September 28th 2024.
Maggie Smith's sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, have both followed in their famous mother's footsteps. The late Dame Maggie Smith passed away at the age of 89, as announced by her sons who said she died peacefully. But who exactly are Chris and Toby?
Aside from her successful acting career, the beloved Downton Abbey star also had a tumultuous personal life. She married her first husband, actor Sir Robert Stephens, in 1967 - the same year she gave birth to her eldest son, Larkin. Two years later, her second son Stephens was born. The family even starred together in the Oscar-winning movie The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and the nominated film Travels with My Aunt.
However, their marriage faced challenges due to Stephens' mental health issues and infidelity, ultimately leading to a divorce in 1975. Smith then remarried playwright Beverley Cross, but her dedication to her sons never wavered.
In a statement, Chris and Toby paid tribute to their extraordinary mother, who not only leaves behind two sons, but five loving grandchildren. It's clear that their bond went beyond biology, as both men found success in the TV and film industry just like their mother.
In a 2014 interview, Smith joked about her sons' decision to follow in her footsteps, saying, "God knows, they weren't encouraged. I think they sort of fought it, but I'm glad they gave in because even with all its horrors, this profession is fascinating."
Toby Stephens is perhaps best known for his role as James Bond villain Gustav Graves in the 2002 movie Die Another Day. He has also starred in various other projects, including BBC's And Then There Were None, Black Sails, and Disney+'s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. He even made a cameo in Netflix's recent series One Day as Lionel.
Interestingly, Stephens once stated that he had no interest in sharing the stage or screen with his mother, saying, "I have a policy with my mum - we both kind of think that the family acting thing is a bit naff." However, he did end up crossing paths with his late biological father while working at the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Chris Larkin has also had a successful acting career, appearing in films such as Master and Commander and Valkyrie. He also starred in TV shows like Outlander and Yes, Prime Minister. However, he did change his name at the age of 19, wanting to establish himself as an actor separate from his famous family.
Larkin has worked with his mother on the 1999 film Tea With Mussolini, and has been open about his decision to change his name. He explained, "My father was always trying to get me to trade on the family connection. He never got the changing of the name. He would go, 'Why don't you change it back?' But that was the choice I made."
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