Anne Gwynne was one of the original screen sirens of Hollywood’s Golden Age — a beauty queen turned scream queen whose work in 1940s horror and adventure films made her a cult favorite.
Decades later, her grandson, Chris Pine, has become a modern Hollywood star in his own right, known for playing bold, complex heroes in everything from sci-fi blockbusters to indie dramas.
Though they come from very different film eras, both Gwynne and Pine reflect the charm, charisma, and versatility that run in their family’s Hollywood DNA.
Anne Gwynne: The 1940s Scream Queen
Born in 1918, Anne Gwynne quickly found success in the golden age of Universal Pictures, becoming one of the studio’s most popular pin-ups and a standout in its horror line-up.
She starred in cult favorites like Black Friday (1940) with Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi, and House of Frankenstein (1944), earning her the nickname “one of the first scream queens.” Beyond horror, she appeared in dozens of westerns and adventure serials, often cast as the brave, beautiful heroine who could hold her own alongside male leads.
Gwynne’s screen presence was warm and confident, and though she never reached A-list superstardom, she maintained a steady career through the 1940s and became a fan favorite — not just for her beauty, but for her approachability. Off-screen, she balanced her career with family life and later became known as a proud matriarch.
Chris Pine: The Modern Hero with Heart
Born in 1980, Chris Pine is the grandson of Anne Gwynne through his mother, Gwynne Gilford — herself a former actress.
Pine was raised in a showbiz-savvy family; his father, Robert Pine, is best known for starring in the hit series CHiPs. But Chris didn’t ride on anyone’s coattails — he earned a degree in English and studied acting before finding his breakthrough as the young, cocky Captain James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot (2009).
Since then, Pine has shown incredible range — playing everything from action heroes in Wonder Woman and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit to musical roles in Into the Woods and heartfelt parts in Hell or High Water and The Finest Hours.
What sets Pine apart is his ability to balance classic leading-man looks with emotional depth and vulnerability. He’s not afraid to be funny, flawed, or fragile — qualities that make him one of today’s most relatable stars.
Two Stars, One Legacy
Anne Gwynne and Chris Pine may have made their marks in totally different Hollywoods — hers black-and-white and studio-driven, his high-definition and franchise-heavy — but both found success by fully committing to the roles they took on.
Gwynne gave early horror heroines a sense of intelligence and courage that was rare at the time, while Pine brings nuance and charm to modern characters who often wrestle with morality, loss, and identity.
While Gwynne’s legacy is often celebrated by classic film lovers and horror historians, Chris Pine is introducing that lineage to a new generation — even if most fans don’t know about his grandmother’s glamorous film past. In interviews, Pine has spoken with pride about Anne Gwynne, recognizing her contributions and her unique place in movie history.
