Jennifer Garner's Oldest Daughter Turns 18

Jennifer Garner

Movie star, Instagram queen and proud mom Jennifer Garner is about to experience a major milestone as a parent, as her eldest daughter, Violet, is preparing to leave the nest for college.

The 51-year-old Family Switch actress recently appeared on Live with Kelly & Mark, where she discussed 18-year-old Violet being “in the middle of” touring colleges. Garner admitted that while the experience brings both “excitement and stress,” Violet is handling the rite of passage “like a champ” and doesn’t need any hand-holding.

So, who are the awesome kids who make up Garner’s “cool crew”? Let’s take a closer look at the down-to-earth actress’s family.

How many kids does Jennifer Garner have?

Garner has three children: 18-year-old Violet, 14-year-old Seraphina and 11-year-old Samuel.

Who is the father of Jennifer Garner's kids?

The father of all three of Garner’s kids is her ex-husband, actor and director Ben Affleck. Garner and Affleck met in 2001 on the set of the movie Pearl Harbor and reconnected in 2004. They married in June 2005 and went on to welcome their first kid, Violet, in December of that year. The couple announced their separation in June 2015, after 10 years of marriage, and finalized their divorce in 2018.

Related: Who Is Jennifer Garner Dating Now? All About Her Action-Packed Love Life

Who are Jennifer Garner's kids?

Violet Affleck (b. Dec. 1, 2005)

As the firstborn of the bunch, Violet dealt with her fair share of media attention growing up. In a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Garner recalled a time when a kindergarten-aged Violet gave a heartbreaking speech asking photographers to stop chasing her.

“[Violet] stood up on a chair in a little velvet dress, with her hair a bit back and her glasses on and she didn't say her R's right, and she said: ‘We didn't ask for this. We don't want these cameras, they're scary. The men are scary, they knock each other over and it's hard to feel like a kid when you're being chased,’” Garner shared.

Now a teen, Violet has publicly stepped out a few times alongside her famous parents. In 2022, she attended a White House state dinner with Garner, and she was later photographed with Affleck and his wife Jennifer Lopez at a gala.

On Nov. 28, 2023, Garner went on Live with Kelly & Mark and chatted with co-hosts Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa about touring colleges with her eldest daughter. "...She's handling it like a champ and she's totally in charge. I'm not having to say, 'Are you doing this, are you doing this?'" Garner revealed. "She's a self-starter. And I'm just proud of her no matter what."

Seraphina Affleck (b. Jan. 6, 2009)

Not much is known about Seraphina at this point, although judging from a recent outing with dad Ben Affleck, the actor's middle child enjoys pizza (the two were spotted with five—yes, five!—pies) and reading (they also visited a book store together).

Seraphina also appears to be close to step-siblings Emme and Max, as they've been spotted hanging out a number of times in recent years.

Samuel Affleck (b. Feb. 27, 2012)

The youngest Affleck kid came along in 2012. Although he seems to take after his dad’s sports-loving roots (Affleck even coaches Samuel’s Little League team in Los Angeles), the child does not appear to take after his father's Boston roots, at least not when it comes to his team preferences (he's apparently loyal to L.A.). Adorably, Affleck once decked out his son's room in New England Patriots gear in protest!

Related: 'Air' Star Ben Affleck's Net Worth in 2023, And Who Earns More—Ben or JLo?

What year did Jennifer Garner have her first child?

Garner gave birth to her first child, Violet, on Dec, 1, 2005, when she was 33 years old. A spokesperson announced at the time that “Mother, father and baby are doing great.”

Two years after Violet was born, Garner was already raving about Affleck’s parenting skills. “You know how as a kid you picture yourself with a tall, handsome husband, and you imagine him cuddling your baby? Ben is that, like, on crack,” she told InStyle in 2007.

Does Jennifer Garner have a daughter who is an actress?

None of Garner’s three kids have entered the entertainment industry so far. With Violet preparing for college and younger siblings Seraphina and Samuel still in school, it remains to be seen if any will follow in their famous parents’ footsteps.

Are Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck friends?

Despite a painful split after 10 years of marriage, Garner and Affleck have worked hard to maintain an amicable friendship. They’ve both said their main priority is coparenting their children.

“When they were smaller and there were things out there that were shocking, my request to them was always, ‘Let Dad and I talk you through whatever it is,’" Garner has said about shielding her kids from public scrutiny of their divorce. “I’d tell them, ‘If you see an image on the front of a magazine, I’ll look at it with you and we’ll process all the scary feelings that come up together.’”

In 2016, a year after announcing their breakup, Garner said that while their romantic relationship was over, they were “completely in line” regarding hopes for Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.

Affleck especially sang Garner’s praises. "I am a giant fan of Jennifer,” he said on CBS This Morning in March 2016. “She’s just a fabulous person. She’s just a wonderful person. She’s a great mother. She’s a real talent. She ... has set such a good example and a lead that I follow. She's somebody that I admire and respect and remain excellent friends with."

The pair have upheld a united front ever since. They’ve been photographed chatting over coffee near their homes in Los Angeles, hosted birthday parties together for the kids and made joint Halloween costume appearances.

As Garner sees her eldest off to college soon, here’s hoping the solid family foundation she and Affleck have built continues to serve Violet and her siblings well!

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