Chris Ackerman: Inside the Life of Elinor Donahue’s son

Chris Ackerman is an American actor and the son of Elinor Donahue. Chris Ackerman’s mother became a household name after portraying the role of Betty Anderson on the sitcom Father Knows Best from 1954 to 1960. The show ultimately ended up changing her life in more ways than one because she met her first husband, Richard Smith, on set. Starting her career as a child actress, she was a voice actor in some radio shows for the first six years until she finally found immense fame in the hit series “Father Knows Best.”

Chris Ackerman: Bio Summary

How old is Elinor Donahue’s son Chris Ackerman?

Chris Ackerman was born on May 16, 1978, in  Edison, New Jersey, United States. As of 2023, he is 45 years old. Chris is the son of Harry Ackerman and Elinor Donahue. He is not the only child of the actress, He has three biological siblings – Peter Ackerman, Brian Ackerman, and James Ackerman and two half-siblings- Stephen Ackerman and Susan Peterson from his father’s previous relationship.

Chris’s father Harry Ackerman, was a television producer, credited with creating or co-creating twenty-one series, seven of which were at one time being broadcast simultaneously. His credits include  Father Knows Best, Dennis the Menace, Leave It to Beaver, The Farmer’s Daughter, Hazel, Bewitched, The Flying Nun, and Gidget.

ALSO, READ; Brian Ackerman: Who is Elinor Donahue’s son

Chris Ackerman is an actor

Following in the footsteps of his parents, Chris Ackerman is an actor and producer. He is known for Elektra (2005), Grip (2009), and Out of the Fire (2013). He has been working as a producer of short films and documentaries since 2009 per his IMDb. He has also garnered acting credits in short films such as 2009’s Marbles with Thoreau and 2012’s Making Change.

Chris’ mother Elinor Donahue started out in the industry at the age of five. Before she began working as a 5-year-old on radio in her hometown of Tacoma, the arts were influencing her.- “When I was 18 months old, my mother let me join in a dance class to work off energy,” she recalled from her home in California’s Coachella Valley.  “And while she prepared dinner, my brother would keep me busy by playing the piano and teaching me songs.”- She told thespectrum.

Young actress worked in vaudeville in Yakima and Spokane, and on Tacoma radio on Saturday mornings.- “After the radio shows, we would always go to a local coffee house and have mashed potatoes, gravy, and creamed spinach – my treat!” she laughed.  “But after I came down with chicken pox and was quite ill, my mother took me out of vaudeville.”

Chris Ackerman is married to Rachel Veltri

Elinor Donahue’s son Chris Ackerman is married to actress Rachel Veltri. His wife is best known for her hit reality show, NBC’s “For Love or Money” where she shockingly turned down a million dollars for one of her 16 suitors on the show.

Her outgoing, witty, “tell it how it is” personality got the attention of her viewers and created a celebrity status for Rachel since the show. She made an appearance in American Pie: Band Camp in 2005. She played Dani, a college girl working as a band camp counselor who has a summer fling with a teenage band kid.

ALSO, READ; Lou Genevrino: Who is Elinor Donahue’s husband?

His father passed away in 1991

Chris Ackerman’s father, Harry Ackerman died of “pulmonary failure” at age 78 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California in 1991. He was laid to rest in the Garden of Heritage at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills. His mother is now married to Lou Genevrino. They got married in 1992.