At a Glance
- Katherine LaNasa’s children were born 24 years apart, in 1990 and 2014
- Her son Henry, 35, followed his parents into acting despite early reservations
- Her daughter Eloise, 11, made a cameo on The Pitt as the photo of Dana’s granddaughter
- Why it matters: The Emmy winner’s candid reflections on late-in-life motherhood highlight evolving perspectives on parenting across generations
Katherine LaNasa has earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of charge nurse Dana Evans, and off-screen she mothers two children born almost a quarter-century apart. The Emmy winner welcomed son Henry Lee Hopper in 1990 and daughter Eloise McCue Show in 2014, creating a unique parenting journey that spans more than two decades.
Henry Lee Hopper, 35
LaNasa had her first child on Sept. 11, 1990, with then-husband Dennis Hopper. Henry grew up in Los Angeles and forged a close bond with his father, describing him as “an equal” rather than an authority figure.
> “He’s always treated me like an equal, never an authority figure,” Henry told The Hollywood Reporter in 2008. “I relate to him like a friend who’s been around 50 or 60 years more than me.”
Following his parents into the entertainment industry, Henry made his screen debut at age 6 in Kiss and Tell. Still, he hesitated to commit to Hollywood full-time.
> “I’ve seen how the business aspect can drag you through a lot of s—,” he said.
After a year studying painting and sculpture at CalArts, he dropped out, moved to Berlin, then returned to Venice, Calif., where he continued creating art and taking acting roles. In 2012 a minor sued him for sexual assault; he denied the allegations. The case settled for an undisclosed amount in 2013.
Since then Henry has acted sporadically while keeping a low profile. His mother often celebrates him on social media; in 2023 she posted:
> “NUMBER 1 ☀️Big brother, overall excellent family member extraordinaire! We love you Henry!! HAPPY NATIONAL SON’S DAY!”
Eloise McCue Show, 11
LaNasa and husband Grant Show welcomed their daughter on March 25, 2014, at 6 lbs., 3 oz. The actress announced the birth on Instagram:
> “Welcome to the world #BabyEloise! I love you my Darling.”
Speaking on Home & Family Show, LaNasa said they were “lucky” to conceive with help from “science” and called motherhood in her 40s deeply rewarding.
> “Doing it now as opposed to doing it before is that I really appreciate her. I don’t think I could appreciate my son when I was 23,” she said. “I feel so patient and I have such a perspective on life that I just find it so beautiful.”
She also acknowledged the challenges of a geriatric pregnancy, recalling pressure to schedule a C-section simply because she was 47.
> “I wanted to push back a lot. I didn’t want to incise my body if I didn’t have to,” she told Yahoo Life in June 2025.
Eloise already has a tiny screen credit: her photo appears on Dana Evans’ desk as the character’s granddaughter in The Pitt. LaNasa told Collider in April 2025:
> “It’s my actual daughter, but she should be my granddaughter. I said I wanted those family pictures there.”
Life Across Two Generations
Reflecting on the 24-year gap between her children, LaNasa told the Associated Press in January 2026:
> “I have children that are 24 years apart in age and so, I feel like I’ve just been mothering my whole life.”
From raising Henry as a 23-year-old newlywed to savoring Eloise’s childhood in her late 40s, the actress says patience and perspective transformed her approach to parenting, proving that motherhood can evolve-and flourish-across decades.
Key Takeaways
- LaNasa’s parenting journey spans 24 years, book-ended by two very different life stages
- Henry, now 35, remains close to his mother despite legal setbacks and career pauses
- Eloise, 11, arrived via “science” and already cameoed on her mom’s hit show
- The actress credits maturity with deepening her appreciation for late-in-life motherhood
