15 Things to Know About Actress & RFK Jr's Daughter Kick Kennedy
Can you even imagine what it must be like to grow up as part of the Kennedy clan? Yeah, neither can we.
For Kick Kennedy, though, it’s a reality. The daughter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the great-niece of John F. Kennedy, Kathleen Alexandra (“Kick”) Kennedy was born with Kennedy blood running through her veins — and she’s just as interesting as all of her famous predecessors.
She’s named after her great-aunt Kick (which you probably gathered if you’ve kept up with the Kennedys), but she’s definitely not in the family business of politics. In fact, she’s pursuing acting — you can even spot her in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
There’s more where that came from — learn more about the young Kennedy below.
1. She’s a junior
If you google “Kick Kennedy,” you’ll find a ton of articles about JFK’s younger sister, who died in a plane accident back in 1948 when she was just 28 years old. The Kick we’re discussing today was named for the one who died years ago, her great-aunt.
Though Kick Jr. never met her namesake, she often posts about her on social media, and it’s clear that she feels a connection with the elder Kick.
2. She has access to the photos & videos we all want
Being born into the Kennedy family obviously has its pluses and minuses, but the treasure trove of Kennedy keepsakes would definitely be considered a plus — especially since most of the world has at least a mild obsession with the Kennedy family that dates back decades.
Kick clearly has access to her family’s archives and sometimes gifts us with fun little nuggets like the clip above of her grandparents, Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Shakel, dancing on their honeymoon in Palm Beach.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BEE7XITxPys/
3. She’s not in the family business
The Kennedys are all about politics, but Kick would rather be acting. She’s already had parts on shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and Newsroom, and she even appeared as herself on an episode of Gossip Girl.
4. She’s not that impressed with Taylor Swift
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCllPFKPKdA/
Remember when there was all that buzz around Taylor Swift dating a Kennedy? That was Kick’s brother Conor. And while Kick certainly doesn’t have anything bad to say about Swift, she wasn’t fangirling when the singer was coming around, either.
“Yeah, she’s really sweet,” Kick told Page Six in 2014. “It was a moment, really. But we always have exciting things going on — exciting people to meet.”
5. She doesn’t want to be known for just being a Kennedy
Some famous offspring are all about the nepotism, but Kick seems to see her famous name as more of a hurdle.
“Hopefully, one day people will come see me for something that doesn’t have to do with my last name,” she once said, according to Page Six.
That probably factored into Kick’s decision to go into show business instead of politics.
6. She had an interesting childhood
Her dad’s career focus is environmental law, and growing up, Kick had all kinds of astonishing encounters with Mother Nature. In a 2012 interview with Town & Country, she recalled an especially colorful childhood event in which her dad — who has a thing for animal skulls and skeletons — took her down to the beach with a chainsaw to retrieve the head of a dead beached whale. They bungee-corded the head to the roof of the family minivan for the five-hour haul back home.
“Every time we accelerated on the highway, whale juice would pour into the windows of the car, and it was the rankest thing on the planet,” Kick said. “We all had plastic bags over our heads with mouth holes cut out, and people on the highway were giving us the finger, but that was just normal day-to-day stuff for us.”
7. She’s not exactly a Donald Trump fan
Not surprisingly, Kick doesn’t seem to be a Trump fan — but she does have a sense of humor about it. Last Fourth of July, she posted a pic of a Trump piñata at her family’s annual bash. Kick’s pic was quickly taken down, but not before screen grabs were taken.
8. She’s already experienced devastating heartbreak
Kick had been dating billionaire banking heir Matthew Mellon for about four months when he died unexpectedly in April 2018. According to Kennedy’s model manager, Christine Schott, Mellon’s death follows his possible return to substance abuse.
“She is heartbroken, shocked, she didn’t see this coming,” Schott said. “She is devastated and will not be making comment.”
9. She’s Pals With Ben Affleck
In Aug 2024, she made news by allegedly being pals with Ben Affleck. Obviously, romance rumors swirled, but it seems like the two are just hanging out.
10. She’s an Animal Lover
You can see so many photos of Kick with different animals on her Instagram, showing she definitely has a soft spot for animals.
11. She’s Quite Athletic
Along with her love for animals, it seems she also has a love for sports. There are pics of her playing tennis, skiing, scuba diving, horseback riding, and much more.
12. She Doesn’t Talk About Her Dad Often
While she’s posted quite a few happy photos of the two on her social media, she hasn’t publicly talked about their relationship.
13. She Was Born on April 13, 1988
She was born on April 13, 1988, making her an Aries. Aries are often known to be stubborn, fiery, passionate, honest, and creative.
14. She’s Big on Philanthropy
Kick told Resident in 2014 that she was very concerned about water issues, which started her love for philanthropic causes.
“I’ve been really connected to water issues since I can remember, as my father made it his passion. We knew what PCPs were before we knew how to tie our shoes,” she said. “I’ve also spent so much time on the water, whether it’s sailing with friends and family or doing a river cleanup on the Hudson. Being on the water … is where I’m the happiest.”
15. She Went to Stanford
Per People, she attended Stanford, and even started acting there.
A version of this article was originally published in March 2017
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