Are Eric Close and Robert Redford related? Despite occasional internet rumors and surface-level facial resemblances, Eric Close and Robert Redford share no familial relationship. They belong to different generations of American entertainment, hail from entirely different backgrounds, and have no blood ties or marriage connections.
Understanding this distinction requires looking closely at both actors' actual lineages, career paths, and the common reasons why fans frequently mistake them for relatives. Celebrity lookalikes and shared last names often spark speculation online, but official records confirm these two performers operate in completely separate family trees.
Origins and Early Backgrounds
Examining where each actor grew up highlights the lack of any shared heritage. Robert Redford was born in Santa Monica, California, in 1936, growing up during the mid-20th century before pursuing higher education at the University of Colorado Boulder and later studying painting in Paris and acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. His family roots trace back to English and Scottish ancestry with lineage deeply embedded in early American history.
Eric Close entered the world decades later, born in Staten Island, New York, in 1967. His family moved frequently during his childhood due to his father's career as an orthopedic surgeon, living in Indiana, Michigan, and eventually settling in San Diego, California, where Close attended high school and later graduated with a degree in communications from the University of Southern California. With entirely separate geographic origins and distinct generational timelines, their personal histories intersect only through their chosen profession in film and television.
Career Trajectories in Film and Television
While both men established successful careers in dramatic acting, their professional paths developed through different eras of the entertainment industry. Robert Redford rose to prominence in the 1960s, achieving major movie star status with iconic roles in films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, before transitioning into an acclaimed career as a director and founding the Sundance Institute to support independent cinema.
Eric Close built his reputation primarily through steady television work across the 1990s and 2000s. Viewers recognize him from long-running television series such as Without a Trace, Nashville, and Suits. Because both actors portrayed classic, clean-cut American heroes with similar structural facial features during their respective primes, casual television viewers sometimes conflate their identities or assume an uncle-nephew or father-son connection.
Common Misconceptions About Celebrity Families
Internet trivia sites and rumor mills frequently generate speculation about actor lineages based entirely on superficial traits. When two performers share a similar aesthetic or vocal cadence, online forums occasionally invent fictional ties.
- Shared physical traits like blond hair, blue eyes, and strong jawlines often mislead casual observers.
- Last name confusion occasionally happens, though "Close" and "Redford" are distinct surnames with separate etymologies.
- Lack of verification on user-generated content platforms allows unfounded rumors to persist for years.
To verify actual family connections, researchers rely on official public registries, genealogical databases, and autobiographical accounts rather than unverified blog posts. Major biographical resources such as IMDb and official press archives maintain accurate records of actor families, confirming that neither performer has ever claimed any relation to the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Eric Close and Robert Redford father and son?
No. Robert Redford has children from his marriages, none of whom include Eric Close. Eric Close's parents are named Linda and Fred Close.
Did Eric Close ever play a young Robert Redford in a movie?
No. Despite fan casting ideas and visual similarities, Eric Close has never portrayed a younger version of Robert Redford in any film or television project.
Where did the rumor about their relation start?
The rumor stems primarily from online forums discussing actor lookalikes and facial similarities between classic Hollywood stars and modern television actors.
Do Eric Close and Robert Redford share any ancestral roots?
Genealogical records show no overlapping family trees or shared ancestry between the Close family of New York and the Redford family of California.
