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Get to Know Kick Kennedy, RFK Jr.’s Daughter and Ben Affleck’s New Friend
In August 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made headlines by dropping out as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Besides his political pursuits, RFK Jr. is also a father of six, and his second oldest child, Kathleen Alexandra “Kick” Kennedy, has recently been in the spotlight. Kick is reportedly close to Ben Affleck, often seen with him shortly after Affleck’s breakup with Jennifer Lopez. While Affleck and Lopez’s relationship reportedly ended months before the official divorce filing in August, it’s unclear if Kick and Affleck are just friends or something more.
Born in 1988, Kick is the great-granddaughter of Joseph Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald. Her grandfather, Robert F. Kennedy Sr., was assassinated two decades before she was born. RFK Jr., her father, is one of 11 children, giving Kick numerous aunts, uncles, and over 30 cousins. Notably, two of her great-uncles are former President John F. Kennedy Sr. and former Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy.
Kick shares her name and nickname with her great-aunt, Kathleen Agnes Kennedy. Known for her charm and vivacity, the older Kick died tragically in a plane crash in 1948. “I always thought Dad and I were the same person, but I got fascinated by Kick a few years ago, and it’s funny how similar we are,” the younger Kick told Town & Country. “She was fun and social and a performer in many ways.”
Whatever the nature of the relationship between Ben Affleck and Kick Kennedy, one shared element between them is their acting careers. Kick was educated at Stanford University and the Lee Strasberg Institute. She guest-starred on shows like “The Newsroom” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” where she worked with Cheryl Hines before Hines married Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kick has also been involved in family-related projects, including the documentary series “American Dynasties: The Kennedys” and her older brother Bobby Kennedy III’s film “Fear and Loathing in Aspen.”
On the theater front, Kick starred in an off-Broadway production of “Antigone” in 2014. She genuinely loves the acting profession, detached from the desire for fame. “I was born with a sticker — a name — that has made me totally uninterested in the fame factor of success,” Kick told Town & Country. “It kind of turns me off. I’m frightened of it, or at least uninterested, unamused.”
Although she isn’t relying on her Kennedy name for job opportunities, Kick sees a connection between her acting passion and her family’s political background. “If you break down what a lot of politics is, you get stage presence, charisma, and, more importantly, a search for truth and the desire to serve a common good, which I believe theater does,” Kick explained to Telegram & Gazette.
Another shared interest between Kick Kennedy and Ben Affleck is their dedication to environmental causes, especially water-related issues. Affleck co-founded the Eastern Congo Initiative, which focuses on multiple projects, including clean water. For Kick, her environmental activism follows her father Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s footsteps. “I’ve been really connected to water issues since I can remember, as my father made it his passion,” Kick told Resident. “I’ve also spent so much time on the water, whether it’s sailing with friends and family or doing a river cleanup on the Hudson.”
From 1999 to 2020, Kick’s father served as president of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a leading clean water organization, where Kick also played a role as an ambassador. She appeared with her father in the film “Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk,” showcasing their white-water rafting skills. “It’s a story about our trip down the river, but the movie is really about water conservation. I hope it serves to kick off the issue like Al Gore’s ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ did for climate change,” Kick shared with Stanford Magazine in 2008.
In 2010, Kick joined a group of actors climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for a documentary emphasizing the clean water necessity. Besides this, Kick has supported Animal Zone International, a charity advocating for animals and environmental causes. Her love for animals is not new, stemming from her family’s long history with a diverse range of pets, including alligators and falcons.
Source: The List
