Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have been major names in Hollywood since a very young age. The twins have now become even more popular celebrities in the fashion industry with their design and clothing brand, The Row.
While many people know the twins from their role on Full House and their subsequent acting and fashion careers, not many know about Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s parents. Here’s everything you need to know about David and Jarnette Olsen.
David and Jarnette Olsen were not familiar with the lives of Hollywood celebrities, and so both parents were concerned about raising their daughters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in the spotlight.
In 1996, when the fashion designer daughters were at the height of their fame, David and Jarnette decided to separate.
While staying away from the limelight themselves, both the parents handed over the responsibilities of their business to their beloved daughters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen at a very young age.
The sisters have been running the family business since the age of 18. Amidst the ever-present interest in the lives of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, let’s discuss who their parents, Jarnette and David Olsen, are.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s parents divorced in 1996
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s parents separated when the twin sisters were only 9 years old. According to reports, later in life, David Olsen tied the knot with a former co-worker.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly in 1996, the Olsen twins’ father said, “The reality is that the transition has been very seamless.” He also said that the girls were also doing well.
Additionally, in 2004, Ashley Olsen came forward expressing similar sentiments towards People, also recalling that both she and Mary Kate were so busy at the time, that they ultimately thought things would get better soon.
“We were very mature for our age,” he said.
David and Jarnette Olsen have four children.
While David and Jarnette Olsen were together, they welcomed four children. Their eldest and only son is Trent Olsen, born on May 6, 1984. Then on June 13, 1986, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were welcomed into the family.
Finally, the youngest is Elizabeth Olsen, born on February 16, 1989. Like their siblings, both Trent and Elizabeth Olsen are also a part of the entertainment industry.
For those uninitiated, Trent Olsen previously worked for Storm King Productions, while also writing several comic books. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Olsen is also a big name in the Hollywood film industry, famous for playing Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch in the MCU.
It was Jarnette who joined Mary-Kate and Ashley on Full House
According to the Los Angeles Times, Jarnett had gone on a shopping trip with a friend. While coming back from the trip, she went with her friend to their child’s agent’s office.
Then Jarnette Olsen revealed that she had twins, after which the agent asked for photos of them, which ultimately led to the Olsen twins auditioning for Full House. Surprisingly, the twins were only 6 months old at that time.
Both of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s parents had no prior experience in the entertainment industry, as Jarnette was a former ballet dancer, and David was a real estate investor.
In February 1991, David Olsen told The Washington Post that he was upset about Jarnette sharing photos of her daughters with a talent agent, adding, “I said, ‘Honey, if you want to do it, Well then.’ ,
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s Parents Were Not Stage Parents
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen entered the entertainment industry at a very young age, later telling People in May 2004 that she and her sister “never had stage parents.”
However, Mary-Kate said she and her sister were “definitely safe.” Then speaking to Nylon in 2006, Ashley mentioned that she and Mary-Kate have really been involved in the business decision-making process “from the very beginning, even when we were just 10 years old.”
David Olsen helped with Mary-Kate and Ashley’s finances
While we know that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s parents let them take control of the family business from the time the daughters turned 18, it was David Olsen who taught the two how to manage their finances throughout their childhood. Had helped.
According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, the father of four previously handled the finances of the twins’ production company DualStar. Meanwhile, reports also suggest that David had invested his daughter’s money wisely, and more than the amount required by law in a trust for the girls.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s parents support them at their Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony
While Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s parents have both been out of the spotlight since their divorce, Jarnette Olsen and David were both seen in attendance at their daughter’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
It was in May 2004, when the twins became the youngest celebrities to receive this honour. Mary-Kate and Ashley were only 17 years old at the time.
Also read: Full House star David Lipper reveals how he was cast in the 1987 sitcom after the pilot of his previous show didn’t air on TV.