Grace Van Dien had a lot of people to turn to when she gained her newfound fame from “Stranger Things.” From her great-grandparents to her parents, her family has a long history of acting. Van Dien’s great-grandfather, Robert Mitchum, was a big Hollywood actor in the ’40s and ’50s, and starred in films like “Out of the Past” and “The Night of the Hunter.” Call it fate, but in 1997, Robert and Van Dien’s parents, Casper and Carrie, all crossed paths after they starred in the film “James Dean: Race with Destiny.”
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Casper and Carrie’s relationship seemed perfect for many reasons, but most notably because they had common interests. They were both in the acting world, as Casper went on to star in the film “Starship Troopers” and Carrie starred in “The Bold and Beautiful” for several years. Over time, Carrie lost interest in the acting world and decided to become a professional chef in 2001. As for Casper, his love for his decades-long career never died. In 2018, he told ET, “I really appreciate being able to work this long. I have a lot of fun and I feel lucky.” His experience in acting came in handy when his daughter’s career took off, as he has helped her navigate her success.
