This Actor And His Celebrity-Son’s Family Ties To Lena Horne Made Our Jaws Drop

Posted On : January 25, 2024
Lena Horne and actor, Bobby Cannavale, have family ties.

If you’re like most us here at I Love Old School Music…raise your hand if you were today-years-old when you learned Bobby Cannavale even knew Lena Horne, let alone knew that he was bonded to her on a family level? If so, no worries…we got’chu ILOSM fam.’

How Bobby Cannavale Is Connection To Lena Horne

Here it is…Bobby is Lena Horne’s former grandson-in-law of 9 years…and his son is a biracial brotha.

Lena Horne’s granddaughter, Jenny Lumet, with her then-husband, Bobby Cannavale

So, here’s the deal with their family history…Bobby Cannavale was married to Lena Horne’s — and her former husband, iconic film director, Sidney Lumet’s — granddaughter, Jenny Lumet, from 1994 to 2003. Jenny is the daughter of Lena’s and Sidney’s daughter, Gail Lumet Buckley.

Lena Horne (R) with her daughter, Gail Lumet (the mother of Jenny Lumet, Bobby Cannavale’s ex-wife)

Although Jenny and Bobby’s 9-year marriage didn’t last for the long haul, they remained equal co-parents to their son…who has now made a name for himself in the acting game. Check him out below…

So Who Is Lena Horne’s Famous Great-Grandson And Bobby’s Son?

Jenny Lumet; Bobby Cannavale; their son, actor Jake Cannavale (Lena Horne’s and Sidney Lumet’s great-grandson

If you’ve ever watched the hit series, “The Mandolorian,” “Nurse Jackie,” and most recently, “The Offer” — you’ll probably recognize actor, Jake Cannavale.

Jake Cannavale, Lena Horne’s and Sidney Lumet’s great-grandson

Although many fans have oftentimes mistaken Jake’s racial makeup as being White, he is actually a biracial brotha. He’s the 28-year-old son of Bobby Cannavale and Jenny Lumet as well, making him Lena Horne’s and Sidney Lumet’s great-grandbaby.

Throwback photo of Lena Horne with her great-grandbaby, Jake Cannavale

So, their family dynamic is like a superstar trifecta. Ain’t that somethin’?!!

The Details Of Their Family’s Talent Are Insane

Lena is an icon in every sense of the word. The late Sidney Lumet directed the iconic classic film, The Wiz, among others.

Sidney Lumet directing Diana Ross on “The Wiz” set

Their granddaughter, Jenny Lumet (56), is not only an actress, but also a screenwriter, director, and film producer, who’s worked on several projects throughout the years, including “Star Trek: Discovery, “Rachel Getting Married, “The Mummy,” and more. And Bobby Cannavale (53) has starred in a plethora of films and television series, with one of his most recent projects co-starring in Netflix’s hit film, “Old Dads.”

The crazy part is that Bobby got his foot in the industry through marriage. His first two film roles were directed by Lena Horne’s then-husband, Sidney Lumet, who just so happens to be the maternal grandpa of Bobby’s son. Talk about family connections!

Lena Horne’s grandson, Jake Cannavale (pictured far left), on the set of “The Offer series

So, next time you see Jake Cannavale on the big screen, remember the incredible lineage he hails from. It’s a reminder that Hollywood dynasties are real, and sometimes, talent truly does run in the blood. Lena and Sidney would be beyond proud of her family right about now!

About I Love Old School Music

We salute the incredible people and beautiful memories of that "old school". We’re not saying that every artist and every facet of the soul era was perfect, but the artists’ contributions to soul music and the old school memories of that particular time are PRICELESS.