Who is Kyoko Chan Cox? All you need to know about Yoko Ono’s daughter
Yoko Ono is a legendary Japanese artist, musician, and filmmaker. She has two children with different fathers: a daughter, Kyoko Chan Cox, and a son, Sean Taro Ono Lennon. But who is Kyoko Chan Cox? She is an actress widely recognised for her roles in Bed Peace (1969) and The Real Yoko Ono (2001). Her father is Anthony Cox.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Kyoko Chan Cox was born to celebrity parents.
- Her father, Anthony, was primarily responsible for her upbringing.
- Kyoko's parents lawfully divorced when she was a child, and her father was granted custody.
Kyoko Chan Cox's profile summary
| Full name | Kyoko Chan Cox |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 8 August 1963 |
| Age | 62 years old (as of 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Leo |
| Place of birth | Tokyo, Japan |
| Current residence | Denver, Colorado, USA |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Ethnicity | Asian |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Marital status | Divorced |
| Ex-husband | Jim Helfrich |
| Children | Emi Ono, John David Yeisuke Helfrich |
| Father | Anthony Cox |
| Mother | Yoko Ono |
| Siblings | Sean Lennon |
| Education | Walter Reed Middle School |
| Profession | Actress |
| Net worth | $1 million–$5 million |
Who is Kyoko Chan Cox?
The Japanese actress was born in Tokyo, Japan, to her parents, Yoko Ono and Anthony Cox.
How old is Kyoko Chan Cox?
Kyoko Chan Cox's age is 62 years as of 2025. She was born on 8 August 1963. Her zodiac sign is Leo.
Kyoko Chan Cox's parents and siblings
Her father, Antony, is an art promoter and film producer from the United States. He is famous for directing films such as 3 Days in the Life (1970) and Vain Glory (1986). He is also an actor known for his roles in the 1966 short film Shout.
Chan's mother, Yoko Ono, is a famous Japanese peace activist, actor, singer, songwriter, director, and multimedia artist. As a voice actress, she started acting in 1964 in the short film Aos.
Yoko Ono has since been featured in several other movies and TV series, such as Freedom (1970), Homeless (1991) and Mad About You (1995) and music videos such as The Beatles: The Ballad of John and Yoko (1969) and Yoko Ono: Don't Count the Waves (1971).
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Yoko is also known for producing films and TV series such as Bed Peace (1969), The Museum of Modern Art Show (1971) and The Beatles: Get Back (2021). She started a profession in pop music in 1969, creating the Plastic Ono Band with Lennon and releasing several avant-garde record albums in the 1970s.
When did Kyoko Chan Cox's parents divorce?
The couple divorced in February 1969. Following Ono's divorce from Cox and her subsequent marriage to Lennon later that year, a custody battle over their daughter Kyoko ensued, becoming increasingly contentious. Cox moved to Denmark, taking Kyoko with him.
Over New Year's in 1970, Ono and Lennon visited Denmark in an attempt to reconcile. For a brief period, their efforts seemed successful as the couple stayed at the farmhouse where Cox lived with Kyoko and his new wife.
However, relations soon deteriorated, and by 1971, Cox had gained full custody of Kyoko and ultimately disappeared with her. Kyoko did not contact her mother again until 1994 after she decided to have children of her own.
Who are Kyoko Chan Cox's siblings?
Chan has one half-sibling called Sean Lennon. Sean is a famous American–British actor, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and musician.
He started his acting career in 1988 in the music video Michael Jackson: Smooth Criminal and has since been featured in several others, such as Sean Lennon: Home, Awake (2010) and Front Row Boston (2016).
Sean has followed in his parents' musical footsteps, with his passion for music deeply rooted in his admiration for Ono and Lennon’s discographies, as he shared in a 2015 interview with The Guardian.
The only reason I’m interested in art and music at all is because of my parents. Respect for them is at the heart of everything I do. It defines me. ... I sort of hero-worshipped them as a child, then went to work making music on my own.
In addition to his sister, Sean has a brother, Julian Charles John Lennon, from John Lennon’s first marriage to Cynthia Lennon. The two brothers share a close bond and remain dedicated to honouring their father's legacy. In 2020, they marked what would have been their father's 80th birthday by hosting a special BBC Radio show.
Does Sean Lennon have children?
Kyoko's half-brother does not have any children. He has been in a relationship with Charlotte Kemp Muhl since they met at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2005.
It was not until over a year into their relationship that Lennon discovered Muhl's musical talents, leading them to form The Ghost of a Saber-Tooth Tiger around 2008. The couple collaborates on various musical projects, with much of their work being created in their home studio located in Greenwich Village, New York.
Kyoko Chan Cox's education and career
Chan Cox enrolled at the Walter Reed Junior High School in North Hollywood, California, for her junior secondary education. She started her acting career in 1966 in the short self-film No. 4. She has since been featured in several other films, such as 3 Days in the Life (1970) and The Real Yoko Ono (2001).
What is Kyoko Chan Cox's net worth?
The Japanese actress has an alleged net worth of between $1 million–$5 million. She primarily earns her income through her acting career. On the other hand, her mother's net worth is estimated at $700 million. She makes her income through acting, singing, songwriting, directing, and multimedia artist careers.
Source: Getty Images
Kyoko Chan Cox's husband and children
The Japanese actress was married to Jim Helfrich, a lawyer by profession. They together welcomed two children. Kyoko Chan Cox's children are Emi Ono, born on 4 September 1997, and John (Jack) David Yeisuke Helfrich, born on 9 January 2000.
John is passionate about music and is a member of the band Good for Health. However, Chan and Jim's marriage did not last long, as they divorced on 18 January 2018.
Did Yoko Ono have a relationship with her daughter?
At first, she did not have a relationship with her daughter. Following her divorce from her husband, Anthony Cox, Ono engaged in a custody battle with him over Kyoko.
Why did Yoko Ono lose custody of her daughter?
During the bitter custody dispute, Yoko's ex-husband abducted Chan, then eight years old, and vanished out of fear of losing his child. Kyoko was then forced to spend many years with her father. Her father changed her identity and renamed her Ruth Holman.
He brought her up in a religious cult, separated her from her family, and had no interaction with her biological mum. In 1994, Chan, then married and with children, re-established contact with her mom, leading to a reunion in 2001.
FAQs
- Who is Kyoko Chan Cox? She is a Japanese actress widely recognised as Yoko Ono and Anthony Cox's daughter.
- How old is Kyoko Chan Cox today? She is 62 years old as of 2025. She was born on 8 August 1963.
- Where does Kyoko Chan Cox live? She currently resides in Denver, Colorado, in the United States.
- Who is Kyoko Chan Cox's father? Her father is called Anthony Cox.
- Does Yoko Ono have grandchildren? She has two grandchildren from her daughter Chan, Emi Ono and John David Yeisuke Helfrich.
- Who is Yoko Ono married to now? The famous actress is currently single. She divorced her husband, Jim Helfrich, on 18 January 2018.
- How many biological children does Yoko Ono have? She has two biological children: Kyoko Chan Cox and Sean Lennon.
- Does Kyoko Chan Cox have children? She has two children: Emi Ono and John (Jack) David Yeisuke Helfrich.
- Where is Kyoko Chan Cox today? Kyoko Chan Cox is currently living a private life in Colorado, according to the South China Morning Post. She is divorced with two children and is known to have a passion for art.
- Did John Lennon have a daughter who was kidnapped? Yes, his stepdaughter, Kyoko Chan Cox, was involved in a kidnapping incident. Her father, Anthony Cox, Yoko Ono's ex-husband, took her from school in 1971, leading to a custody battle and a period where Lennon and Ono searched for her.
- What happened to Kyoko Chan Cox? She was the subject of a highly publicized custody battle and abduction by her father. After years of separation and living in hiding with her father and his new wife within a cult, she reconnected with her mother in 2001.
If you were wondering, who is Kyoko Chan Cox? She is a Japanese actress widely recognised as Yoko Ono and Anthony Cox's daughter. Kyoko was married to her ex-husband Jim Helfrich, and has two children: Emi Ono and John David Yeisuke Helfrich.
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Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Yen.com.gh, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.
Tatiana Thiga (Lifestyle writer) Tatiana Thiga is a content creator who joined Yen in 2022. She is an English literature graduate from Kenyatta University. She has amassed sufficient knowledge working on a variety of topics, including biographies, fashion and lifestyles, guides, and more. In 2023, Tatiana finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her at tatianathiga@gmail.com
