Jess Brolin Didn't Follow in His Father's Footsteps – Meet James Brolin's Son

Jess Brolin may not be in the spotlight like some of his family members, but he has several acting credits. The second of James Brolin's three children, he has been in the news for being homeless at some point.

In 2014, several media outlets reported Jess was struggling to meet the financial demands of life and had resorted to sleeping on the street and going through trash cans for food. However, these reports were later slammed for their inaccuracy.

Such a life would be unimaginable for someone like Jess, whose family's net worth is in the hundreds of millions of dollars, thanks to their contribution to the entertainment industry. His stepmother, Barbra Streisand, is a music legend, while his siblings, Molly and Josh Brolin, have made known contributions to filmmaking.

The Birth of Jess

There is little information about Jess besides his birthday. He was born on February 7, 1972, to James Brolin and his first wife, Jane Cameron Agee. Unfortunately, Jess lost his mother when he was just 23 years old. The 55-year-old died in a car accident on February 13, 1995, in Templeton, California.

Jess's father still mentions him in his social media posts, saying his kids are a blessing. For example, in 2018, he shared on Instagram a picture of himself sharing a drink with a young woman on what looks like sand on the beach. The image was accompanied by the caption:

"Children are a gift. I am so proud of my three kids @joshbrolin, Jess and Molly and incredible grandkids. Absolutely LOVED spending this perfect day with my daughter. Life is too good!"

Jess Was Involved in a Paparazzi Mess

Despite the family's massive success, it might not seem to have rubbed off on him, as there were reports of his struggles in the media. In 2014, he was said to be homeless after being evicted from his apartment and not wanting help from his super-wealthy family.

The then-41-year-old Jess was spotted on the streets of Ojai in California, allegedly going through garbage to find his next meal, an incredible sight for someone with his background. Jess is believed to have inherited a six-figure trust fund after the death of his mother, but it allegedly might have run out.

Later, the report about Jess being in such dire circumstances was slammed by a family representative who insisted that the information was a false representation. The rep sought to stamp out thoughts of struggle and abandonment of Jess by saying that he was employed and was supporting himself. The statement added:

"If Jess were ever in need of support or any assistance, there would never be a question his family and friends would be there for him under all and any circumstance."

James Brolin also weighed in on the issue, saying that Jess ran a charity organization. When he was photographed collecting cans and bottles out of the trash, it was all for his philanthropic efforts. He added that his son was most likely the happiest member of their family.

Jess Is the Only Child Who Didn't Follow in His Father's Footsteps

The Brolin family is filled with exceptional talent; several of its members are household names in the entertainment industry, including stepmother Barbra Streisand.

Josh and Molly, are well invested in following their father's path in the film industry. Although Jess has three films to his name, his last coming in 2001, he is not considered a career actor.

Molly, born on November 28, 1987, in California's City of Angels, has been involved in the movie industry as a producer. She has produced movies such as "John Mulaney: New in Town" and "Men in Black 3" starring Will Smith -- both in 2012 -- and "Royal Hearts" in 2018.

On the other hand, Josh Brolin is arguably the biggest star in the family, especially after his exploits as the villainous Thanos in the "Avengers" films. Born on February 12, 1968, in Santa Monica, he made his first appearance on-screen at 17 in "The Goonies" by legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg.

Since then, he has established himself as one of Hollywood's leading men, especially beginning in 2007 with a supporting role in Quentin Tarantino's "Grindhouse." He received acclaim for "American Gangster" and an Academy Award nomination for portraying Dan White in "Milk" in 2008.