Hollywood icon Mia Farrow built a massive, globally diverse family consisting of 14 children, mixing biological offspring with international adoptions. While her career spanned decades of acclaimed film work, her personal life frequently drew intense public scrutiny, marked by high-profile relationships, bitter public estrangements, and profound personal heartbreak.
Understanding Mia Farrow's extraordinary legacy and 14 children requires looking past tabloid headlines to examine the full roster of her sons and daughters, the eras in which they joined her family, and the tragic losses that deeply impacted her later years.
The André Previn Era: Biological Sons and Early Adoptions
During her marriage to composer and conductor André Previn in the 1970s, Farrow expanded her family rapidly. This era established the foundation of her large household, blending biological children with international adoptions from Vietnam and South Korea.
- Matthew Previn: Born in 1970, Matthew is one of Farrow and Previn's twin biological sons.
- Sascha Previn: Matthew's twin brother, born in 1970.
- Lark Song Previn: Born in Vietnam in 1973 and adopted that same year by Farrow and Previn. She was the first child adopted into the household.
- Fletcher Previn: Born in 1974, he is Farrow and Previn's third biological son.
- Summer "Daisy" Previn: Adopted from Vietnam in 1976 at around two years old.
- Soon-Yi Previn: Adopted in 1978 from South Korea. Her later romantic relationship with Woody Allen caused a permanent rupture in Farrow's family dynamics.
Following her divorce from Previn in 1979, Farrow continued to adopt and raise children independently before and during her relationship with Woody Allen.
The Woody Allen Era and Later Adoptions
Farrow's household grew further during her long-term relationship with director Woody Allen, and continued expanding after their dramatic separation in 1992.
- Moses Farrow: Adopted in 1980 from South Korea. He was later legally adopted by Woody Allen in 1991.
- Dylan Farrow: Adopted as an infant from Texas in 1985. She later accused Woody Allen of sexual abuse during her childhood—allegations that triggered intense legal and public battles.
- Ronan Farrow: Born Satchel Ronan O'Sullivan Farrow in 1987. He is Farrow's biological son with Woody Allen, though persistent rumors long surrounded his paternity. Ronan grew up to become a prominent investigative journalist.
- Tam Farrow: Adopted in February 1992 as a blind child from Vietnam.
- Isaiah Farrow: Adopted in February 1992 as an infant.
- Thaddeus Wilk Farrow: Adopted in 1994. He was a paraplegic polio survivor from India whom Farrow named in part after the judge who oversaw her custody disputes.
- Quincy Farrow (Kaeli-Shea): Adopted in 1994.
- Frankie-Minh Farrow: Adopted by Farrow following her separation from Allen.
The Tragic Losses Within the Family
While raising a large, diverse family brought immense joy, the household also experienced profound sorrow. Farrow suffered the devastating loss of three of her adopted children over the course of nearly two decades.
- Tam Farrow: Passed away in March 2000 at the age of 21. While initial family statements attributed her death to heart failure related to a weak heart, subsequent family disputes and accounts raised questions surrounding the exact circumstances of her passing.
- Lark Song Previn: Passed away on Christmas Day in 2008 at the age of 35. Her death resulted from complications related to HIV/AIDS.
- Thaddeus Wilk Farrow: Passed away in 2016 at the age of 29 after suffering fatal injuries from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his vehicle.
Mia Farrow later addressed these compounding tragedies publicly, emphasizing the resilience required to navigate immense personal grief while maintaining her commitment to her surviving children and grandchildren.
For a broader historical look at Hollywood dynasties and cultural impacts, you can review profiles on Britannica.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many biological children does Mia Farrow have?
Mia Farrow has four biological children. Three are with her second husband, André Previn (Matthew, Sascha, and Fletcher), and one is with Woody Allen (Ronan).
How many children did Mia Farrow adopt?
She adopted a total of 10 children from various countries, including Vietnam, South Korea, and India, creating a uniquely multicultural household.
What are the names of the children who passed away?
The three adopted children who died are Tam Farrow, Lark Previn, and Thaddeus Farrow.
Are Mia Farrow's children still in the public eye?
While most of her children chose private lives, some—most notably investigative journalist Ronan Farrow—frequently work in media and public advocacy. Others have occasionally spoken to major outlets like Vanity Fair to share their perspectives on growing up in the household.
