What to Know About Ethel Kennedy, the Kennedy Family Matriarch Portrayed in “Love Story”

Jordana ComiterFri, February 27, 2026 at 4:20 PM UTC

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Ethel Kennedy in New York circa 1970Credit: Art Zelin/Getty -

Ethel Kennedy was married to U.S. Sen. Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy for 18 years before his 1968 death

The human rights activist and mother of 11 died in October 2024

Ethel is portrayed in episode 5 of Love Story: JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette

Ethel Kennedy (née Skakel) played a big role in shaping the Kennedy family legacy.

The late human rights activist, who died in October 2024, was the widow of U.S. Sen. Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy and the sister-in-law of former President John F. Kennedy. Ethel and Robert wed in 1950, became parents in 1951 and remained married until his 1968 assassination.

Following his death, the mother of 11 vowed never to remarry, telling PEOPLE in 1991 that it would be "adultery."

"How could I possibly do that with Bobby looking down from heaven?" she said.

Now, the Kennedy family has a new spotlight on them with Ryan Murphy's FX series, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette, which chronicles the romance between JFK's only son and the Calvin Klein publicist. The series also features Ethel in episode 5, "Battery Park," as the couple takes a trip to the family's compound in Hyannis Port, Mass., and must face her slew of rules, from couples sitting apart at the dinner table to sign-ups for breakfast.

Here's everything to know about Ethel Kennedy.

She was from Chicago

Ethel Kennedy circa 1961Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty

Ethel was born in Chicago on April 11, 1928, to her dad George Skakel, a coal magnate, and Ann Brannack. They died in 1955, when their private plane crashed in Oklahoma.

Ethel was the second youngest child among her three sisters and three brothers. According to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, the family moved to Greenwich, Conn., in 1936 when Ethel was 5 years old.

Ethel went on to attend Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart in New York City, where she met and eventually became roommates with RFK's sister, Jean Kennedy.

She was married to Robert F. Kennedy for 18 years

Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy at their weddingCredit: Bettmann/Getty

Ethel met Robert after being introduced by Jean on a ski trip in Québec, Canada. Robert was in a relationship with Ethel's older sister Patricia for some time, but began dating Ethel after their split.

Ethel and Robert got engaged in February 1950, tying the knot four months later on June 17, 1950.

When the then-New York senator announced that he would seek the Democratic Party nomination for the 1968 presidential election, Ethel supported his campaign. RFK biographer Evan Thomas wrote in Robert Kennedy: His Life that Ethel was "always his most fervent believer, was the most consistent advocate of a race for the White House."

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They remained together until Robert was assassinated on June 6, 1968. Not only did Ethel witness the murder, but she was also pregnant with their youngest child, Rory, at the time.

She had 11 children and over 30 grandchildren

Robert Kennedy with Ethel Kennedy and ten of their children in 1965Credit: Bettman

Ethel became a mom in July 1951, when she and Robert welcomed their first child, daughter Kathleen. Between then and 1958, Ethel went on to welcome 10 more children: Joseph, Robert Jr., David, Courtney, Michael, Kerry, Christopher, Max, Douglas and Rory, who was born after her father's death.

Ethel outlived two of her children: David died of a drug overdose in April 1984, while Michael died after a skiing accident in December 1997. Several of the other Kennedy children went on to work their own political and legal careers, while Rory, a filmmaker, released a 2012 documentary titled Ethel, which included interviews with the Kennedys and gave an insider look at their political dynasty.

Many of Ethel's children also started families of their own, making Ethel a grandmother to over 30 grandchildren.

She was “tough” but tried to “protect” Bessette

Paul Anthony Kelly as John F. Kennedy Jr. and Jessica Harper as Ethel Kennedy in Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.Credit: FX

As portrayed in episode 5 of Love Story, the Kennedy cousins did gather at the family compound in Massachusetts and were subjected to Ethel’s current events quizzes. According to J. Randy Taraborrelli’s book The Kennedy Heirs, Ethel met Bessette in September 1994, and just like portrayed in the show, JFK Jr. asked his girlfriend to call her “Mrs. Kennedy" before being introduced.During the dinner, Ethel asked Bessette her opinion on the federal assault weapons ban. When she was unsure on her response, Ethel told Bessette she might want to “read up” on it, per Taraborrelli’s book.Then, following JFK Jr. and Bessette’s publicized fight in a N.Y.C. park, Taraborrelli wrote that Ethel summoned Carolyn to her home in Virginia, where they had a frank talk. She was allegedly surprised when Bessette admitted to feeling insecure in her relationship and proceeded to give her some candid advice about fitting in with the Kennedys.“I went through that with Bobby at first. Then I finally got it that the only way to survive in this family is to look in the mirror and say ‘You know what? I’m enough,’ “ Ethel told Bessette, per Taraborrelli’s book. “Eventually it will sink in and no one can ever take that way from you. Not even the Kennedys.”Ethel also allegedly told Bessette that she was “more powerful” than any of the other women JFK Jr. dated and advised her to not change who she was on the inside. Taraborrelli added that while Ethel was "tough," she also tried to "protect" Bessette.

She was a human rights activist

U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Ethel Kennedy in November 2014.Credit: Alex Wong/Getty

While Ethel supported her husband's campaigns, she also built a career of her own as a human rights advocate and devoted her later years to public service, including the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Project.

Following her husband's death, she founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights to continue his work.

On Nov. 24, 2014, then-President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom for a lifetime of contributions to social justice, human rights, environmental protection and poverty reduction.

She died in October 2024

Ethel Kennedy attends the 'Ethel' premiere held at the MARC Theatre during the 2012 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 20, 2012, in Park City, Utah.Credit: Jonathan Leibson/Getty

Ethel died at 96 years old on Oct. 10, 2024, from "complications related to a stroke" she suffered one week earlier, as her daughter Kerry shared in a statement on X.

"She was a devout Catholic and a daily communicant, and we are comforted in knowing she is reunited with the love of her life, our father, Robert F. Kennedy; her children David and Michael; her daughter-in-law Mary; her grandchildren Maeve and Saoirse; and her great-grandchildren Gideon and Josie," the statement read.

A little over a month after her death, Ethel was laid to rest next to Robert at Arlington National Cemetery.

Kerry shared photos from the funeral service on Instagram, writing, "Her extraordinary life and enduring legacy will continue to guide and inspire us."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”