Lauren Bacall’s Three Children: A Closer Look at the Actress’ Family, Including Her Son from Gossip Girl
Lauren Bacall, Stephen Bogart, and Leslie Bogart during the Humphrey Bogart Postage Stamp Premiere on July 31, 1997, in Hollywood, Calif.; Sam Robards and Lauren Bacall attended the 2009 Governors Awards Gala on Nov. 14, 2009, in Hollywood, Calif.
SGranitz/WireImage ; Benkey/JPegFoto/Alamy
NEED TO KNOW
- Lauren Bacall had three children: Stephen, Leslie, and Sam.
- She welcomed Stephen and Leslie with her late husband, Humphrey Bogart, and son Sam with ex-husband, Jason Robards.
- The Hollywood icon died at the age of 89 on August 12, 2014, following a stroke.
Eleven years after her passing, Lauren Bacall’s legacy persists through her three children.
Bacall, born Betty Joan Perske, had two children, Stephen and Leslie, with her co-star, Humphrey Bogart, whom she married in 1945. Their union was tragically cut short when Bogart succumbed to esophageal cancer in 1957. Bacall later married actor Jason Robards in 1961, with whom she welcomed her third child, Sam Robards, before their separation in 1969.
Bacall passed away at her home in New York City on August 12, 2014, at the age of 89. In a retrospective, her eldest son, Stephen, reflected on how her legacy helped him cope with her death.
“That’s a hell of a life. To grow up, and to be able to be Lauren Bacall your whole life, I mean, you’re living tons and tons of life,” he remarked. “When you lose your mother, of course it’s upsetting, but you can’t be sad for her [because] she got to do what she got to do.”
Stephen elaborated, “I talked to her that morning, and she was fine. She had a stroke and died in 7 hours, and she wasn’t in any pain. How much better can it be, really? … I really wasn’t sad because of the life that she got to live.”
From their births to their career paths, here’s what to know about Lauren Bacall’s children: Stephen, Leslie, and Sam.
Stephen Bogart, 77
Stephen Bogart and mother Lauren Bacall at the premiere screening of ‘Birth’ on Oct. 26, 2004, in New York City.
Evan Agostini/Getty
Born on January 6, 1949, Stephen Humphrey Bogart was Bacall’s first child with Humphrey Bogart.
In a 1995 interview with The New York Times, Stephen discussed the challenges of growing up under public scrutiny, especially following his father’s death in 1957.
“It was his death, rather than his life, that was the problem for me,” Stephen explained, noting that the loss increased attention on his family. “I hated it. I didn’t want my picture taken anymore.”
Despite facing obstacles in his education, Stephen graduated from the University of Hartford in 1979. He ventured into television production and authored several books, including *Bogart: In Search of My Father*, released in 1995.
Reflecting on his work, he shared, “I was 8 when he died and you don’t really know your parents that well at that age. I can’t picture his voice … other than on film.”
Sam Robards, Lauren Bacall, and Stephen Bogart during the Premiere Party for ‘The Tempest’ on Aug. 8, 1982, in New York City.
Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Regarding his mother’s passing, Stephen expressed gratitude that she “did not suffer” and shared how she influenced his character.
“She was my mother and she brought us up to be certain types of people and live a certain life,” he stated. “I wanted to find out who I was, over and above being the son of Humphrey Bogart.”
As of November 2024, Stephen resides in Florida with his wife, Carla Soviero, and has three children from previous marriages: Richard, Jamie, and Brooke.
Leslie Bogart, 73
Lauren Bacall, Leslie Bogart, and Sam Robards at the 54th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 19, 1997, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Leslie Howard Bogart, Bacall’s second child, was born on August 23, 1952.
Bacall reflected on her time as a mother, stating, “Whenever I think of the word ‘happy’ now, I think of then.”
She often shared how her children provided solace following Bogart’s death in 1957.
Stephen Bogart, Lauren Bacall, and Leslie Bogart during the premiere party for ‘The Tempest’ on August 8, 1982, in New York City.
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Bacall once said, “If I hadn’t had those two little children, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”
Leslie eventually chose a life outside the public eye, working as a photographer’s assistant and later as a yoga instructor and nurse in Boston. In 1990, she married yoga master Erich Schiffmann.
Stephen noted that he, Sam, and Leslie collectively manage their late mother’s intellectual property rights.
Sam Robards, 64
Lauren Bacall and Sam Robards at the opening night of ‘The Overwhelming’ on October 23, 2007, in New York City.
Jemal Countess/WireImage
Sam Robards, Bacall’s youngest child, was born on December 16, 1961, with her second husband, Jason Robards.
In a March 1970 interview with The New York Times, Bacall affectionately referred to Sam as her “little mouse,” sharing that actress Katharine Hepburn was his godmother.
She noted that due to her husband’s busy career, she primarily raised Sam on her own, which helped cultivate a strong bond between them.
“Sam enriched my life more than anyone has — not intentionally, it’s just the way he was,” Bacall told Vanity Fair in March 2011, describing him as “what a great gift.”
Sam’s interest in the performing arts was sparked at age 8 when his mother took him on stage after a Broadway performance of *Applause*.
Lauren Bacall and Sam Robards during a visit to Stockholm, Sweden, in 1993.
Roger Tillberg/Alamy
Throughout his career, Sam has taken on various roles in theater, film, and television, notably starring in 1989’s *Casualties of War*, 1999’s *American Beauty*, 2001’s *A.I. Artificial Intelligence*, and 2007’s *Awake*. He received a Tony Award nomination in 2002 for his work in the Broadway revival of *The Man Who Had All the Luck* and appeared as Howard Archibald in *Gossip Girl*.
Sam expressed pride in forging his own path within the entertainment industry, having faced the dual challenge of being recognized as the child of two iconic figures.
“When I started acting, it was like a double identity crisis—your basic crisis, compounded by people saying, ‘there goes Robards’ kid, Bacall’s kid,’ ” he said. “Now I realize, sure, that gets your foot in the door, but once it’s there, it’s your foot. I’m not bothered anymore. I’m confident of my abilities.”
Sam was previously married to actress Suzy Amis Cameron, with whom he shares a son, Jasper Robards. He later married Sidsel Jensen, welcoming two additional children.
