Is William Forsythe Related To John Forsythe

Okay, let’s settle this once and for all, because I know you’ve been wondering. You’re watching some gritty crime drama, and there’s William Forsythe with that intense, squinty gaze. Then you flip channels and see John Forsythe, the suave, velvet-voiced tycoon from Dynasty. You lean in and whisper to your TV, “Are they… brothers?”

I did the exact same thing last week. I even paused my remote and Googled it with the urgency of a man who just found a fifty-dollar bill in his winter coat. So let me save you the suspense: No, they are not related. Not by blood, not by marriage, not even by a weird Hollywood handshake.

It’s a total coincidence. A glorious, confusing, “you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me” coincidence. Two actors, same last name, both wildly successful, yet linked by absolutely nothing except the alphabet.

The John Forsythe You Know (And Love to Mock Affectionately)

First, let’s give it up for John Forsythe. Born Jacob Lincoln Freund in 1918, he was the very definition of old-school class. He had a voice like warm honey poured over gravel—seriously, he was the narrator for Charlie’s Angels for years without ever showing his face.

He played Blake Carrington on Dynasty, rolling his eyes at Krystle while wearing shoulder pads that could double as airplane wings. He was the patriarch. Think grandfather vibes, but with a secret bank account in Switzerland.

John was all about polite drama. He’d raise an eyebrow, and you’d know someone was about to get cut out of a will. He lived until 2010, passing away at 92. A true gentleman. No prison breaks, no gangster tattoos, no screaming matches in a bloody alley.

Now, Meet William Forsythe (The Other One)

Then there’s William Forsythe. Born in 1955 in Brooklyn (huge clue number one—he has that New York edge). This guy is your Forsythe. The one who plays the unhinged mobster, the crooked cop, the guy who looks like he’s about to bite someone’s ear off.

He’s been in everything from Raising Arizona (the adorable “Smalls” character) to Boardwalk Empire to The Devil’s Rejects. His face is a roadmap of “I’ve seen some stuff, and most of it was illegal.” He is chaos in a leather jacket.

William has that wild energy. One minute he’s charming, the next he’s breaking a pool cue over your head. He does not play the patriarch. He plays the problem the patriarch has to deal with.

Whatever Happened To John Forsythe, Blake Carrington From 'Dynasty'?

The Big Connection (Spoiler: There Isn’t One)

So why does everyone think they’re related? Because Hollywood loves a good shortcut. We see “Forsythe” in the credits and our brains go, “Oh, that guy from that thing!” We assume acting talent runs in bloodlines.

But no. John was born in New Jersey to a show-business family (his dad was a stockbroker, not an actor). William was born in Brooklyn to a working-class family. Literally different coasts, different eras, different DNA.

They never worked together. Not a single scene. Not even a bad TV movie in the 80s. Imagine if they did—John would be sipping scotch in a tuxedo, and William would be plotting to steal his cufflinks. It would have been glorious.

Why This Confusion Is So, So Good

Here’s the thing I love most: it’s a perfect example of how our brains love patterns. We hear “Forsythe” and think, “That must be a dynasty name—pun intended.” But names are just noise. John and William are proof that talent doesn’t need a family tree.

If they were related, one of them would have mentioned it in an interview for sure. John would’ve said, “My nephew William is quite the character.” And William would’ve snorted, “My uncle John? Yeah, he loans me his limo for funerals.”

But they never did. Because it’s not true. It’s just a beautiful, confusing little lie we tell ourselves at the coffee machine. “Hey, are the two Forsythes related?” “I think so?” “Huh.” Wrong. But it’s a fun wrong.

John Forsythe Biography

So Who Wins the Forsythe Name?

Honestly? No one and everyone. John Forsythe has the elegance. He’s the name you drop at a fancy dinner party. “Oh, I just adore John Forsythe’s screen presence.” Very ladies-who-lunch.

William Forsythe has the grit. He’s the name you drop when you’re trying to sound tough. “You know William Forsythe? Yeah, he’s a menace. I love it.” He’s the guy you call when you need a character to blow up a car and make you laugh.

They are opposite ends of the acting spectrum. One wore suits, the other wore scars. Both are brilliant in their own chaotic ways. They’re like champagne and a shot of whiskey—technically both alcohol, but you don’t sip them the same way.

The Final Verdict (Over Your Coffee, Remember?)

So, next time someone at work says, “Did you see that guy from Dynasty? What a Forsythe! Wait, isn’t he the same guy from that horror movie?” You can lean back, take a slow sip of your latte, and say:

“Nope. John Forsythe is the rich daddy. William Forsythe is the scary uncle who crashes the wedding. They share a last name, a profession, and absolutely zero blood.”

Then smile. You’ve just become the trivia champion of the break room. And if anyone argues? Tell them the internet said so. I promise you, I’m right on this one. Probably. Actually, I’m 100% sure. Go forth and confuse nobody ever again. Cheers!