Celebrity Genealogy      Research - My Family

Katharine Hepburn: Hollywood Legend and My Distant Cousin

Stage, screen, and television icon Katharine Hepburn and I share royal ancestry — our common ancestor is King Edward I of England, known as “Longshanks.” Katharine’s lineage descends through Edward’s second wife, Marguerite of France, while mine traces back to his first wife, Eleanor of Castile. This makes Edward I my 22nd great-grandfather and Katharine’s 20th great-grandfather.

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Early Life and Family Background

Katharine Houghton Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907, in Hartford, Connecticut, the second child of Dr. Thomas Hepburn and Katharine Houghton Hepburn. The couple would go on to have six children in total: Katharine, followed by Richard (1911), Robert (1913), Marion (1918), and Margaret “Peg” (1920).

Both of Katharine’s parents were deeply committed to social reform.

• Her father, Dr. Thomas Hepburn, helped establish the New England Social Hygiene Association.

• Her mother was a leader in the Connecticut Woman Suffrage Association and later worked alongside Margaret Sanger to expand women’s access to birth control in the United States.

The Hepburn household encouraged independence, intellect, and physical activity — qualities that would shape Katharine’s remarkable character and future career as one of Hollywood’s most determined and successful actresses.

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Education and Early Struggles

In 1924, at age 17, Katharine entered Bryn Mawr College, her mother’s alma mater. Having been out of school for several years, she initially struggled with academics and self-confidence. A rebellious spirit, she was once suspended for smoking in her dorm room.

Despite these setbacks, Katharine discovered her passion for theatre during her college years. Once she raised her grades, she began acting regularly in school productions. Her senior-year performance in a leading role earned positive reviews and solidified her decision to pursue acting professionally.

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From Stage to Screen: The Making of a Star

After graduating in 1928, Hepburn moved to Baltimore, where she met Edwin H. Knopf, a theatre producer who cast her as an understudy in The Big Pond. When the leading actress was fired, Katharine stepped into the role — but her debut was disastrous. She arrived late, forgot lines, tripped onstage, and was promptly fired.

Unfazed, Katharine continued auditioning and took on small theatre roles. She later joined the cast of Holiday as an understudy but soon left the production to marry Ludlow Ogden Smith, whom she had met at Bryn Mawr. Marriage, however, couldn’t keep her away from acting for long — she soon returned to the stage and to Holiday for another six months.

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Hollywood Breakthrough

Katharine Hepburn’s big break came in 1932 with her role in The Warrior’s Husband. Her commanding stage presence caught the attention of a Hollywood talent scout, and soon after, she was invited to test for a film at RKO Pictures. Director George Cukor was impressed and offered her a part — which Katharine accepted only after negotiating the then-outrageous salary of $1,500 per week.

Her film debut came later that year in A Bill of Divorcement (1932), opposite John Barrymore. The film was a success, and Hepburn’s confident performance established her as a rising star.

In quick succession, she appeared in Christopher Strong (1933) and then Morning Glory (1933), for which she won her first Academy Award for Best Actress — the first of four Oscars she would receive over her legendary career.

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Defying Hollywood Norms

Despite her success, Katharine Hepburn refused to conform to Hollywood’s publicity demands. She never attended the Academy Awards ceremonies for her wins or nominations, disliked interviews, and rarely signed autographs. Her strong-willed independence earned her both admiration and a reputation for being “difficult” in an era when studios tightly controlled their stars.

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A Legendary Partnership: Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy

Hepburn’s name is often linked with fellow Hollywood great Spencer Tracy — who, interestingly, was also my 9th cousin, twice removed. The two co-starred in nine films together and shared a deep personal relationship that lasted until Tracy’s death in 1967.

Though Tracy was married, he and Hepburn’s bond became one of Hollywood’s most famous love stories. They were also close friends with another of my famous relatives — Humphrey Bogart — and his wife, Lauren Bacall. In fact, Hepburn and Tracy visited Bogart on the night he passed away.

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Awards, Legacy, and Later Years

Over her 65-year career, Katharine Hepburn appeared in 44 feature films, 33 stage plays, and 8 television movies. She remains the only actor in history to win four Academy Awards for Best Actress, including her final Oscar for On Golden Pond (1981), where she starred alongside Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda.

Katharine Hepburn passed away on June 29, 2003, at her home in Connecticut, at the age of 96. She died from cardiac arrest after several years of declining health.

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Remembering a Hollywood Icon

Katharine Hepburn was more than just a talented actress — she was a pioneer who lived life on her own terms. Intelligent, outspoken, and fiercely independent, she changed Hollywood’s perception of women both on and off screen.

As one of my distant relatives, Katharine Hepburn holds a special place in my family history. If I could spend an afternoon with any ancestor, she would be at the top of the list — a woman of brilliance, courage, and authenticity.