Here’s everything to know about Jennifer Aniston’s two half siblings, shared with late parents Nancy Dow and John Aniston
Alex “AJ” Aniston, Jennifer Aniston and John Melick III. PHOTO: COLEMAN-RAYNER; JON KOPALOFF/GETTY; COLEMAN-RAYNER
Meet Jennifer Aniston’s siblings. The Friends actress has two half brothers, John Melick III and Alexander “AJ” Aniston.
Jennifer’s late mom, Nancy Dow, welcomed John III during her first marriage to Jack Melick in 1959. Her dad, John Aniston — who died on Nov. 11, 2022, at age 89 — welcomed AJ during his second marriage to Sherry Rooney in 1989.
Over the years, the actress has rarely been photographed alongside her half siblings; though they have occasionally joined her at premieres, they have kept their personal lives private. John III has pursued a career in the film industry — but unlike his mother and half sister, both actors, he has remained behind the camera.
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For the most part, Jennifer does not mention her siblings to the press, though she publicly referenced John III when their mom died in May 2016.
As for AJ, he lives a nomadic lifestyle completely out of the public eye. While Jennifer hasn’t spoken about him publicly, he has opened up to reporters about his half sister in the past.
Jennifer has been open about her strained relationship with her family. “I forgave my mom. … I forgave my father. I’ve forgiven my family,” she told Allure in a December 2022 cover story. “Who among us hasn’t tried — successfully or not — to forgive our family? … Families are things to be forgiven.”
Keep scrolling for everything to know about Jennifer’s two half brothers.
John Melick III
Actor John Aniston with daughter Jennifer Aniston and stepson John Melick III. RON GALELLA/RON GALELLA COLLECTION VIA GETTY
John Melick III is the son of Nancy Dow and her first husband, Jack Melick. The former couple married in 1956 and welcomed their only child together three years later.
After Nancy and Jack split, she married John Aniston in 1965. The two welcomed one child together, daughter Jennifer, in 1969, making John III her older half brother.
John III occasionally appeared out in public with Jennifer, including at the Picture Perfect (1997) premiere with Jennifer and his stepfather, John. Jennifer also mentioned her brother in a statement after Nancy’s death: “It is with great sadness that my brother John [Melick] and I announce the passing of our mother Nancy Dow,” the actress said, per E! News.
Like Nancy and Jennifer, John III has a career in the entertainment industry. He has worked on dozens of projects in various crew positions since the early-1990s, including as a set dresser for Universal Soldier (1992) and second assistant director for Thirteen (2003), Piranha 3DD (2012) and Horse Girl (2020).
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Jennifer Aniston’s older half brother, John Melick III. COLEMAN-RAYNER
In August 1995, John III married Shannon Melick. According to Los Angeles court documents, Shannon filed for divorce from her husband on April 1, 2005; however, their current relationship status remains unclear. Information on their kids remains private.
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Alexander “AJ” Aniston
Jennifer Aniston’s half brother Alexander “AJ” Aniston with his mother, Sherry Rooney, and father, John Aniston. JIM SMEAL/BEI/SHUTTERSTOCK
After Jennifer’s father split from Nancy, he married for a second time, to Sherry Rooney, in 1984. They welcomed one child together, son Alexander (“AJ”), in 1989. AJ is the youngest of Jennifer’s half brothers.
Unlike Jennifer and her older half brother, John III, AJ has not pursued a career in the entertainment industry and keeps a low profile. The last time he was seen publicly with Jennifer was when he attended the premiere of her film Along Came Polly in 2004, when he was 14, ABC reported.
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Jennifer Aniston’s younger half brother, Alexander “AJ” Aniston. COLEMAN-RAYNER
Nine years later, he opened up to a Daily Mail reporter at the Burning Man music festival when asked for a comment on his half sister. “It’s been happening since middle school,” AJ said of people asking him about Jennifer. “It’s been a pain in my a– for years. No comment.”
According to the Daily Mail, AJ has adopted a nomadic lifestyle. He also has “Live Free” tattooed across his chest and “Down to Cuddle” inked on his lower stomach.
Jennifer hasn’t spoken about him in any public interviews.
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