> At a Glance
> – Ronald Reagan fathered five children across two marriages
> – Maureen and Michael were with first wife Jane Wyman; Patti and Ron with Nancy Reagan
> – Christine, born prematurely, died hours after birth in 1947
> – Why it matters: The Reagan legacy lives on through vastly different paths taken by each child
Ronald Reagan’s screen-to-politics journey produced five children who stepped into the spotlight on their own terms.
The Early Family
Reagan married Jane Wyman in 1940. Their daughter Maureen arrived in 1941, followed by adopted son Michael in 1945. Tragedy struck in 1947 when Christine was born prematurely and died the same day.
After the 1948 divorce, Reagan wed Nancy Davis in 1952. Their first child, Patti, was born that October; son Ron completed the family in 1958.
Maureen: The Political Trailblazer
Maureen Reagan became co-chair of the Republican National Committee in 1987. She championed women’s issues, including abortion rights, within the GOP.
She detailed her Hollywood childhood in the 1989 memoir First Father, First Daughter. Maureen died of melanoma in 2001 at 60, leaving daughter Rita and husband Dennis Revell.
Michael: The Radio Voice
Adopted at birth, Michael Reagan acted in Falcon Crest alongside his mother and later hosted the nationally syndicated Michael Reagan Show for nearly two decades. The program drew 5 million listeners as he promoted conservative politics.
He authored On the Outside Looking In (1988) and Twice Adopted (2004). Michael died of cancer on January 4, 2026, at 80, survived by wife Colleen and children Ashley and Cameron.
Patti: The Rebel Caregiver
Born Patricia Reagan, she later took her mother’s maiden name, Davis, and clashed publicly with her parents’ conservative views. After years of distance, she cared for Ronald during his decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Patti founded the support group Beyond Alzheimer’s and wrote multiple memoirs, including The Way I See It (1992) and Dear Mom and Dad (2024). She married yoga teacher Paul Griller in 1984; they divorced in 1990.
Ron: The Ballet-Dancing Commentator
Ron Reagan dropped out of Yale after one semester to join the Joffrey Ballet, a move his parents publicly supported. He later hosted Saturday Night Live, acted in Soul Man, and became a liberal political commentator.
He chronicled his father in My Father at 100 (2011) and frequently contrasts modern politics with Reagan-era conservatism. Ron was married to wife Doria for 33 years until her death in 2014.
Key Takeaways
- Maureen rose to GOP leadership while advocating abortion rights
- Michael’s radio show reached 5 million listeners before his 2026 death
- Patti reconciled with her parents while caring for Ronald through Alzheimer’s
- Ron traded ballet for broadcasting, critiquing today’s politics in his father’s name
From Hollywood homes to the White House, each Reagan child carved a distinct path that keeps the 40th president’s legacy alive in uniquely personal ways.
