John Kennedy Jr..

John F. Kennedy Jr. John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr.

Born 25 Nov 1960 Washington, United States

Died 16 Jul 1999 Martha's Vineyard, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 65 yr If Living

15 min read

Reading time

2,851

Words

Apr 26, 2026

Published

Film credits

TL;DR

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. was born just three weeks after his father John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960. He saluted his father’s casket on his third birthday in 1963, a moment captured worldwide. After earning a law degree, he founded George magazine in 1995. He married Carolyn Bessette in 1996 and died at age 38 in a plane crash off Martha’s Vineyard on July 16, 1999.

Identity & family.

KIN · 6

Names, aliases, and relatives of John Kennedy Jr. — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr.

Native Name John F. Kennedy Jr.

Nicknames JFK Jr., John John

Aliases JFK Jr.

PARENTS: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis John F. Kennedy
SPOUSES: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy
SIBLINGS: Arabella Kennedy Caroline Kennedy Patrick Bouvier Kennedy

At a glance.

STATS

John Kennedy Jr. by the numbers — life, work, and family.

38 Years lived

19 Film credits

1 Marriage

Who was John Kennedy Jr.?

BIOGRAPHY

John Kennedy Jr. — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Three weeks before John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. was born on November 25, 1960, his father John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States. He was photographed giving his father’s casket a salute at age three on the day of his father’s funeral.

After his mother married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis in 1968, John learned to speak Greek but saw little of his stepfather. He attended private schools including Saint David’s School and Phillips Academy before enrolling at Brown University, where he earned a degree in history in 1983.

Career

John Kennedy Jr. initially pursued a legal career, earning his law degree from New York University School of Law and working as an assistant district attorney in New York. In 1995, he founded George magazine, a political lifestyle publication that fused celebrity with politics. The first cover featured Cindy Crawford as George Washington, and the magazine became known for its bold approach.

He also appeared in the 1990 film A Matter of Degrees as Guitar Playing Romeo. People magazine voted him Sexiest Man Alive in 1988. Despite his mother’s objections to an acting career, John carved a unique path in publishing and media.

Personal life

In 1996, John Kennedy Jr. married Carolyn Bessette, a Calvin Klein publicist, on a private island off Georgia in a secretive ceremony. The couple struggled with intense media scrutiny, and Carolyn was described as shy. They divided their time between New York City and Hyannis Port.

John’s mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, died of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1994. He had a close relationship with his sister Caroline and was a devoted uncle to her children.

Legacy

John Kennedy Jr.’s death at age 38 in a 1999 plane crash brought national grief. A commemorative Time magazine issue sold over 1 million copies at newsstands. He is remembered as a symbol of the Kennedy family’s youthful promise and for blending politics with pop culture through George magazine. His death echoed his aunt Kathleen Kennedy’s plane crash in 1948. He is remembered for the image of him saluting his father’s casket and for founding a magazine that mixed politics and celebrity.

Filmography.

FILMS · 19

Browse the complete filmography of John Kennedy Jr. — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

First Ladies

2020
Movie

The Last Supper

1995
Movie

John and Carolyn: Love, Beauty and Loss

2026
Movie

I Am JFK Jr.

2016
Movie

JFK Jr. and Carolyn's Wedding: the Lost Tapes

2019
Movie

The Killing of America

1981
Movie

101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment

2003

Could not load more credits.

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 1

A wall of memorable lines from John Kennedy Jr. — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

It’s Hard for Me to Talk About a Legacy or a Mystique. It’s My Family. It’s My Mother. It’s My Sister. It’s My Father. We’re a Family Like Any Other. We Look Out for One Another. the Fact That There Have Been Difficulties and Hardships, or Obstacles, Makes Us Closer. Vogue Magazine, 1993

Did you know?

FACTS · 36

Little-known facts about John Kennedy Jr. — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

After his mother Jackie Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis, John learned to speak Greek.
Al Gore was reportedly considering John Kennedy Jr. as a running mate before his death, despite John having no political experience.
For a Halloween party in Manhattan, John dressed as Michelangelo’s David, covering his chest, face, and hair with talcum powder and wearing skimpy white tights.
His father’s funeral fell on John’s third birthday, November 25, 1963. The historical photograph of John saluting his father’s casket was taken that day. When John appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1996, he told Oprah Winfrey that as an adult, he had no recollection of the funeral.
When his photo appeared on the cover of Time magazine after his untimely death, the Commemorative Issue sold more than 1 million copies at the newsstands.
Two of his ex-girlfriends, Madonna and Daryl Hannah, have also been involved with Warren Beatty. John’s mother Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and stepsister Christina Onassis dated Beatty as well.
The bodies of John, his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and sister-in-law Lauren Bessette were recovered from plane wreckage off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard on July 21, 1999. John and Carolyn were dropping Lauren off at Martha’s Vineyard on their way to Rory Kennedy’s wedding. His aunt Kathleen Kick Kennedy also died in a plane crash at age 28 in 1948.
Considered America’s most eligible bachelor until his marriage.
Had a fear of having his pocket picked, so he always attached his wallet to his pants with a chain.
Broke the Kennedy family tradition of attending Harvard when he decided to attend Brown University.
Wedding song was Forever in My Life by Prince.
John, his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, as well as her sister Lauren were all cremated and their ashes scattered off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard from the USS John F. Kennedy Naval ship.
Was delivered by Cesarean section 17 days earlier than his due date of December 12, 1960.
Cindy Crawford appeared on the first cover of his short-lived magazine George attired as George Washington in a white wig and revolutionary garb on September 7, 1995.
Voted Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine in 1988.
Father’s family were Irish immigrants. His mother was of Irish, smaller amounts of French, English, German, Scottish, and remote Dutch ancestry.
His death caused a permanent change to be made in the premiere episode of Futurama. When it originally aired, a character referred to JFK Jr. Memorial Airport, a reference to New York’s JFK Airport being named for his father. After his death, the reference was changed to Radio City Mutant Hall.
1979 graduate of Phillips Academy in Andover.
After his birth, the Internal Revenue Service issued a press release announcing that the president could now take an additional $600 deduction on their 1960 tax return.
Had a pilot’s license.
Got his first paying job at the age of 24, as a $20,000-a-year assistant to the New York Commissioner of Business Development.
Has been on over 15 People Magazine covers.
Traveled to Guatemala with cousin Timothy Shriver to serve the people of a village severely affected by an earthquake in 1976.
Graduated from Brown University with a degree in history in 1983.
Lost a front tooth after banging into a step while playing in a big dollhouse on the White House lawn.
Researching his role as editor in chief of George, Kennedy attended a three-day seminar called Starting Your Own Magazine.
Listed in People Weekly’s Most Intriguing People list for the December 25, 1995/January 1, 1996 issue.
Is portrayed by Kristoffer Polaha in America’s Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story 2003.
Biography in: American National Biography, Supplement 1, pp. 314-316. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Founder and editor-in-chief of George magazine 1995-1999.
Son of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
First met Christina Haag in 1975 as teens. They later attended Brown University together. After graduation in 1983, the pair continued their relationship until 1990. They also appeared in A Matter of Degrees 1990.
Nephew of Ethel Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy.
Younger brother of Caroline Kennedy.
Uncle of Rose Schlossberg, Tatiana Schlossberg, and Jack Schlossberg.
Cousin of Maria Shriver, Robert Shriver, Rory Kennedy, Patrick Joseph Kennedy II, Kerry Kennedy, Anthony Radziwill, Tina Radziwill, Christopher Lawford, Tim Shriver, Mark Shriver, and Anthony Shriver.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 49

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about John Kennedy Jr..

When was John Kennedy Jr. born?

John Kennedy Jr. was born on November 25, 1960 in Washington, D.C., just three weeks after his father was elected President of the United States. His birth was a national celebration, and he was soon nicknamed John-John by the press.
Where was John Kennedy Jr. born?

John Kennedy Jr. was born in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He entered the world at a time of great hope, as his father was about to become the 35th President.
When did John Kennedy Jr. die?

John Kennedy Jr. died on July 16, 1999 at the age of 38. He was piloting a plane that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Martha’s Vineyard.
How old was John Kennedy Jr. when he died?

John Kennedy Jr. was 38 years old when he died on July 16, 1999. He was born on November 25, 1960.
Where did John Kennedy Jr. die?

John Kennedy Jr. died off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, USA. The plane crash occurred several miles from the island while he was en route to drop off his sister-in-law and continue to a family wedding.
How did John Kennedy Jr. die?

John Kennedy Jr. died in a plane crash on July 16, 1999, while piloting his aircraft. The crash also killed his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy and her sister Lauren Bessette. The plane went down in foggy conditions off Martha’s Vineyard.
What was John Kennedy Jr.'s birth name?

His full birth name was John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. He was named after his father, President John F. Kennedy, and was the first child born to a President-elect in nearly a century.
What name did John Kennedy Jr. use in his native language?

In his native English, he was often called John F. Kennedy Jr. or simply John Kennedy Jr. The media also used the nickname John-John, but his family called him John.
What was John Kennedy Jr.'s occupation?

John Kennedy Jr. was an actor and magazine publisher. He appeared in films like A Matter of Degrees and founded George magazine in 1995.
What was John Kennedy Jr.'s nationality?

John Kennedy Jr. was American. He was born in Washington, D.C. to a prominent political family and held United States citizenship.
What language did John Kennedy Jr. speak?

His native language was English. He also learned to speak Greek after his mother married Aristotle Onassis, though he rarely saw his stepfather.
Who were John Kennedy Jr.'s parents?

His parents were President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. His father was assassinated in 1963, and his mother died of cancer in 1994.
Who was John Kennedy Jr. married to?

John Kennedy Jr. was married to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, a Calvin Klein publicist. They wed in a secret ceremony on a private island off Georgia in September 1996.
Did John Kennedy Jr. have siblings?

Yes, he had three siblings: Caroline Kennedy, who is his only surviving sister, and two siblings who died in infancy, Arabella Kennedy and Patrick Bouvier Kennedy.
Where did John Kennedy Jr. go to school?

John Kennedy Jr. attended several prestigious schools: Saint David’s School, Collegiate School, Phillips Academy, Brown University where he earned a history degree in 1983, New York University, and New York University School of Law.
What is John Kennedy Jr. best known for?

He is best known for being the son of President John F. Kennedy, founding George magazine in 1995, and his death in a 1999 plane crash. He also appeared in the film A Matter of Degrees and was voted Sexiest Man Alive by People in 1988.
How tall was John Kennedy Jr.?

John Kennedy Jr. was 6 feet 1 inch 1.85 meters tall. His height and good looks contributed to his status as a heartthrob.
How did John Kennedy Jr. get the nickname John-John?

The nickname John-John was coined by the press when he was a toddler living in the White House. It was a term of endearment, though his family actually called him John.
Why was John Kennedy Jr. sometimes called JFK Jr.?

He was often called JFK Jr. as a shorthand to distinguish him from his father, President John F. Kennedy. It was used in media headlines and everyday references.
When did John Kennedy Jr. get married?

John Kennedy Jr. married Carolyn Bessette on September 21, 1996. The wedding was held in a small private ceremony on Cumberland Island, Georgia.
Who were John Kennedy Jr.'s relatives?

He had many famous relatives, including his aunt Eunice Kennedy Shriver, uncle Robert F. Kennedy, uncle Ted Kennedy, and cousins Maria Shriver, Kerry Kennedy, and Rory Kennedy. His grandparents were Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Kennedy.
What was the name of John Kennedy Jr.'s magazine?

John Kennedy Jr. founded and edited George magazine in 1995. It was a political lifestyle magazine that blended celebrity culture with serious politics.
Where did John Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette get married?

They were married on Cumberland Island, a private island off the coast of Georgia. The ceremony was kept secret to avoid media intrusion.
What song played at John Kennedy Jr.'s wedding?

The wedding song was Forever in My Life by Prince. It was chosen by the couple for their first dance.
Did John Kennedy Jr. have a pilot's license?

Yes, John Kennedy Jr. had a pilot’s license and enjoyed flying. He was piloting the plane that crashed on July 16, 1999.
What was John Kennedy Jr.'s first job?

His first paying job was at age 24, as an assistant to the New York Commissioner of Business Development, earning $20,000 a year. He took the job after graduating from Brown University.
What degree did John Kennedy Jr. earn from Brown University?

John Kennedy Jr. earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Brown University in 1983. He also attended New York University School of Law for his law degree.
Which university did John Kennedy Jr. attend for law school?

He attended New York University School of Law and graduated with a law degree. He later worked as an assistant district attorney in New York.
How many People magazine covers featured John Kennedy Jr.?

John Kennedy Jr. appeared on over 15 People magazine covers. His good looks and Kennedy family legacy made him a constant media fixture.
Where were John Kennedy Jr.'s ashes scattered?

His ashes, along with those of his wife Carolyn and sister-in-law Lauren, were scattered off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard from the USS John F. Kennedy naval ship.
Did John Kennedy Jr. break the Kennedy family tradition of attending Harvard?

Yes, John Kennedy Jr. broke the Kennedy family tradition by choosing to attend Brown University instead of Harvard. He was the first Kennedy to do so.
What was the first cover of John Kennedy Jr.'s magazine George?

The first cover of George magazine, dated September 7, 1995, featured Cindy Crawford dressed as George Washington in a white wig and revolutionary garb. It combined politics with celebrity.
How did John Kennedy Jr. celebrate Halloween in Manhattan?

John Kennedy Jr. once attended a Halloween party in Manhattan dressed as Michelangelo’s David. He wore skimpy white tights and covered his chest, face, and hair with talcum powder.
Did John Kennedy Jr. have any acting roles?

Yes, John Kennedy Jr. appeared in the 1990 film A Matter of Degrees playing the role of Guitar Playing Romeo. He also appeared in several documentaries as himself.
What was John Kennedy Jr.'s role in A Matter of Degrees?

In the film A Matter of Degrees, John Kennedy Jr. played a character called Guitar Playing Romeo. The film was a romantic comedy set at a college.
Which magazine did John Kennedy Jr. found?

John Kennedy Jr. founded George magazine in 1995. He served as its editor-in-chief until his death in 1999, blending politics with popular culture.
Was John Kennedy Jr. considered for a political role?

Before his death, Vice President Al Gore was reportedly considering John Kennedy Jr. as a potential running mate for the 2000 election, despite John having no previous political experience.
What was the cause of John Kennedy Jr.'s mother's death?

His mother, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, died of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma on May 19, 1994. She was 64 years old.
What was John Kennedy Jr.'s relationship with his stepfather Aristotle Onassis?

John Kennedy Jr. had a distant relationship with his stepfather Aristotle Onassis. He hardly saw him, and Onassis played virtually no part in his upbringing. Onassis died in 1975.
Did John Kennedy Jr. speak any foreign languages?

Yes, John Kennedy Jr. learned to speak Greek in the years following his mother’s marriage to Aristotle Onassis. He also spoke English as his native language.
What was the name of John Kennedy Jr.'s sister?

John Kennedy Jr.’s sister is Caroline Kennedy born 1957. She is an author and served as U.S. Ambassador to Japan and Australia.
Was John Kennedy Jr. voted Sexiest Man Alive?

Yes, People magazine voted John Kennedy Jr. Sexiest Man Alive in 1988. He was the first non-actor to win the honor.
Did John Kennedy Jr. have any phobias?

John Kennedy Jr. had a fear of having his pocket picked, so he always attached his wallet to his pants with a chain. This quirky habit was well-known among his friends.
What was the significance of John Kennedy Jr.'s third birthday?

John Kennedy Jr.’s third birthday, November 25, 1963, was the same day as his father’s funeral. A photograph captured him saluting his father’s casket.
How did John Kennedy Jr.'s death affect the show Futurama?

The premiere episode of Futurama originally featured a reference to JFK Jr. Memorial Airport. After his death, the creators changed it to Radio City Mutant Hall to avoid insensitivity.
What was the focus of George magazine?

George magazine aimed to blend politics and celebrity culture, covering news and issues with an accessible, stylish approach. It attracted high-profile contributors and a wide readership.
How old was John Kennedy Jr. when his father was assassinated?

John Kennedy Jr. was two years old when his father President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963. He turned three the following day, at the funeral.
What was John Kennedy Jr.'s nickname as a child?

The press nicknamed him John-John as a toddler, though his family and friends called him John. The nickname stuck in the public imagination.
Did John Kennedy Jr. have any children?

No, John Kennedy Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy did not have any children. Their marriage lasted from 1996 until their deaths in 1999.

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Audited & updated by

Olivia has 6 years of experience writing biographical profiles and still approaches every subject like it's the first one. She covers everyone from debut musicians to Hall of Fame athletes to novelists most people have never heard of. She finds something worth reading in all of them. Her drafts tend to come in already clean, which her editor appreciates. She says good writing is just good thinking written down. Hard to argue with that.

Published on April 26, 2026

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John Kennedy Jr..

TL;DR

Early life

Career

Personal life

Legacy

First Ladies

The Last Supper

John and Carolyn: Love, Beauty and Loss

I Am JFK Jr.

JFK Jr. and Carolyn's Wedding: the Lost Tapes

The Killing of America

101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment