Who Is Caleb James Goddard? Family, Career, and Public Life Explained

Caleb James Goddard, born on September 26, 1970, in Los Angeles, California, is an American diplomat and former journalist. He is the son of two Hollywood actors: Susan Anspach and Jack Nicholson. Though he began his life surrounded by film and fame, Caleb built his own career away from Hollywood, serving the U.S. government in diplomatic roles around the world.

Family Background

Caleb was born to Susan Anspach, a well-known actress from the 1970s, and Jack Nicholson, one of the most legendary actors in American cinema. While Nicholson did not publicly confirm paternity for many years, Caleb is now listed on IMDb as his son and is part of the Nicholson extended family.

✔ IMDb confirms his parents:

• Father: Jack Nicholson
• Mother: Susan Anspach

✔ Caleb’s Half-Siblings (Paternal):

• Jennifer Nicholson
• Lorraine Nicholson
• Ray Nicholson
• Honey Hollman
• Tessa Gourin

✔ Other Family:

• Spouse: Married to Karine Pouget (since 1998)
• Children: The couple has two children
• Ex-Stepfather: Actor Mark Goddard (Susan Anspach’s ex-husband)

Caleb James Goddard Diplomatic Career

In 2012, Caleb joined the U.S. State Department as a Foreign Service Officer. His work has taken him to several countries, where he has dealt with important global issues.

He has served at U.S. embassies in:

• Guinea
• Thailand
• Pakistan
• Brussels
• Mauritius

Areas of Work:

• Hostage negotiations
• Election observation
• Ebola crisis response
• Consular services
• Human rights and prisoner issues

His experience spans both emergency missions and long-term diplomatic assignments, showing a deep commitment to international service.

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Background in Journalism

Before entering diplomacy, Caleb had a successful career in broadcast journalism, working with major global media outlets.

Highlights:

• CNN – Helped launch the Hong Kong Financial News Bureau
• Yahoo! – Hosted the first live internet news broadcast
• Bloomberg TV Asia – Served as Head of Programming

His journalism work focused on global finance and politics, giving him strong communication skills before moving into government service.

Caleb James Goddard Education

• Bachelor’s Degree: Georgetown University, graduated in 1992
• Master’s Degree: London School of Economics (LSE) in International Political Economy

His education reflects a strong background in global politics, economics, and diplomacy — a perfect match for the career path he chose.

Life Away from Hollywood

Although Caleb was born into a famous family, he decided not to pursue acting or entertainment full-time. However, he did work on a few films and TV projects during his youth:

Early IMDb Credits:

• The Slap Maxwell Story (1987)
• CBS Schoolbreak Special (1990)
• Guilty as Charged (1991)
• At Large (1987)

These early credits show a brief connection to Hollywood before shifting to more serious international work.

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Key Facts About Caleb Goddard

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FAQs

Is Caleb Goddard really Jack Nicholson’s son?

Yes, multiple reports now confirm that Caleb is the son of Jack Nicholson and Susan Anspach.

What does Caleb Goddard do for a living?

He is a U.S. diplomat, serving in foreign missions since 2012. Before that, he worked in global broadcast journalism.

Was Caleb ever an actor?

Briefly, he worked on a few films and TV projects in the 1980s and 1990s but chose a different career path.

Is Caleb married?

Yes, he married Karine Pouget in 1998. They have two children.

Where does Caleb live now?

The exact location is unknown for security reasons due to his role in government, but he continues to work with the U.S. State Department.