> At a Glance
> – Lauren Bacall’s children carry on her legacy a decade after her death
> – Stephen, 77, Leslie, 73, and Sam, 64, each forged unique paths
> – The siblings jointly manage their mother’s intellectual property
> Why it matters: Hollywood royalty’s next generation shows how star kids step out of iconic shadows
Lauren Bacall’s three children have spent decades navigating life under the spotlight cast by their legendary parents. From television production to nursing to acting, each chose a distinct path while preserving their mother’s legacy.
The Eldest: Stephen Bogart
Born January 6, 1949, Stephen spent years distancing himself from Hollywood. After being kicked out of multiple colleges, he graduated from the University of Hartford in 1979 and built a career producing TV shows.
Writing became his way to understand the father he barely knew. His 1995 book Bogart: In Search of My Father explored the man who died when Stephen was just 8 years old.
Stephen told NoirCity in 2015 that writing the book helped him process his identity beyond being “the son of Humphrey Bogart.” He now lives in Florida with his third wife, Carla Soviero, and has three children from previous marriages.
The Private Daughter: Leslie Bogart
Leslie Howard Bogart arrived August 23, 1952, and unlike her brother, she deliberately stepped away from public life. After working as a photographer’s assistant in her 30s, she became a yoga instructor and nurse in Boston.
She married yoga master Erich Schiffmann in 1990. Her mother once said the word “happy” meant the years right after Leslie’s birth, and that her children helped her survive Humphrey Bogart’s 1957 death.
The Actor: Sam Robards
Sam Robards, born December 16, 1961, became the family’s second-generation actor. His mother called him her “little mouse” and said Katharine Hepburn was his godmother.
A childhood moment on Broadway sparked his acting passion. At 8 years old, his mother brought him onstage after a performance of Applause, where he saw empty seats and realized “amazing things had been taking place.”
Sam’s career includes Casualties of War, American Beauty, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, and Gossip Girl. He received a Tony nomination in 2002 for The Man Who Had All the Luck.
Managing Their Mother’s Legacy
All three siblings control their late mother’s intellectual property rights. Stephen told Stay Thirsty Media that their mother raised them to be independent, never telling them what to do.
Stephen reflected on his mother’s 2014 death at 89, saying he wasn’t sad because “she got to do what she got to do” and died peacefully after a stroke.
Key Takeaways
- Stephen Bogart, 77, became a TV producer and author after struggling with his famous lineage
- Leslie Bogart, 73, chose a private life as a nurse and yoga instructor in Boston
- Sam Robards, 64, followed his parents into acting with notable film and Broadway roles
- The three siblings jointly manage Lauren Bacall’s estate and intellectual property
- Each child found their own identity beyond being Hollywood royalty
