The Hollywood legacy of the Arquette family is well-established, primarily due to Patricia Arquette and her younger brother David Arquette’s successful careers. However, the Arquette family also includes three other siblings—Richmond, Rosanna, and Alexis—who have made their own marks on the big screen.
The acting tradition in the family spans two generations: their father, Lewis Arquette, was known for his role on the 1970s TV show The Waltons, and their grandfather, Cliff Arquette, gained fame as a radio host and comedian in the 1950s and ’60s.
The Arquette siblings continue their mother’s legacy of activism, focusing on civil rights and equal pay
Patricia Arquette continued this legacy with serious achievements, including an Emmy for her role in Medium, an Oscar for Boyhood in 2014, and a Golden Globe for Hulu’s The Act in 2020.
David Arquette gained prominence with his role in the Scream series and his appearance in Never Been Kissed with Drew Barrymore. His personal life has also drawn media attention, including his previous marriage to Courteney Cox, with whom he shares a daughter, Coco. David’s second marriage to Christina McLarty in 2015 produced two more children.
The Arquette siblings Richmond, Rosanna, and Alexis (who passed away in 2016) also achieved success in Hollywood. In a 2017 Wall Street Journal piece, Patricia reflected on her family’s ingrained connection to performance: “Performing is in our blood. Acting was a part of everyday life … You got props in my house if you said something interesting or funny.”
Their grandfather, Cliff Arquette, known as Charley Weaver, was a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. He began as a musician, transitioned to radio broadcasting, and later made a mark on television with his comedic persona. Despite retiring in 1955 to pursue woodcarving, he returned to television as a regular on The Tonight Show and appeared on Hollywood Squares until his death in 1974.
Cliff’s legacy profoundly influenced the Arquette family. Patricia recounted, “My grandfather, Charley Weaver, played trumpet at speakeasies and then did live radio,” which shaped their upbringing. “We grew up with a lot of artists, and it’s how we played as kids. We did story-theater skits.”
Lewis Arquette, Cliff’s son, and his wife Brenda “Mardi” Nowak had five children: Rosanna (born 1959), Richmond (1963), Patricia (1968), Alexis (1969), and David (1971). Both parents were artists, which led them to a commune in Virginia.
In the early 1970s, the Arquettes moved to the Skymont Commune in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, where they lived in a cabin with minimal amenities. Patricia remembered this period as a mix of both hardship and creativity. “They wanted to raise us in a spiritual, utopian society away from the rat race and closer to nature,” Patricia shared with The Wall Street Journal.
Richmond enjoyed his time at the commune, noting, “I was surrounded by friends, all the time, and we had a lot of freedom,” while Patricia spoke of the “intense poverty,” including having to hitchhike and going without shoes. Despite these challenges, Patricia credited the commune with nurturing her artistic spirit. “Bands played every night, and we knew all the songs. People created things, since no one had any money.”
After spending four years on the commune, the family relocated to Chicago and later settled in Los Angeles.
The Arquette siblings have discussed their turbulent upbringing, which allegedly involved physical and substance abuse. David described their childhood as “filled with love” despite its difficulties, while Patricia and Rosanna recounted their mother’s physical abuse and their father’s substance abuse issues in interviews.
Patricia reflected on her complex relationship with her mother, acknowledging the impact she had on their lives. “I had a love-hate relationship with her,” Patricia said. “I didn’t recognize then that she was a tremendous force for good in our household. No matter what happened at home, her kids meant everything to her.”
Though the Arquette siblings were dissuaded from pursuing acting, their creative impulses persisted. Patricia recounted her parents’ reluctance but noted their early attempts at creativity, such as a family commercial and Patricia’s early performances. Eventually, Patricia convinced her parents to allow her to pursue acting professionally.
Rosanna Arquette achieved fame in the 1980s and ’90s with roles in Desperately Seeking Susan, The Big Blue, and Pulp Fiction. In 2017, she publicly accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, which she felt impacted her career.
Rosanna detailed her encounter with Weinstein in a 2017 New Yorker article, describing an incident where Weinstein made inappropriate demands. Despite the difficulties she faced, Rosanna focused on her activism, emphasizing the importance of advocating for others.
The Arquettes’ activism has a deep-rooted history, influenced by their mother Mardi’s involvement in civil rights and anti-war movements. Rosanna fondly remembered meeting Martin Luther King Jr. at a protest organized by their mother.
Following their mother’s death in 1997, the Arquettes continued her legacy of activism. Rosanna created a documentary on the lack of roles for older women in Hollywood, while Patricia campaigned for equal pay for women during her Oscar acceptance speech in 2015.
The Alexis Arquette Family Foundation, now known as The Alexis Project, was established to honor Alexis’s contributions to the transgender community. Alexis, who passed away in 2016, was remembered by her siblings for her bravery and impact on the community.
David Arquette expressed pride in his sister’s courage and the positive changes her actions helped bring about. He praised her for her artistic influence and the lessons she taught him.
Rosanna Arquette, who has been married four times and has a daughter named Zoë Bleu, continues to support her daughter’s burgeoning acting career. Richmond Arquette, known for his roles in Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Se7en, remains a private but active member of the acting community.
