Brooke Shields and her father, Francis Alexander Shields, Jr. | Source: Getty Images
Brooke Shields' father was born into an aristocratic family. However, the actress's father was unprepared to embark on the journey of starting a family. His perspective shifted after Brooke was born.
Brooke Shields rose to prominence in the late 1970s as a child model and actress, appearing in commercials and films such as "Pretty Baby." Her famous parents, Francis Alexander Shields, Jr., and Teri Shields are the driving force behind her success.
Francis was a businessman, while Teri was an actress, model, and socialite. Francis' aristocratic family once disapproved of his relationship with Teri, a fascinating side story that many people are unaware of.
Francis Alexander Shields Came from a Wealthy Family
Francis Jr. was born into a wealthy family on May 16, 1941, in New York City, New York. His late father was Francis Xavier Shields, Sr., an American professional tennis player; his late mother was Marina Torlonia, an Italian aristocrat.
Marina was the daughter of Marino Torlonia, the fourth Prince of Civitella-Cesi, the Pope's first private banker, and the primary administrator of Vatican finances. He was married to an American woman, Elsie Moore.
Francis Sr. was a former president of the Davis Cup and a finalist at the US Open and Wimbledon. He was also a studio actor under an old contract.
According to Brooke's best-selling autobiography "There Was a Little Girl: The Real Story of My Mother and Me," her grandparents divorced after her father was born.
The memoir also stated that the actress's grandparents remarried American partners. Because of this, she noted a strange pattern in her family. She penned in her memoir:
"It was always interesting to me that in almost every case, there was an aristocrat marrying outside the social boundaries and to an (American) commoner."
Brooke's father came from a different background. Francis, Jr. attended Buckley School and St. Paul's School. He attended the University of Pennsylvania.
Francis Jr. had a productive college life at the university. Aside from his studies, he was the varsity captain of the rowing team that raced at the Henley Royal Regatta rowing event in 1962.
Brooke Shields' father founded Power Ten New York, a group committed to promoting the sport of rowing.
Despite his parents enrolling him in one of the best boarding schools in the world, Francis Jr. lived a sad life. His mother died in a tragic car accident in Italy.
Francis Jr. was only 18 at the time of his mom's death. In Italy, the firstborn son is considered the next of kin, so as Marina's eldest son, he had to fly back to the country to identify his mother's remains.
Marina led a royalty life, complete with journeys across Europe. She was such an important person in Francis Jr.'s life, and her death in the car accident was a tremendous blow to him.
Brooke's mother, Teri, said she discovered Marina's postcards from various places, including Gstaad, Switzerland, with a note explaining that she couldn't be with her son for Christmas due to a skiing adventure.
Brooke Shields and her father, Francis Alexander Shields Jr. at an event in 1981, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Brooke Shields' Father Was Not Ready to Start a Family with Her Mother
Teri and Francis Jr. met between 1964 and 1965. They crossed paths at Jimmy Wetsons, a known watering hole on the Upper East Side of New York City.
Drawn to Francis Jr.'s attractive looks, Teri devised a plan to get to know him better. She ultimately had her friend Jack Price drunk enough to ask Francis Jr. for assistance getting her friend a taxi cab.
Teri's plan was successful. Francis, Jr. invited her to his apartment, where they became acquainted and spent much time together in bed. Their romance would result in pregnancy.
Francis panicked when Teri fell pregnant because he was unprepared to become a father. He and his father requested she should terminate her pregnancy.
Brooke Shields and her mother Teri Shields pictured in 1978, in New York City, New York. | Source: Getty Images
Francis Sr. believed the young pair were not meant for each other as they came from different backgrounds. She was born in Newark, New Jersey, and raised in New York.
Teri refused and said she wanted her baby to live. She also came to a point she played hard to get; however, she still fell in love with Francis Jr., who also felt the same for her.
Brooke's parents eventually married in city hall. Soon after, the couple's personalities clashed, and their disagreements quickly led to their divorce in 1966.
Brooke Shields and her mother Teri Shields attend "A Rage in Harlem" premiere on April 29, 1991, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Brooke was only a few months old when her parents split. Teri never asked her ex-spouse for any financial support from him. Instead, she asked him to fund their only daughter's education.
Teri died in October 2012 at 79, leaving behind a sibling, a daughter, and two granddaughters. The actress's mother suffered from a dementia-related illness.
Brooke Shields and her mother Teri Shields attend a photo session for the American Foundation For AIDS Research at Jacob Javits Convention Center on April 29, 1986, in New York City, New York. | Source: Getty Images
Brooke Shields' Father Married for the Second Time
Francis Jr. followed through on his ex-promise wife to ensure Brooke's education. Her father beamed when she completed her studies; aside from that, he became a happy married man again.
He married his second wife, Diana "Didi" Lippert, in 1970, and they shared children: Marina, Cristiana, and Olympia. Diana married for the second time following her divorce from her first husband, Thomas Gore Auchincloss.
Diana grew up in a wealthy family in New York, and her family owns the Ore and Chemical Corporation. Francis Jr. appeared to have found happiness with his new wife, with whom he spent the rest of his life.
Francis Aelxander Shields, Jr. attends his daughter Brooke Shields' 21st Birthday party on March 31, 1986 at Nishi Noho, New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Brooke Shields' Father Died in 2003
Francis Jr. died on April 2003, at his residence in Palm Beach, Florida, after a long battle with an undisclosed illness. Many of those dear to the late sportsman remembered his accomplishments in life.
Brooke Shields' father founded Power Ten New York; a group committed to promoting the sport of rowing. In 2003, the National Rowing Foundation, which supports the U. S. rowing team, created the Frank Shields Fellowships in his honor.
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