Who Was Ethel Kennedy? The Kennedy Matriarch Back in the Spotlight Through FX's Love Story
Ethel Kennedy is back in the national conversation this weekend — not because of breaking news, but because of television. The February 26 episode of Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette puts the question of who Ethel Kennedy was at the center of a tense dinner scene, showing the character's role as the family's authoritative matriarch and the pressure her presence placed on Carolyn Bessette. But who was the real Ethel Kennedy?
Ethel Kennedy Died at Age 96 in October 2024
Ethel Kennedy, the wife of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, died at age 96 due to complications from a stroke. "It is with our hearts full of love that we announce the passing of our amazing grandmother, Ethel Kennedy," former Rep. Joe Kennedy III wrote in a post on X. "She died this morning from complications related to a stroke suffered last week."
"Along with a lifetime's work in social justice and human rights, our mother leaves behind nine children, 34 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom love her dearly," Joe Kennedy wrote.
Who Was Ethel Kennedy? The Life of an American Icon
Ethel Kennedy, the 96-year-old widow of Robert F. Kennedy, turned the assassination of her husband into a long-running campaign for human rights and social causes, founding a lasting organization and raising 11 children while remaining a public figure for decades.
Ethel had 11 children from her 18-year marriage: Kathleen in 1951, Joseph in 1952, Robert Jr. in 1954, David in 1955, Courtney in 1956, Michael in 1958, Kerry in 1959, Christopher in 1963, Maxwell in 1965, Douglas in 1967, and Rory in 1968 — the last born six months after her father was assassinated.
Robert F. Kennedy's Assassination Left Ethel a Widow at 40
On June 5, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy was shot at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles by Sirhan Sirhan and died the following day at age 42. Ethel was present at the scene and was three months pregnant with their youngest child, Rory Kennedy. The assassination left her widowed at age 40 with 11 children whose ages ranged from 3 to 17.
Within months of Robert's death, she founded the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. In 2014, President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
FX's Love Story Portrays Ethel Kennedy as the Family's Commanding Matriarch
Horror genre legend Jessica Harper was cast to play Ethel Kennedy in the Ryan Murphy-produced FX series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette. Harper learned the role by watching the 2012 documentary Ethel, directed by Rory Kennedy, saying: "There are long stretches in the documentary where she is simply sitting in a chair and speaking about herself, which was extremely helpful because I got a really good look at what she sounded like, what her bearing was, how she presented herself."
While Ethel's early encounters with Carolyn Bessette were fraught with tension — quizzing her at dinner on current events, calling out her fashionable shawl, enforcing rigid compound rules — Ethel actually became quite fond of Carolyn to the point of being protective of her. Ethel ultimately told Carolyn: "I think you're more powerful than any of the other women John has dated."
The Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center Carries On Her Legacy
At the 2025 Ripple of Hope Award Gala in New York City, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization was officially renamed the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center in her honor. Kerry Kennedy, who served as president of the organization for over two decades, announced she would step down from the presidential role on December 31, 2026, while remaining on the Board of Directors. Taylor Swift drew inspiration from Ethel's love story with RFK for her song "Starlight" — a testament to how deeply Ethel Kennedy's romantic and human legacy has embedded itself into American culture.
