Dannielynn Birkhead was just five months old when her mother Anna Nicole Smith died of a prescription drug overdose aged 39 on February 8, 2007.
Anna Nicole achieved early fame as a model for Guess and Playboy magazines before later rising to prominence for marrying 89-year-old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall when she was just 26 years.
But while her American mother – whose rollercoaster life mirrored the tragic circumstances of Anna Nicole’s heroine Marilyn Monroe – was no stranger to stardom, Dannielynn prefers to avoid the spotlight.
In May 2021, her father and Anna Nicole’s ex Larry Birkhead told TMZ that his 16-year-old daughter had said no to several modeling and acting gigs over the years.
Famous American photographer Larry, 50, said acting really wasn’t Dannielynn’s “thing” and admitted she had no manager or modeling portfolio, preferring to stay away from the spotlight.
Dannielynn Birkhead was just five months old when her mother Anna Nicole Smith (pictured together) died of a prescription drug overdose aged 39 on February 8, 2007.
However, the father-daughter duo make an exception for Janet Jackson concerts, adorable Instagram snaps shared on Larry’s public social media page and the Kentucky Derby.
The annual American horse racing event is a fixed fixture in the couple’s calendar and holds a special place in the family’s hearts as Larry met Anna there in 2004 when she was photographed wearing a famous pink hat .
At the time of Dannielynn’s birth, Anna Nicole insisted the child’s father was her solicitor Howard K Stern and his name was on the birth certificate.
Yet after he died in a Florida hotel room in 2007, Larry managed to prove he was Dannielynn’s father and won custody, bringing her to live with him in Kentucky.
Anna Nicole’s marriage to billionaire Marshall should have entitled the former model to a share of her fortune, part of which went to Dannielynn.
But despite being regularly touted as one of America’s richest kids, Dannielynn was not entitled to any part of Marshall’s estate following a 2014 court case that ruled that the estate Anna Nicole was to inherit nothing from her late husband.
Speaking to Inside Edition in 2017, Larry said: ‘We saw a YouTube video showing her being one of the 10 richest kids in America. Then she wanted to go to the mall. And I’m like, “No, that’s not it. Believe me, that’s not it.”
In the program, Larry also took the opportunity to deny claims that there had been a rift with Anna Nicole’s mother, Virgie Arthur.
While his American mother – whose rollercoaster life mirrored the tragic circumstances of Anna Nicole’s heroine Marilyn Monroe – was no stranger to stardom, Dannielynn (pictured with her father Larry in 2014 at the Kentucky Derby) prefers to avoid the spotlight.
In May 2021, her father and Anna Nicole’s ex Larry Birkhead told TMZ that his 16-year-old daughter (pictured together) had said no to several modeling and acting gigs over the years.
He said: “I’ve never talked about it before, but I’m hurt by this title.” Anna’s mother has seen Dannielynn, she’s seen him a few times. I only say that because I want the story to end.
“If Anna’s mom wants to see Dannielynn, she knows how to reach me and she can call me anytime.”
Despite her famous mother, Dannielynn leads a normal life in Louisville, Kentucky, where she enjoys singing and dancing.
Three days after Dannielynn’s birth, Anna Nicole’s 20-year-old son from her first marriage, Daniel, died of a drug overdose.
Larry said: ‘I think she died of a broken heart because of her son. She never got over it.
Anna Nicole was performing at a strip club when she met old oil tycoon J Howard Marshall, and became an instant sensation after she graced the cover of Playboy and replaced Claudia Schiffer as the model for Guess jeans.
She married Marshall in 1994 – she was 26 compared to 89 – and her death a year later sparked a long court battle between Anna Nicole and the Marshall family over the tycoon’s £1billion estate.
She started dating Larry, a photographer, in 2004, “but it wasn’t an easy relationship,” he admitted in the 2013 documentary Life After Anna Nicole.
“She had an entourage and it was awkward at times, but I loved her and we talked about marriage. I was just a guy – I never thought I’d have a chance with Anna Nicole Smith, but we ended up having a kid together.
Famous American photographer Larry (pictured with his daughter in 2022), 50, said acting really isn’t Dannielynn’s ‘thing’ and admitted she doesn’t have a manager or modeling portfolio, preferring to stay out of the spotlight
However, the father-daughter duo make an exception for Janet Jackson concerts, adorable Instagram snaps shared on Larry’s public social media page and the Kentucky Derby
To preserve Anna Nicole’s status as a sex symbol, she insisted that they keep their relationship a secret, and she only informed Larry that he was to be a father via text message.
“But I really wanted to be there at the birth,” he said. “I imagined myself in the delivery room and thought the worst thing that could happen was me passing out. I was so wrong.
Without warning, Anna Nicole decamped to the Bahamas with her lawyer, Howard K Stern, and a few months later, in September 2006, gave birth to Dannielynn – news Larry only learned after paying a subscription to access at Anna Nicole’s website.
“I planned to be there for the birth, and then one day it was ripped away from me. It was confusing when she took off. I never saw her again, so we had no kind of closure.
Larry had found himself embroiled in a custody battle over Dannielynn after several men came forward claiming to be the father, including Anna Nicole’s attorney Howard K Stern, ex-boyfriend Mark Hatten and, more bizarrely, , Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husband, Frederic Prinz von Anhalt, who claimed to have had a decade-long affair with her.
“I didn’t care that Anna wanted to keep our relationship a secret, but when I had to prove paternity, it became difficult. I only had about twenty photos of us together, but I could have been a fan, anyone.
Ultimately, while Dannielynn was living in the Bahamas with Stern, DNA testing confirmed that Larry was the father. “I haven’t been able to see my daughter for months, but I have her now and that’s all that matters.”
Although he insists he wants to keep Dannielynn out of the spotlight, Larry let her do a photoshoot for Guess jeans like her mom. “Dannielynn loves the Guess photos of Anna,” he said, “it’s like a connection to her.” It’s not a regular thing though.
Dannielynn wore her mother’s hat at the Kentucky Derby in 2019. Anna Nicole wore the hat at the derby in 2004
The annual American horse racing event is a fixed fixture in the couple’s calendar and holds a special place in the family’s hearts as Larry met Anna there in 2004 when she was photographed wearing a famous pink hat .
Larry insists their daughter just wants to be her own person, but always takes comparisons with her mother as a compliment, even if it gets annoying at times.
Her dad also admitted to TMZ that he’s not sure if the offers they’ve been getting have to do with her striking resemblance to her mom or the fact that she’s actually the quintessential blonde bombshell’s daughter, but they are nevertheless refused.
Larry said Dannielynn was more concerned with doing her homework than fame, as she was interested in art, animation and drawing.
She’s shown acting chops before, according to her dad, but ultimately decided not to pursue it.
The door isn’t completely closed to acting, however, as Larry told the publication that she would definitely have a role in Stranger Things or The Mandalorian.
Larry previously said the event served as a “growth chart” for Dannielynn because “you can watch her grow with every Derby”. Photographed in 2017 and 2018
