Who are Michael Dukakis and Kitty Dukakis’ children? All about Jaws 2 actor John Dukakis and sisters, Andrea and Kara

Kitty Dukakis, the wife of former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, has passed away at the age of 88. The couple, who were married for sixty-two years, shared three children: John Dukakis, Kara Dukakis, and Andrea Dukakis.

Her children released a joint statement confirming her death. A portion of the statement, published by The Boston Globe, reads:

[Kitty Dukakis] lived a full life fighting to make the world a better place and sharing her vulnerabilities to help others face theirs. She was loving, feisty, and fun, and had a keen sensitivity to people from all walks of life. She and our dad, Michael Dukakis, shared an enviable partnership for over 60 years and loved each other deeply,”

They further thanked everyone:

“[We thank] all who have touched our lives over the years or who were touched by our mother.”

Kitty Dukakis was known for her passionate advocacy for human rights and her openness about her lifelong struggles with mental health and alcoholism.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter):

"Kitty Dukakis was a force for good in public life and behind the scenes. The causes she championed — recovery, gender equality, human rights, and more — made a real difference in people’s lives. Sending love to Governor Dukakis and their family."

More about Katie and Michael Dukakis' three children

Kitty Dukakis was born Katharine Dickson in 1936 to parents Harry Ellis Dickson and Jane Goldberg Dickson. She first married businessman John Chaffetz in 1957 while still in college. Their son, John, was born a year later, but the couple divorced in 1961.

In 1963, Kitty married Michael Dukakis. The couple had two daughters together, with Michael Dukakis raising John as his own.

John Dukakis, born John Chaffetz Jr. on June 9, 1958, explained his name change in a 1988 interview with The Washington Post, following Michael Dukakis' acceptance of the Democratic presidential nomination:

"I very much wanted to feel part of the family. I didn't want to have to explain that my Chaffetz family was in California," he said, before adding that this decision first came to him when he was just in second grade.

He also shared how his biological father, with whom he maintained a good relationship, reacted to the news:

"I think it was a difficult time for him. And it was difficult for him to understand. But he knew I arrived at that decision not because of pressure but because it was comfortable. I felt more like John Dukakis than I did John Chaffetz Jr."

While studying at Brown University, John Dukakis was cast as Polo in the 1978 movie Jaws II. He later starred in other roles in Hart to Hart, Family Ties, Split Image, and Knots Landing, among others. He has had an extensive career in both entertainment and politics.

In his interview with The Washington Post, John Dukakis spoke about the special relationship he shared with his stepfather, Michael Dukakis, noting that Michael often sought his advice on public speaking:

"For better or worse, he seems to listen and take advice from me on this. We've been laughing all week about the thought of him delivering this address tonight with his hands glued to the podium."

He also recalled important advice Michael Dukakis once gave him about growing up:

"A few years ago, I said to my dad, 'I'm 25 years old and I don't feel grown up,' He said, 'I didn't feel grown up until the day I married your mother -- but not because I was married -- because I became a father.'"

John Dukakis first married Lisa Thurmond in 1982, and the couple later divorced in 2002 after twenty years of marriage. He then married Adriana Sierra in 2002, but they divorced in 2020. He has four children from his two marriages.

Kitty and Michael Dukakis’ other children also pursued notable careers. Andrea Dukakis, born in 1969, studied at Princeton University and previously worked as a reporter for Colorado Public Radio, where she now works for CPR News.

Kara Dukakis, born in 1968, was the associate director of the Youth Data Archive at the John W. Gardner Center at Stanford University. She is married to David Onek, the former San Francisco Police Commissioner, who unsuccessfully ran for District Attorney of California in 2011. The couple has two daughters.

Kitty Dukakis, who was very open about her struggles with depression, opted for electroconvulsive therapy in 2001. In her book Shock: The Healing Power of Electroconvulsive Therapy, she credited the treatment with helping her manage her depression.

In the statement released by the family, the cause of Kitty Dukakis' death was revealed to be dementia. She is survived by her three children, her husband, Michael Dukakis, and seven grandchildren.