Acting Dynasty: Dame Maggie Smith's Sons Forge Their Own Paths
Dame Maggie Smith, the legendary actress known for roles in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey, left behind a remarkable legacy when she died in 2024 at age 89. Her two sons, Christopher Larkin and Toby Stephens, have both built successful acting careers, following in their mother's footsteps.
Christopher Larkin: From Doctors to Outlander
Christopher Larkin, born to Smith and her first husband Robert Stephens, has appeared in numerous British TV shows including Doctor Who, Holby City, and Casualty. He made recurring appearances on the BBC soap opera Doctors from 2011 to 2021. More recently, he played Richard Brown in the fantasy series Outlander from 2020 to 2023.
In 2013, Christopher explained to The Times why he dropped his father's surname: "There are lots of people whose parents are in the business who might be able to say, 'Yes, I got my big break because of who my parents are.' Great. The challenge is to sustain it. And if you're not good, you'll be found out. The job is fairly brutal like that."
Toby Stephens: From Bond Villain to Lost in Space
Toby Stephens, Smith's younger son, gained international fame as Bond villain Gustav Graves in Die Another Day (2002), earning a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He later starred as Captain Flint in Black Sails (2014-2017) and as John Robinson in Netflix's Lost in Space (2018-2021). In 2025, he appeared as Melford Stevenson in ITV's A Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Toby told The Guardian in 2007: "They tried quite hard to make sure it was what I wanted to do. It wasn't, 'Oh great, he's going into the biz as well.' It was more, 'If this really is what you want to do, why? How many plays have you actually seen?'"
Family Legacy
Smith married Robert Stephens in 1967 and divorced in 1975. He died in 1995 at age 64. The actress is survived by her two sons and five grandchildren, all of whom carry forward her theatrical heritage.
