One of the biggest Hollywood heartthrobs of the 1980s was Cary Elwes, who snatched our hearts as Westley in The Princess Bride.
The farmhand turned pirate lord of the seas was famed for his good looks, quick wit and completely quotable "As you wish" line.
Away from the cult classic, Cary, now aged 63, has also starred in Hot Shots!, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Robin Hood: Men in Tights and the Saw franchise, proving his versatility with his Hollywood career.
While Cary is the only actor in his family, he comes from a very creative background, with his parents being artists and interior designers, while one of his brothers has also entered the arts world.
The actor is also distantly related to the politician John Elwes, who was reportedly the inspiration behind Scrooge in Charles Dickens' classic novel, A Christmas Carol.
Scroll down to meet Cary's famous family, and discover how his parents created a huge scandal at the time of their marriage…
Who are Cary Elwes' parents?
Cary is the youngest son of artist Dominick Elwes and interior designer Tessa Kennedy. Dominick met Tessa when he was 26 and she was 19; at the time, the teenager was the heiress to a shipping company.
However, there were plenty of obstacles standing in the way of their love, with Tessa's parents objecting to their blossoming relationship, successfully filing a restraining order that barred the duo from marrying.
© Getty ImagesHowever, in a twist that would have worked in Cary's classic film The Princess Bride, Dominick and Tessa eloped to Cuba, later gaining a marriage certificate from a court in New York, where the restraining order didn't apply.
When they returned to the United Kingdom, Dominick was subsequently jailed for contempt of court, remaining in prison for two weeks until the judge ordered his release. The order remained in place despite the couple's love, and the marriage was dissolved in 1969.
© Getty ImagesSpeaking to the Wall Street Journal about his parents and early life, Cary said: "My parents had a fairy-tale romance. In England, my father, Dominick Elwes, a portrait painter, fell in love with my mother, Tessa Kennedy, a shipping heiress. They wanted to marry, but her parents tried to put a stop to their union."
He added: "Needless to say, our family wasn’t well-off. Our first, two-bedroom apartment in London was a little cramped. My father held a number of jobs, including as a magazine editor. When my mother became an interior designer, we moved into a three-bedroom flat. My parents divorced when I was six. The financial stress was too much for my mother. She got custody but we spent summers with our father."
© WireImageDuring his life, Dominick was a famed portrait artist, painting the likes of John Aspinall and Lord Lucan. However, during his life, he was also a manic depressive, and sadly, on 5 September 1975, he died by suicide at the age of 44. Cary was 13 at the time of his father's death.
Tessa, who is now aged 87, has had a successful career as an interior designer, with her first major project coming in 1968 when she helped to design the Grosvenor House Hotel. Her company, Tessa Kennedy Design, Ltd., has had clients such as Stanley Kubrick, George Harrison and King Hussein of Jordan.
Who are Cary Elwes' brothers?
Both of Cary's older brothers have also become notable in their own fields, although neither has pursued a career in acting.
However, the star's eldest brother, Cassian Elwes, is still involved with Hollywood, working as a film producer. The 67-year-old, who is also a talent scout, made his debut with the 1984 sports comedy film Oxford Blues, which starred his younger brother. He has since produced major films, including The Butler, Dallas Buyers Club and The Paperboy.
© Getty Images for AFIWhen Cary lost most of his belongings during the 2025 Californian wildfires, Cassian was quick to offer his support, housing his younger brother in a hotel room next to him. "I tried to be a support system to him," Cassian told The Independent. The pair started dining together regularly following the fires, something that Cassian described as a "phenomenal bonding experience".
Cary's other brother, Damian, followed in their father's footsteps by becoming an artist. Among his best-known works is the Villa La Californie, a series of paintings that depict the ground floor of Pablo Picasso's Cannes home of the same name.
© WireImageDamian initially didn't want to be an artist following the death of his father; however, he was inspired back into the world following a chance meeting with Keith Haring, who was spray-painting in a New York City subway.
