Basic Information
| Full Name | Bede Evelyn Dominick Elwes |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | 1931-08-24 |
| Death Date | 1975-09-05 |
| Resting Place | Amberley, West Sussex |
| Other Names | Dominic Elwes |
| Education | Ladycross School; Friends Academy; St. Albans School; Downside School |
| Occupations | Editor, journalist, portrait painter |
| Notable For | Portraits of the Clermont Set; 1957 elopement with Tessa Kennedy |
| Spouse | Tessa Kennedy (m.1958–1969) |
| Children | Cassian Elwes, Damian Elwes, Cary Elwes |
| Parents | Simon Elwes, Hon. Gloria Rodd |
Early Life and Elopement Scandal
Bede Evelyn Dominick Elwes was born on 24 August 1931 at Billing Hall, Northamptonshire. In January 1958, at age 26, he eloped with 19‑year‑old heiress Tessa Kennedy—first marrying in Havana on 27 January and then again in New York on 1 April—sparking an international media frenzy and a two‑week detention at Brixton Prison upon his return to England.
Career Highlights
- Journalism & Publishing (1960–1964): Served as assistant editor of Lilliput Magazine (1960), co‑founded Design Yearbook (1963), and co‑authored the satirical book Refer to Drawer (1964).
- Portrait Painting (1965–1975): Painted high‑society figures of the Clermont Set, including the 7th Earl of Lucan, and designed a Mediterranean‑style apartment complex in Andalucia, Spain (completed 1970).
- Business Ventures (1975): Co‑owned the Figurehead hair salon in Knightsbridge, decorated with his father Simon Elwes’s canvases.
Family Overview
| Name | Born | Role | Notable Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tessa Kennedy | 6 Dec 1938 | Interior Designer | First woman to run her own design firm in Saudi Arabia |
| Cassian Elwes | 7 Aug 1959 | Film Producer | Produced Dallas Buyers Club and Mudbound |
| Damian Elwes | 10 Aug 1960 | Artist | Paints iconic artists’ studios; global exhibitions |
| Cary Elwes | 26 Oct 1962 | Actor | Starred in The Princess Bride and Saw series |
| Dillon Kastner | Feb 1970 | Film Crew/Actor | Worked on Wonderland and The Dark Backward |
| Milica Kastner | Jan 1972 | Producer/Actress (†2021) | Produced Papadopoulos & Sons |
Recent Family Developments
- March 2025: Cary Elwes’s Malibu home fell to the Palisades Fire; he and his family evacuated without injury.
- February 2025: Cassian Elwes appointed Natalie Baseman as the 2025 Independent Screenwriting Fellow with The Black List.
- 2025–2026: Damian Elwes signed with Pearl Lam Galleries for an Asia solo exhibition scheduled in Hong Kong.
- March 2021: Milica Kastner passed away following a cancer battle, marking the end of the second generation’s direct ties to Elliott Kastner.
FAQ
Who was Dominick Elwes?
Dominick Elwes was an English portrait painter and journalist famous for his 1957 elopement scandal and portraits of high‑society figures.
What defined his artistic career?
He edited influential magazines in the early 1960s and painted members of the Clermont Set, completing a notable Andalucian apartment project in 1970.
Who is Tessa Kennedy?
Tessa Kennedy is a pioneering interior designer who led her own firm in the 1960s and became the first woman to run a design company in Saudi Arabia.
What films has Cassian Elwes produced?
Cassian Elwes produced critically acclaimed films such as Dallas Buyers Club, Mudbound, and The Butler.
What is Damian Elwes known for?
Damian Elwes recreates iconic artists’ studios on canvas, exhibiting works globally and planning a 2026 solo show in Hong Kong.
What recent challenges did Cary Elwes face?
Cary Elwes lost his Malibu home in the 2025 Southern California wildfires but evacuated safely with his family.
References
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| http://www.vipfaq.com/Tessa%20Kennedy.html | Tessa Kennedy’s net worth is estimated at around $1 million |
| https://deadline.com/2013/10/cassian-elwes-black-lists-franklin-leonard-will-take-a-wannabe-scribe-to-sundance-622662/ | Cassian Elwes launched the Independent Screenwriter Fellowship with The Black List in 2013 |
| https://networthmirror.com/cassian-elwes/ | Cassian Elwes’s net worth is estimated at approximately $5 million |
| https://deadline.com/2025/02/natalie-baseman-named-cassian-elwes-independent-screenwriting-fellow-2025-1236285692/ | In 2025, Cassian Elwes named Natalie Baseman as the Black List fellowship recipient |
| https://fadmagazine.com/2025/03/13/pearl-lam-galleries-now-represent-damian-elwes-in-asia/ | Damian Elwes announced representation by Pearl Lam Galleries for Asia in 2025 |
| https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/cary-elwes-net-worth/ | Cary Elwes’s net worth is estimated at approximately $6 million |
| https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/09/17/princess-bride-reunion-raises-4-25-million-wisconsin-democrats/5793750002/ | Cary Elwes organized a Princess Bride reunion fundraiser raising $4.25 million for Wisconsin Democrats in 2020 |
| https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0440989/ | Dillon Kastner worked in minor film roles including Wonderland (2003) and The Dark Backward (1991) |
| https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1081571/ | Milica Kastner produced and acted in films like Papadopoulos & Sons (2012) before her death in 2021 |
| https://www.tatler.com/article/milica-kastner-memories-terminal-cancer-death | Milica Kastner passed away in 2021 after battling cancer |
