> At a Glance
> – Bob Dylan has six children from two marriages
> – Desiree, 39, was kept secret until 2001 to give her a “normal childhood”
> – Jakob Dylan fronts The Wallflowers and won Grammys like his dad
> – Why it matters: Shows how the Nobel-winning musician balanced global fame with intense family privacy
Bob Dylan built a fiercely private family life while becoming a cultural icon. Across six kids and two marriages, the Nobel laureate shielded his children from the spotlight-sometimes for decades.
The Early Family
Dylan married Sara Lownds in 1965 and adopted her daughter Maria, born Oct 21, 1961. Four more children followed: Jesse (Jan 6, 1966), Anna (July 11, 1967), Sam (July 30, 1968), and Jakob (Dec 9, 1969).
The couple split in 1977. Dylan later wrote that “having children changed my life and segregated me from just about everybody.”
The Hidden Daughter
In 1986 Dylan wed backup singer Carolyn Dennis; four months earlier they had Desiree Gabrielle Dennis-Dylan. They divorced in 1992 but kept the marriage and child secret until a 2001 biography.
**Carolyn’s statement to ABC News:
> “Bob and I made a choice to keep our marriage private to give our daughter a normal childhood. Bob has been a wonderful, active father to Desiree.”
Desiree, now 39, acts and performs with the Young Americans.
What the Kids Do Now
- Maria, 64: poet, married to musician Peter Himmelman, four children
- Jesse, 60: film director of American Wedding, founded agency Wondros, two kids
- Anna, 58: stays out of public view
- Sam, 57: married Stacy; their son’s Crohn’s battle inspired her nonprofit
- Jakob, 56: Grammy-winning front-man of The Wallflowers, four sons
- Desiree, 39: actress with roles on Modern Family, NCIS, Good Girls
How They Remember Dad
Jakob told The New York Times:
> “He never missed a single Little League game. He’s collected every home run ball I ever hit.”
Jesse told The Times in 2021:
> “My dad’s great, he’s a totally kind, wonderful man.”
Key Takeaways
- Dylan fathered six children across 30 years
- Kept second marriage and daughter secret for nine years
- Jakob’s band won Grammys the same night Dylan performed live
- All six kids praise his hands-on parenting despite global fame
From poetry to platinum records, Dylan’s children carved quiet paths while carrying an iconic surname.
