by Mark Brinkerhoff
Fontaine and de Havilland in 1967 at a Marlene Dietrich show
“I bequeath all my beauty to my younger sister Joan, because she has none.”
- Olivia de Havilland, according to her “will,” age nine
Apocryphal? Who can say. Delicious? 100 percent!
Though chronicled to death (at TFE and elsewhere), the purported feud between the most famous siblings of Hollywood’s Golden Age endures like no other. Why? Because it seems silly and pointless in retrospect, as most sibling rivalries and familial angst do. But rather than dwell on the negative, let’s turn our attention to more positive outpourings of mutual love and respect, shall we?
Here are 10 of the more famous (in some cases infamous) siblings over the years on the ties that bind—and unbind—them to each other, not to mention the public’s imagination...
Peter and Jane Fonda in the 1940s as children“My sister came to my rescue several times, emotionally, and I’m glad for that. We have a very close relationship.”
- Peter Fonda on sister Jane (circa 1989)
Shirley Maclaine and Warren Beatty at the 1965 Oscars. She presented Best Director and he presented Best Art Direction“The difference between us is sex. I can take it or leave it. But my kid brother ... well, now, he enjoys his reputation. Sex is the most important thing in his life. It's his hobby, you could say.” -
Shirley MacLaine on brother Warren Beatty
Beau and Jeff Bridges in 1989's "The Fabulous Baker Boys"“It’s not a competition. It’s like we’re on the same team.”
- Jeff Bridges on brother Beau (circa 2014)
Angelina Jolie and James Haven at the 1999 Oscars. Angelina won for "Girl, Interrupted"“Jamie, I have nothing without you. You are the strongest, most amazing man that I have ever known, and I love you.”
- Angelina Jolie to brother James Haven (circa 2000)
Kate & Rooney Mara in 2010“Luckily my sister and I know that [acting isn’t everything.] While it may be both of our passions, it is just a job at the end of the day.”
- Kate Mara on sister Rooney and their shared interest (circa 2014)
Pablo and Liev Schreiber in 2015“I was just always very careful to separate my image and my work life from his. [But] Liev and I have a really nice relationship. He’s an incredibly talented actor, and I look up to him a lot.”
- Pablo Schreiber on his brother Liev (circa 2011)
Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal at the premiere of 2018's "The Kindergarten Teacher"“What's interesting is that Maggie knows how much the choices that I make reflect what's going on in my life. Admittedly, probably, as my sister, and as someone who loves me—like, she can't wait to see me become a father.”
- Jake Gyllenhaal on sister Maggie (circa 2015)
“I’d say she’s always good in everything. Seriously, I think it’s true!”
- John Cusack on sister Joan (circa 2017)
Beyoncé and Solange Knowles in 2017“My sister and I truly are best friends.”
- Solange Knowles on her and her sister Beyoncé’s relationship
Patricia Arquette and the late Alexis Arquette"To me, Alexis was really my great vanguard. I think, truthfully, every single trans person in the United States is a vanguard because it's a very difficult life to live.”
- Patricia Arquette on her late sister, Alexis (circa 2017)
As someone with four siblings of my own, let me say that appreciating our brothers and/or sisters while we have them, for as long as we have them (and they us), can be its own reward. The 2000 film/masterpiece, You Can Count on Me, sums it up beautifully:
I’m really glad you’re home.”