James Brolin is an American actor, director, and producer who has spent well over six decades in Hollywood. He is the father of actor Josh Brolin and is probably best known to newer audiences as the voice of Emperor Zurg and Old Buzz in Pixar’s Lightyear (2022).
Beyond that, he has built one of the most well-rounded careers in the entertainment industry, from TV dramas to action films to a surprising stint in competitive sports car racing.
Brolin has appeared in films like Traffic, The Amityville Horror, Westworld, and Capricorn One, and in his latest project he plays a recurring role in the Netflix western drama Ransom Canyon, which was renewed for a second season in 2025.1
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Is James Brolin Related To Josh Brolin?
Yes, Josh Brolin is James Brolin’s son. Josh was born on February 12, 1968, in Santa Monica, California, to James Brolin and Jane Cameron Agee, who worked as a wildlife conservationist and casting director. He is currently 57 years old and stands at around 1.78 m tall.
Josh married actress Alice Adair in 1988, but the two separated after six years. In 2004, he married Diane Lane, though that marriage also ended in 2013. Josh then found lasting happiness with Kathryn Boyd Brolin, whom he married in 2016. Together they have built a full family, and Josh has four children in total: Eden, Trevor, Westlyn Reign, and Chapel Grace.
Growing up, Josh spent much of his childhood in the Templeton area of California, raised largely under his father’s influence. His parents divorced when he was around 16 years old. Despite having limited exposure to his father’s on-set world during his early years, the pull of acting was always there, and Josh began his professional career in 1985.
In recent years, Josh has had a remarkable run. He reprised his role in Dune: Part Two in 2024, returned for Season 2 of Outer Range, and in 2025 starred in the critically praised horror film Weapons. He is also set to appear in Edgar Wright’s The Running Man and Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, both slated for 2026.2
In 2024, he also published a personal memoir titled From Under the Truck through HarperCollins, giving readers a candid look into his complicated upbringing and early life.
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Who Is James Brolin Exploring His Father Son and Family?
James Brolin was born Craig Kenneth Bruderlin on July 18, 1940, in Westwood Village, Los Angeles, California. He is the eldest of four siblings and was raised by his father Henry, a building contractor, and his mother Helen Sue, a homemaker. He later changed his surname to “Brolin” when he entered the industry at around age 20, a nod to the German word Bruder, meaning brother.3
As a child, James was fascinated by animals and model airplanes, building and flying them from the age of ten. His love for film came after being captivated by James Dean as a teenager, and he began shooting 8mm films not long after. He studied drama at UCLA before signing a contract with 20th Century Fox in 1960.
James has three children: Josh, Jess, and Molly Elizabeth Brolin. He first married Jane Cameron Agee in 1966, and they divorced in the mid-1980s. He later married actress Jan Smithers in 1986, and they welcomed a daughter, Molly, in 1987, before divorcing in 1995. Since 1998, his wife has been the legendary Barbra Streisand, and the two have become one of Hollywood’s most enduring couples. Through Josh, James is also a grandfather of four.
One fascinating and little-known chapter of his life involves competitive racing. In the late 1970s, James took up sports car racing seriously and entered the 1979 24 Hours Nürburgring as part of the AMC Spirit team. His two-car squad, which included accomplished racer Lyn St. James, finished first and second in their class, a genuinely impressive result for a celebrity entry.4
There is also one remarkable near-miss in his career that most people have never heard of. When Roger Moore announced his intention to leave the James Bond role ahead of Octopussy (1983), Brolin reportedly underwent successful screen tests and was on the verge of moving to London to begin filming before the producers ultimately persuaded Moore to return for one more film. Brolin later parodied this near-hire in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985).5
What Is the Net Worth Difference Between James Brolin and Josh Brolin?
Given the gap in their careers, James carries a modest edge in accumulated wealth. As of 2025, James Brolin’s net worth is estimated at around $50 million, while Josh’s is estimated at approximately $45 million.6
James started his professional career in 1961, making his first television appearance in the series Bus Stop. Over the following decades he became a fixture in both television and film, winning an Emmy and two Golden Globe Awards for his role as Dr. Steven Kiley in Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969 to 1976), and later starring as Peter McDermott in the drama Hotel (1983 to 1988). He has also directed and produced several projects, including episodes of Pensacola: Wings of Gold, and in 1998 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In total, he has appeared in over 140 productions across his career.7
Josh, meanwhile, has had a career built more around blockbuster cinema. His roles as Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Cable in Deadpool 2, and Gurney Halleck in the Dune trilogy have made him one of the more recognizable faces in modern Hollywood. He has also directed two projects and continues to take on ambitious, varied roles that suggest his best years may still be ahead.
Both men have carved their own distinct paths, but there is no question the Brolin name carries real weight on both sides of the generation.
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