Keeping it in the family: Actors who have played relatives on stage

Hello, Islanders!  

It’s no secret to JAWS fans that Ian Shaw, the son of Robert Shaw, plays his father in “The Shark is Broken,” which has entered its final month on Broadway.  

And while portraying one’s family member on screen happens often (among the most recent examples, O’Shea Jackson Jr portrayed his father in Straight Out of Compton, I can only find two other examples of this happening on stage:

“The American Clock” (1981)

An autobiographical play written by Arthur Miller, the show featured actress Joan Copeland – Miller’s sister - in the role of Rosa Baum, who was modeled after their mother, Augusta.

Copeland and Millier on the opening night of ‘The American Clock’ (image via The Times)

 “Jersey Boys” (2017)

In this musical about the Four Seasons, Olivia Valli, granddaughter of the group’s frontman, Frankie Valli, played her grandmother, Mary Delgado.

Olivia Valli with grandfather Frankie Valli

I guess we’ll have to wait for Drew Barrymore to make her Broadway debut in a show about her family for this to happen again.  I can see her as her grand-aunt, Ethel.

Words by Michael A Smith. Michael is co-author of Jaws 2: The Making Of The Hollywood Sequel. You can order the book by contacting Michael at OsFanMike@aol.com.

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