Gary Busey’s children are three in number and include his two sons, Jake Sampson, 52, and Luke Sampson Busey, 14, and his daughter, Alectra Busey, who is 29-year-old as of 2024.
Gary Busey is best known for his very successful acting career, which has spanned over four decades, and his unique personality, which makes him a fan favorite. On the other hand, his personal life has not been a straightforward ride as he has been married twice and fathered his three children with three different women. Here’s everything you need to know about the lives of Gary Busey’s sons, Jake and Luke Sampson and his daughter Alectra Busey.
How Many Children Does Gary Busey Have?
Gary Busey has three children – two sons and a daughter. His first son, Jake Sampson, was born on March 16, 1975, and is the oldest of the three. His second son, Luke Sampson, was born on February 23, 2010, and is the youngest of Gary Busey’s children. He is nearly 40 years younger than his older brother Jake. Finally, his daughter and middle child, Alectra Busey, was born on July 19, 1994.
Gary Busey’s First Son is Jake Sampson Busey
- Date of Birth: June 15, 1971
- Age: 52 Years Old
- Mother: Judy Helkenberg
- Occupation: Actor
Image SourceJake Sampson is an American actor and entertainer. He is best known to the public as the eldest son of Gary Busey. He was born to Gary and his then-wife, Judy Hulkenberg, on June 15, 1971, and is currently 52 year old. His mother, Judy Helkenberg, is a renowned photographer.
Jake grew up in Malibu, California, and after his parents’ divorce, he lived with his mother and stepfather, actor Tommy Lee Jones, until he became a teenager. He attended Pepperdine University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
Going in the line of the men in his life, Jake took to acting early in his teenage years and has grown to become a well-known actor in his own right. His acting career consists of projects released way back in the late nineties, as well as more recent productions like L.A.’s Finest and Bluegrass Spirits, which were released in 2019 and 2021, respectively. Jake notably played the character of Bruce Lowe, an antagonistic journalist in the third season of the fictional blockbuster series Stranger Things.
Jake is not married, but he has a family of his own. He is in a long-term relationship with fellow thespian April Hutchinson. Together, they have a daughter named Autumn Rosalia Busey.
Jake Sampson Busey’s Filmography
- Tomcats (2001)
- The Frighteners (1996)
- Starship Troopers (1997)
- Stranger Things (2019)
- From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series (2014-2016)
- L.A.’s Finest (2019)
- Bluegrass Spirits (2021)
Luke Sampson is Gary Busey’s Second Son
- Date of Birth: February 23, 2010
- Age: 14 Years Old
- Mother: Steffanie Sampson
- Occupation: Aspiring Actor
Luke Sampson is the second son and third child of Gary Busey. He was born on February 23, 2010, and is 14 years old. His mother is Gary Busey’s much younger girlfriend, Steffanie Sampson. His birth came with a lot of complications, both for him and his mother. According to multiple reports, Luke was born with a rare condition called Kawasaki disease.
The disease, which has symptoms ranging from fever to skin rashes, increased heart rates, and vomiting, is known to cause inflammation in the walls of small to medium-sized blood vessels that carry blood throughout the body. Luke was in and out of the hospital for over a year after his birth. Interestingly, Gary kept his son’s illness away from the media for a very long time, choosing to downplay its severity in a bud to acquire some privacy for him and his family.
In a happier vein, young Luke is doing quite well these days as the disease has been well managed, and he is living a normal life. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Gary reportedly revealed that he was “in charted water now.” He also said he’s “been through this trail. I don’t get like, oh, God, he’s crying again. I knew what came with dinner, and it was part of the drill.”
While Luke is living a happy and healthy life, his condition encouraged his parents to open a foundation in his honor. The Busy Foundation was created in 2012, two years after Luke was born. The organization raises funds for research on Kawasaki disease and creates awareness about the condition. The foundation received a sizeable donation from former U.S. president Donald Trump in 2013.
Like his older brother, Luke is on the part to acting. He made his acting debut in the 2012 short movie Change of Heart. This was quickly followed by other appearances that improved his visibility as a child actor in the industry.
Luke Sampson Filmography
- Change of Heart (2012)
- Impractical Jokers (2018)
- Bunk’d (2022 – 2023)
- Cobweb (2023)
Alectra Busey is Gary Busey’s Only Daughter
- Date of Birth: July 19, 1994
- Age: 29 Years Old
- Mother: Tracy Hutchinson
- Occupation: Photographer
Alectra Busey is Gary Busey’s second child and only daughter. She was born to Gary Busey and his ex-girlfriend Tracy Hutchinson on July 19, 1994. The 29-year-old Alectra is a professional photographer. Her mother, Tracy, was a stunt coordinator, and her relationship with Gary was not well-publicized.
Of all Gary’s three children, Alectra is the least famous one, largely due to her choice to avoid the spotlight. Instead of choosing a path in Hollywood like her father and brothers, Alectra chose a quieter life behind the cameras.
Who Is the Mother of Gary Busey’s Children?
Gary Busey had his three children with three different women named Judy Helkenberg, Tracy Hutchinson, and Steffanie Sampson.
Judy Helkenberg was married to Gary Busey in the late sixties. Their union lasted for 22 years, from 1968 until their divorce in 1990, and Jake is their only child together.
Judy was an actress, but unfortunately, only a little is known about her or her career. She was, however, known to have been featured in an American Pie advertisement video in 2005. She also presented the popular nineties documentary History’s Mysteries.
Gary had his second child, Alectra, with Tracy Hutchinson, whom he dated for an undisclosed amount of time, during which they birthed Alectra. Even though she was a stuntperson when they met, she has stayed well away from the limelight since their relationship ended.
Gary Busey’s relationship with his most recent girlfriend, Steffanie Sampson, led to the birth of his third and last child, Luke. Gary and Steffanie have been together for over 13 years and appear to still be going strong together.
