknowledge being Tim's father until seven years later, but the two had a good relationship from that point on. Tug has three other children: Mark (b. 1973) and Cari (b. 1974) by ex-wife Phillis Kline, and Matthew McGraw (b. 1995) by ex-wife Diane Hovencamp.
Tim McGraw has been married to fellow country star Faith Hill since 1996. The couple has three daughters: Gracie (b. 1997), Maggie (b. 1998), and Audrey (b. 2001).
Age: 49
Birthplace: Delhi, Louisiana, United States of America
Profession: Guitarist, Songwriter, Actor, Singer
Credits: The Blind Side, The 55th Annual Grammy Awards, CMA Music Fest, Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years
Also Ranked
#17 on The Top Country Artists of All Time
#95 on The Hottest Men Over 40
#71 on Wait, These Famous Names Aren't Their Real Ones?!
#12 on The Best Male Country Singers of All Time
Prince Harry
In a 1995 interview, Princess Diana confessed that she had an extramarital affair with British Army cavalry officer, James Hewitt, for many years. Though he claims the affair began after Harry's 1984 birth, rumors persist that Hewitt is the Prince's biological father, citing many physical similarities.
The Princess of Wales is also mother to Prince William (b. 1982) by her marriage to Prince Charles from 1981 to 1996.
Age: 32
Birthplace: St Mary's Hospital, London, London, United Kingdom
Profession: Soldier
Also Ranked
#88 on Famous Men You'd Want to Have a Beer With
Eric Clapton
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Eric Clapton was born from a short affair between 16 year-old Patricia Molly Clapton and Canadian soldier Edward Walter Fryer, who was nine years her senior. Fryer was shipped off to war before Clapton's birth in March 1945. Clapton was raised thinking that his grandparents, Rose and Jack Clapp, were his parents and that his mother, who later married and moved to Germany, was his sister.
Age: 72
Birthplace: South East England, Surrey, Borough of Guildford, Eurasia, United Kingdom, + more
Profession: Film Score Composer, Record producer, Guitarist, Television producer, Musician, + more
Credits: Back to the Future, Heat, Captain Phillips, Lethal Weapon 4
Also Ranked
#53 on The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time
#29 on The Best Rock Vocalists
#65 on The Best Singers of All Time
#24 on The Greatest Classic Rock Bands
Eva Perón
Eva "Evita" Peron's father, wealthy rancher Juan Duarte, was married with a family when he began a relationship with her mother, Juana Ibarguren. Though there were four other children born from this affair, all were illegitimate and therefore stigmatized and rejected by their community.
Eva Duarte de Perón was married to Argentine President Juan Perón from 1945 until her death in 1952.
Age: Died at 33 (1919-1952)
Birthplace: Argentina, Los Toldos
Profession: Politician, Actor
Credits: Circus Cavalcade, The Prodigal Woman, ¡Segundos afuera!, The Unhappiest Man in Town, Only the Valiant, + more
Also Ranked
#38 on The Most Inspiring (Non-Hollywood) Female Role Models
Bobby Darin
Bobby Darin's mother became pregnant at 16 years old, but she kept his father's identity a secret until her death in 1983. Born in May 1936 as Walden Robert Cassotto, Darrin was raised believing by his grandparents, "Big Sam Curly" and Polly Cassotto, were his parents, and that his mother, Nina, was his sister. He did not learn the truth until 1968, when he was 32.
Age: Died at 37 (1936-1973)
Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York
Profession: Musician, Singer-songwriter, Actor, Singer
Credits: American Beauty!Goodfellas!You've Got Mail^!Apollo 13
Also Ranked
#74 on Wait, These Famous Names Aren't Their Real Ones?!
#49 on The Greatest Male Pop Singers of All Time
#38 on The Greatest Musicians Who Died Before 40
#7 on The Greatest Crooners of All Time
Joh'Vonnie Jackson
Joh'Vonnie Jackson (b. 1974) is the daughter of Joe Jackson (father of Michael and Janet Jackson) and Cheryl Terrell, with whom Jackson had a longtime affair. Joe has 10 children born between 1950 and 1966 born with his wife, Katherine.