A look at Hollywood's version of family dynasties

By SAMANTHA ETTUS
Scripps Howard News Service
07-OCT-04

Although political dynasties have left their mark on American culture, so have clans from Hollywood _ from the revered Douglas family, to the beautiful trio of Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell and Kate Hudson, to the unusual Osbournes.

Do famous celebrities simply create talented children, or are Hollywood dynasties built on the strength of pushy parents?

The Douglas Family: Michael, Diana and Kirk

Though all three are actors, the two most prominent members of the family, Kirk and son Michael, have left an indelible stamp on the film world. Though at times Michael's off-screen actions have been tabloid-worthy _ his divorce and subsequent marriage to the much younger screen siren, Catherine Zeta-Jones _ the family has generally managed to keep the focus on its work and off of the personal lives of its members.

The latest Douglas film, "It Runs in the Family," portrays a dysfunctional family's attempts to reconcile, and features Michael playing the son of Kirk's character. But by all accounts, this is not a case of art imitating life. There have never been any credible accounts of serious family discord, and virtually no suggestion of a young Michael being pushed into a career by a maniacal father.

The Douglases' Brand A$$$$ets

The Hawn Family: Goldie, Kurt and Kate

If you're like me, you probably assumed there could be only one Goldie. Boy, were we wrong. Daughter Kate Hudson inherited her mom's looks and, more impressively, her charm, channeling Goldie's goofiness and talent to deliver memorable performances to an entirely new generation of moviegoers.

Largely as a result of the complex character she portrayed in her breakout film, "Almost Famous," Kate has been able to fend off the typecast fate of her mom. Nonetheless, she has proved deft at stealing the hearts of movie audiences young and old, flawlessly portraying one lovable character after the next.

But did Kate simply inherit this ability from her super-talented parents, or is she an independent character who found her path all on her own? It appears that neither Goldie nor Kurt harbored aspirations of Hollywood fame for their daughter. As a child, Kate loved to perform, yet still her folks hoped she'd go to college instead of following in their footsteps. Still, Kate chose to follow her dreams. And if her unconventional choice of mates is any indication _ she married a significantly older rock star, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes _ it appears she's found success all on her own.

The Hawns' Brand A$$$$ets

The Osbourne Family: Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly and Jack

Parading your disturbed family on TV to jumpstart multiple careers seems an odd choice to many of us, but it did accomplish what clan queen Sharon Osbourne set out to do. Before MTV picked up the reality hit "The Osbournes" and turned this family into a household name, the Osbournes' fame was derived solely from hard-rocking dad Ozzy.

But as soon as the show aired, Ozzy became just one piece of an ensemble cast of characters, all of whom would become stars. "The Osbournes" launched the musical careers of son Jack and daughter Kelly. In addition, Telepictures thought it had found the next big star in Sharon, and handed her a talk show. Despite initial viewer interest, Sharon was simply a novelty act. Telepictures soon discovered that it had an expensive mess on its hands. Even the guests looked bored.

Despite this flop, Sharon's attempt to turn her clan into a family of stars wasn't all for naught; Kelly's singing career appears to be blossoming with the help of her mother's firm, guiding hand, and even notorious partier Jack has started to make something of his life.

The Osbournes' Brand A$$ets

Remember: the most dependable road to the top is to treat your brand as your greatest asset.

(Samantha Ettus is the author of "The Experts' Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do" (Random House). Send comments and questions to www.theexpertsguideto.com).

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com)