Robert Hendricks is the English-born father of Christina Hendricks, the actress best known for playing Joan Holloway in Mad Men. Long before her television success, his work with the United States Forest Service helped shape the places she called home. Moving between American states became a familiar part of her childhood, bringing new schools, new friendships and the challenge of starting again.
Originally from Birmingham, England, Robert also brought British habits into the family home. Christina has spoken about these memories, along with his strong wish for her to attend college. Her accounts offer a picture of the years before fame: a working family, a growing interest in performance and a daughter whose career plans differed from her father’s expectations.
Quick Bio
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robert Hendricks |
| Known For | Being Christina Hendricks’ father |
| Birthplace | Birmingham, England |
| Country of Birth | United Kingdom |
| Heritage | English |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly confirmed |
| Age | Not publicly confirmed |
| Occupation | United States Forest Service employee |
| Employer | United States Forest Service |
| Children’s Mother | Jackie Sue Hendricks |
| Jackie Sue’s Profession | Psychologist |
| Children | Aaron Hendricks and Christina Hendricks |
| Family’s Former Locations | Oregon, Idaho and Virginia, United States |
| Daughter’s Famous Role | Joan Holloway in Mad Men |
Who Is Robert Hendricks?
Robert Hendricks is known publicly through his daughter’s career and the stories she has shared about growing up. His own professional life was in forestry, away from television studios and film sets.
Christina’s mother, Jackie Sue Hendricks, worked as a psychologist. Their children included Christina and her older brother, Aaron. In interviews, Christina has described a childhood that involved both frequent moves and early creative interests.
There is no widely documented, detailed biography of Robert. The clearest information about his background and parenting comes from Christina’s recollections of family life.
His English Background
Robert Hendricks came from Birmingham, England, although Christina grew up in the United States. His English roots became part of how she understood her own family background.
Christina has described small traditions that seemed ordinary at home but later stood out as British. These included Yorkshire pudding, her father’s preference for tea and his habit of putting butter and jam on crackers.
She recalled that he did not have a British accent or speak much about his birthplace. Even so, those familiar habits helped her recognise a connection to England when she spent time there herself. Her account shows how family roots can remain present through food and everyday routines.
A Job That Took the Family to New Places
Robert worked for the United States Forest Service. His employment led the family to live in different parts of America, including Oregon, Idaho and Virginia.
For Christina, this meant that childhood was spread across several places. Twin Falls, Idaho, became an important setting for her early interests, while Fairfax, Virginia, was where she spent part of her teenage years.
The available accounts establish the link between Robert’s work and these moves. They do not provide a complete record of his job titles or duties. His career’s clearest place in Christina’s story is the way it affected the family’s homes, schools and daily life.
Christina’s Childhood in Idaho
Idaho holds a special place in Christina’s memories of growing up. She studied ballet and became involved in local theatre, giving her opportunities to perform well before she considered acting as a career.
Her childhood also included camping and outdoor activities. When discussing her father’s forestry work, she remembered time spent in natural surroundings. The smell of campfires and evergreen trees remained comforting reminders of those years.
She has been less enthusiastic about sleeping outdoors than about being in the woods or staying in a cabin. That small detail makes her childhood memories easy to picture: enjoying the setting while still finding camping uncomfortable.
The Challenge of Changing Schools
Frequent moves brought more than changes of address. Christina has spoken about the difficulty of settling into a school, making friends and then leaving to begin again somewhere else.
In a 2023 interview, she described watching other children and trying to fit in when she arrived at a new school. The move to Virginia was particularly difficult, and she has openly discussed being bullied during that period.
She later adopted a goth style and found a place in drama. These experiences form part of her own account of adolescence. They show how a move connected to a parent’s job can become a major event in a child’s life.
Jackie Sue’s Role in Their Upbringing
While Robert’s work influenced where the family lived, Jackie Sue helped the children find social and creative opportunities. Christina has said her mother introduced them to community theatre in Idaho.
Jackie wanted them to make friends beyond their school classrooms. Theatre brought together children of different ages, along with parents and other adults helping with productions.
Christina’s early stage experience included youth productions such as Bye Bye Birdie and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. These activities gave her regular opportunities to sing, dance and act. They also helped make performance a familiar part of her childhood.
British Roots Beyond Childhood
Christina later spent about a year living in London while working as a model. In a 2019 interview, she described that period as one of the best times of her life and said it gave her a chance to know the culture.
Her father’s Birmingham background provided a personal connection to the country. London became a city she spoke about with affection, alongside memories of growing up in America.
This part of her story connects her childhood home with her adult experiences. The British habits she remembered from Robert gained a wider context when she lived in England herself.
Why Robert Wanted Christina to Go to College
Education mattered to Robert Hendricks, according to his daughter’s interviews. When Christina decided to pursue modelling in New York instead of attending college, he was unhappy with her choice.
On Bullseye with Jesse Thorn, Christina explained that her father would not let her use the money saved for college to support that move. If she chose modelling, she would need to pay her own way.
She also said her family would have welcomed her back home if she could not manage. Her recollection describes a firm boundary around money and education, together with the reassurance that she still had a home to return to.
Learning to Take Her Career Seriously
Christina later recalled feeling that she needed to prove her career decision was sound. In a 2025 interview, she said choosing modelling over college disappointed her family, especially her father.
Her response was to work hard and behave professionally. She wanted to show that she understood the responsibility of the choice she had made.
That memory gives Robert a clear place in the story of her early independence. His expectations were something she had to consider as she entered working life. Christina’s account also shows that pursuing a creative career involved practical concerns, well before public recognition arrived.
The Years Before Mad Men
Christina’s television career developed after her work in modelling. Her early screen credits included Beggars and Choosers and Firefly, before Mad Men brought her much wider recognition.
The family experiences she has described came before that success. Forest Service moves, school changes, theatre productions and conversations about college were all part of the life she knew first.
Robert’s story adds context to those years. It helps explain her family background without turning him into the sole reason for the career she later built.
Conclusion
Robert Hendricks belongs to the story of Christina Hendricks’ early years through his work, English roots and hopes for her future. Her memories describe childhood moves, familiar family habits and a difficult decision about education and modelling.
Those accounts offer a useful view of her life before fame. They show the everyday family experiences behind an actress whose career would eventually take her far beyond the places she knew as a child.
(FAQs)
Who is Robert Hendricks?
Robert Hendricks is Christina Hendricks’ father. He is English-born and worked for the United States Forest Service.
Where was Robert Hendricks born?
He was born in Birmingham, England. Christina has discussed his English background in interviews about her family roots.
Why did Christina Hendricks move during childhood?
Her father’s Forest Service work led the family to move between several American states, including Oregon, Idaho and Virginia.
Who is Christina Hendricks’ mother?
Her mother is Jackie Sue Hendricks, who worked as a psychologist and helped introduce her children to community theatre.
Did Robert want Christina to attend college?
Yes. Christina has said he wanted her to attend college and was disappointed when she chose modelling instead.
