Meet James Brolin’s Kids: Josh Brolin, Jess Brolin, and Molly Elizabeth Brolin

James Brolin is an award-winning American actor, producer, and director whose career in Hollywood has spanned more than 6 decades.

He is best known for his roles in film classics like The Amityville Horror (1979) and modern hits such as the CBS comedy series Life in Pieces (2015–2019).

Born Craig Kenneth Bruderlin on July 18, 1940, in Westwood Village, Los Angeles, California, Brolin is of English, Swiss-German, German, Scottish, and Irish descent.

He is [/age]19400718, James Brolin[/age] years old. Brolin once mentioned that Jewish traditions were new to him after marrying singer-actress Barbra Streisand, suggesting he was raised in a secular or non-Jewish household.

Brolin grew up as the eldest of five children, including Jess Brolin, Jason Gould, Molly Elizabeth Brolin, the son of Helen Sue Bruderlin (née Mansur), a housewife, and Henry Hurst Bruderlin, a building contractor. From an early age, he showed a passion for animals, model airplanes, and movies.

Inspired by James Dean, he began filming short movies on an 8mm camera during his teenage years. He attended University High School in West Los Angeles, graduating in 1958, and later studied drama at Santa Monica City College and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Standing 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall, Brolin has also led a notable personal life marked by three marriages. He married Jane Cameron Agee, a wildlife activist, in 1966—just 12 days after meeting her on the set of Batman.

The couple had two sons, Josh Brolin (born 1968) and Jess Brolin (born 1972), before divorcing in 1984. In 1986, he married actress Jan Smithers, his co-star from Hotel, and they welcomed a daughter, Molly Elizabeth Brolin (born 1987), before divorcing in 1995.

Since 1998, Brolin has been married to Barbra Streisand, whom he met through a mutual friend in 1996. He is the stepfather of Streisand’s son, Jason Gould, and the couple currently resides in Malibu, California.

Beyond his long career in television and film, James Brolin is a devoted father and family man. His three children—Josh, Jess, and Molly—have each pursued their own paths, balancing fame, creativity, and personal fulfillment, carrying on his legacy both within and beyond Hollywood.

Josh Brolin

The eldest of James Brolin‘s children, Joshua James Brolin was born on February 12, 1968, in Santa Monica, California. Josh grew up on a ranch in Templeton, California, after his parents divorced when he was 16.

His entry into acting came early; he made his film debut at age 17 in the 1985 adventure-comedy The Goonies, playing the iconic older brother Brandon “Brand” Walsh. Josh‘s career has been a rollercoaster of highs and breakthroughs.

After early roles in TV shows like The Young Riders and films such as Thrashin‘, he gained critical acclaim for his portrayal of a troubled teen in Flirting with Disaster (1996).

The 2000s brought darker, more intense parts, including the lead in the Coen Brothers‘ No Country for Old Men (2007), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. In recent years, Josh has become a blockbuster staple.

He portrayed the villain Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and culminating in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Endgame (2019). He also starred as Cable in Deadpool 2 (2018) and reprised his role from The Goonies-era fame in nostalgic projects.

On the directing front, Josh helmed the 2023 documentary The Brolin Way about his family. Personally, Josh has been married three times: first to actress Alice Adair (1988–1994), with whom he has two children, Eden Brolin and Trevor Brolin; then briefly to Diane Lane (2004–2013); and currently to model Kathryn Boyd since 2016, with whom he shares two daughters, Westlyn Brolin and Chapel Brolin. At 57, Josh remains one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors, often crediting his father’s work ethic for his drive.

Jess Brolin

Born in December 1969, Jason “Jess” Brolin is James‘ second child with Jane Cameron Agee. Unlike his famous brother and half-sister, Jess has largely shunned the entertainment world, preferring a low-key existence.

Reports from the early 2010s painted a challenging picture: Jess was reportedly living in a modest apartment in Ojai, California, and facing financial struggles, with some tabloids claiming he relied on dumpster diving for necessities.

James Brolin has addressed these stories in interviews, expressing concern but emphasizing his son’s independence and choice to live off the grid. Jess has no known acting credits or public social media presence.

He attended the 2003 wedding of Josh to Diane Lane but has otherwise stayed out of family red-carpet events. At around 55 years old, Jess represents the quieter side of the Brolin family, a reminder that not every child of a star seeks the same path.

Molly Elizabeth Brolin

The youngest Brolin, Molly Elizabeth Brolin, was born on November 28, 1987, to James and his third wife, the legendary Barbra Streisand. The couple married in 1998 when Molly was 11, blending families in a high-profile union that has lasted over 25 years.

Molly grew up in the shadow of two entertainment icons but chose a career behind the camera. She studied at Berklee College of Music and worked as an assistant on films such as The Blind Side (2009).

Her résumé includes production roles on projects such as Men in Black 3 (2012), where she served as an assistant to producer Laurie MacDonald, and Royal Reunion (2011), a short film she produced and directed. Molly has dabbled in acting with small parts in films like A Letter to True (2004) and TV appearances, but her passion lies in production and art department work.

She’s credited on IMDb for roles in makeup, wardrobe, and assistant directing. In a 2014 interview, she described her stepmother, Streisand, as a supportive figure who encouraged her creative pursuits without pressure.

Molly married musician Aidan Reilly in 2019 in a private ceremony. The couple keeps a low profile, occasionally sharing glimpses of their life on social media. Now 37, Molly embodies a balanced approach to fame—leveraging family connections while forging her own niche in Hollywood’s technical side.