Warren Beatty and Annette Bening have raised four children over the past three decades, stepping back from Hollywood to focus on family life.
At a Glance
- The couple welcomed four children between 1992 and 2000
- Stephen Beatty transitioned in his teens and is now an outspoken trans advocate
- Benjamin Beatty followed his parents into acting with roles in Hail, Caesar! and UFO
- Ella Beatty graduated Juilliard and made her Broadway debut in March 2024
- Why it matters: The famously private couple balanced A-list careers while raising children who now pursue their own creative paths
Since the birth of their first child in 1992, Beatty and Bening have navigated parenthood while maintaining successful acting careers. Their children have grown into adults pursuing creative fields, with some following their parents into the entertainment industry.
The Beatty Children Today
Stephen Beatty, 34
Born January 8, 1992, Stephen arrived just one month after his parents’ film Bugsy hit theaters. In 2012, he publicly shared his transition journey through a video for We Happy Trans, stating “My name is Stephen. I identify as a trans man.”
Both parents have expressed pride in their eldest child. In 2019, Bening told AARP she was “very, very proud” of Stephen, calling him “an articulate, thoughtful person.” Beatty praised his son in 2016, telling Vanity Fair “He’s a revolutionary, a genius and my hero, as are all my children.”
During a January 2024 appearance on The View, Bening discussed becoming an LGBTQIA+ advocate after Stephen came out. “At the beginning, I felt very protective of his privacy, because he’s the son of these two famous people,” she said. “So I felt very protective, and I felt it was his right to say what he wanted to say publicly, or not.”
She continued, “And now, as time has gone on – especially now with what’s happening, unfortunately, in the political process, [with how] trans people are being used – fear and ignorance is being stoked against trans people in the most frightening way. It’s so unfair.”
Benjamin Beatty, 31
Benjamin Beatty was born August 23, 1994. He ventured into acting with a role in the 2016 Coen brothers film Hail, Caesar! and appeared in the 2018 film UFO.
In 2016, Beatty expressed excitement about spending time with his younger son, telling AARP he was “giddy” that Ben was having dinner with him that evening. “I’m an attentive father,” he said. “I have to struggle somewhat not to be overly attentive.”
Isabel Beatty, 29
Isabel Beatty, born January 11, 1997, maintains a public Instagram account showcasing her personal life. She has shared photos celebrating her younger sister’s graduation and documented family gatherings, including a Thanksgiving meal she prepared with Ella and Annette.
In April 2022, Isabel posted on X (formerly Twitter) a photo of her father celebrating his 85th birthday, initially captioning it “Deleting this in a lil bit but i think its sooo sweet so i post” before later adding “Not deleting, the energy is too sweet to delete !”
Ella Beatty, 25
Ella Beatty, born April 8, 2000, graduated from Juilliard in May 2022. Her mother spoke about the transition to being an empty nester in a 2022 interview with News Of Losangeles.
“Sometimes it’s hard for me to let go and just remember, ‘Oh, that’s not my job anymore.’ I’m so proud of these adult children, who aren’t children, but they’re my kids,” Bening said. “They’re all so different and they’re all out there discovering themselves and their voices. We think we’re there to teach them, and, of course, what we realize is that that they teach us everything.”
Ella’s career gained momentum when she joined the cast of Ryan Murphy’s series Feud: Capote vs. The Swans in October 2022, playing Kerry O’Shea, daughter of Truman Capote’s lover John O’Shea. The show premiered in January 2024.
In March 2024, Ella made her Broadway debut in Appropriate alongside Sarah Paulson.
Balancing Career and Family
Throughout their children’s upbringing, Bening made conscious choices to prioritize family time. In 2004, she told News Of Losangeles she stepped back from her career, saying “I couldn’t go from picture to picture. I’m too interested in the other things in life, like being with my kids and being with my husband.”
When working, she often brought her children to set locations. During filming of Julia in Budapest and London, her kids experienced European culture firsthand. “They get a chance to see the world in a way that you don’t if you’re just a tourist,” she explained.
Bening has consistently praised her husband’s parenting skills, calling him “a fantastic dad” who is “enthralled, very thoughtful, very communicative.”
Ella shared the acting advice her parents gave her: “[Be] kind, treat people with respect, work hard and be grateful.”
Key Takeaways
The Beatty-Bening family demonstrates how Hollywood couples can successfully raise children while maintaining demanding careers. Their four children have pursued diverse paths, from advocacy to acting, with their parents’ full support. The family’s story shows how stepping back from career demands can create space for meaningful family connections that last decades.
