What Does an Undertaker’s Son Do? Life in the Funeral Profession

An undertaker’s son usually grows up around the family funeral business and, if he chooses to stay in it, works as an apprentice, funeral director, embalmer, or business manager alongside his parents.

Not every son follows this path; many choose entirely different careers   but funeral service remains one of the more common family traits passed down from parent to child.

This question comes up a lot, and for good reason. Funeral homes are often small, family owned businesses that have operated in the same town for generations.

Understanding what a son might actually do in that setting   and why so many funeral businesses stay “in the family”   helps explain a tradition that touches nearly every community.

Below, you’ll find a clear breakdown of the roles an undertaker’s son might take on, why funeral businesses tend to run in families, what skills get passed down, and how someone (son or not) actually becomes a funeral director.

Note: If you’re searching because you’re curious about WWE performer “The Undertaker” and his children specifically, this article won’t cover his personal family life; it focuses on the general profession of an undertaker (funeral director) and what that career looks like across generations.

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What Is an Undertaker, Exactly?

“Undertaker” is an older, mostly British English term for what’s now more commonly called a funeral director or mortician in the United States. The word comes from “undertaking” the arrangements for a funeral, everything from preparing the body to coordinating the service and burial or cremation.

An undertaker’s daily work can include:

• Meeting with grieving families to plan services
• Preparing and dressing the deceased for viewing
• Arranging transportation, paperwork, and permits
• Coordinating with clergy, cemeteries, and crematoriums
• Running the business side of the funeral home

Because this work is personal, local, and built on trust, many funeral homes stay under one family’s name for decades.

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What Happened to Undertaker’s Son?

Many fans search this question after seeing rumors on social media or YouTube. The truth is that nothing publicly unusual has happened to The Undertaker’s son, Kolt Calaway. Unlike many children of wrestling legends, Kolt has chosen to live a private life away from WWE and the entertainment industry.

Because he rarely appears in public, online speculation often creates misleading stories. However, there is no verified report that he has experienced a major public incident or entered professional wrestling. His privacy is one reason fans continue searching for updates about him.

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What Does Brock Lesnar’s Son Do?

Fans frequently compare the families of WWE legends, making this a valuable supporting topic. Brock Lesnar’s son, Luke Lesnar, has focused on athletics rather than professional wrestling. He has drawn attention for his impressive size and athletic ability, leading many fans to wonder whether he will eventually join WWE.

At this time, Luke has not officially signed with WWE. Like Kolt Calaway, he has largely stayed outside the wrestling spotlight despite constant fan speculation.

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Will Undertaker’s Son Wrestle?

One of the most common questions among WWE fans is whether Kolt Calaway will continue his father’s legendary legacy inside the ring.

As of now, there has been no official announcement that he plans to become a professional wrestler. While fans would love to see another member of the Calaway family in WWE, Kolt has kept his personal life private and has shown no public interest in pursuing a wrestling career.

Unless he makes an official announcement, reports suggesting a WWE debut remain speculation.

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Undertaker Son Age, Height, and Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full Name	Kolt Calaway
Father	Mark Calaway (The Undertaker)
Mother	Sara Calaway
Occupation	Private citizen
Wrestler?	No
Age	Publicly reported information only
Height	Not officially confirmed

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Undertaker’s Son and Daughter

Although most fans know about Kolt Calaway, The Undertaker is also the father of daughters. Throughout his WWE career, Mark Calaway intentionally kept his children away from the spotlight to give them a normal upbringing.

Because of this, very little personal information about his children has been publicly shared. This privacy has helped prevent unnecessary media attention while allowing his family to live outside the world of professional wrestling.

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Who Is Undertaker’s Son in WWE?

This question comes from confusion between WWE storylines and real life.

The simple answer is that The Undertaker does not have a son who has competed in WWE. His real-life son, Kolt Calaway, has never appeared as an official WWE Superstar.

Some fans mistakenly believe a young wrestler or storyline character is related to The Undertaker, but these claims are based on rumors rather than confirmed facts.

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Do Undertakers’ Children Usually Join the Family Business?

Not always   but it happens more often than in most other professions. Funeral service is one of the few trades where growing up “in the building” gives a real head start. A son might spend childhood afternoons in the funeral home’s office, answering phones, or helping arrange flowers long before he ever considers it a career.

That early exposure does two things. It normalizes a subject most people find uncomfortable, and it teaches the practical side of the business informally, years before any formal training begins.

Even so, plenty of funeral directors’ children choose completely unrelated careers. Some find the work emotionally demanding, some simply have other interests, and some are pushed toward it by expectation and decide it isn’t for them.

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What Does an Undertaker’s Son Actually Do?

If a son does go into the family trade, his role usually develops in stages rather than starting at the top. Here’s what that typically looks like.

Early Involvement (Teens and Twenties)

Many start with simple, non clinical tasks:

• Answering phones and greeting visitors
• Driving the funeral coach or family cars
• Setting up chairs, flowers, and viewing rooms
• Helping with paperwork and record keeping

Formal Training and Licensing

To move into the licensed side of the work   embalming and directing services   most sons complete the same path as anyone else entering the field: a mortuary science degree, an apprenticeship, and a state licensing exam. Being the owner’s son doesn’t skip this step; licensing boards require the same coursework and hours for everyone.

Taking On Professional Duties

Once licensed, a son’s day to day work can include:

• Embalming and preparing bodies
• Meeting with families to plan funeral or memorial services
• Leading services and coordinating with cemeteries or crematoriums
• Managing staff, scheduling, and vendor relationships
• Handling the business’s finances, marketing, and licensing renewals

Eventually Running the Business

In many cases, the long term goal is succession   the son eventually takes over as owner or director when the parent retires. This is common enough that some funeral homes have operated under the same family name for three or four generations, with “& Sons” or “& Son” often built right into the business name.

Stage	Typical Age Range	Main Responsibilities
Helper	Teens early 20s	Errands, greeting guests, driving, setup
Apprentice	Early mid 20s	Supervised embalming, arrangements, paperwork
Licensed Director	Mid 20s onward	Embalming, leading services, family meetings
Owner/Successor	30s 40s+	Full business management, staff, strategy

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Why Funeral Homes Are Often Family Run

A few practical reasons explain why this profession stays “in the family” more than most:

• Trust matters more than marketing. Families choosing a funeral home often go with a name they’ve known for years, so an established family reputation is valuable.
• The training overlaps with growing up in it. A son absorbs the day to day rhythm of the business long before formal school ever starts.
• It’s a capital intensive business to start from scratch, so inheriting an existing funeral home, its building, and its client relationships is far easier than building one new.
• Local licensing and community ties built over decades are hard for an outsider to replicate quickly.

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Skills That Get Passed Down

Beyond the technical side, sons who grow up in a funeral home tend to absorb skills that aren’t taught in any classroom:

• Emotional composure   staying calm and steady while a family grieves
• Discretion   handling sensitive personal and financial details with care
• Community relationships   knowing local clergy, cemeteries, and vendors by name
• Reading a room   sensing what a grieving family needs without being told

These “soft skills” are often what makes a multi generational funeral home feel different from a corporate owned one, and they’re a big part of why families keep coming back.

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When a Son Chooses a Different Path

It’s worth saying plainly: plenty of undertakers’ sons do not go into funeral service at all. The work involves regular exposure to death, grief, and long, unpredictable hours, factors that lead some to choose other careers entirely.

When that happens, the family business either passes to another relative, gets sold to a funeral services group, or the parent continues running it alone or hires outside staff. There’s no rule that says the trade must stay in the family; it’s simply common enough to be a recognizable pattern.

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How Someone Becomes a Funeral Director

If or not someone’s parent was in the business, the general path into funeral service looks like this:

• Earn a mortuary science degree from an accredited program (usually an associate’s or bachelor’s degree).
• Complete an apprenticeship, typically one to three years, working under a licensed funeral director or embalmer.
• Pass the National Board Exam and any state specific licensing exam.
• Apply for a state license to practice as a funeral director and/or embalmer (requirements vary by state).
• Continue education to keep the license active, since most states require ongoing training.

Growing up around the business can make the apprenticeship feel more familiar, but it doesn’t replace any of these formal steps.

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FAQ

What is Undertaker’s son’s name?

The Undertaker’s son is Kolt Calaway, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Mark Calaway. Unlike his father, Kolt has chosen to live a private life outside professional wrestling.

What happened to Undertaker’s son?

Nothing publicly unusual has happened to Kolt Calaway. He simply lives a private life away from WWE and rarely appears in the media, which has led to online rumors and speculation.

Will Undertaker’s son wrestle?

There has been no official confirmation that Kolt Calaway plans to become a professional wrestler. At present, he has not joined WWE or another wrestling promotion.

Who is Undertaker’s son in WWE?

The Undertaker does not have a son wrestling in WWE. His real-life son, Kolt Calaway, has never appeared as a WWE Superstar.

How old is Undertaker’s son?

Kolt Calaway’s exact age should only be stated if supported by reliable, up-to-date public sources. Avoid using unsourced estimates.

How tall is Undertaker’s son?

There is no officially confirmed public record of Kolt Calaway’s height. Any reported figures should be treated cautiously unless verified.

Does The Undertaker have daughters?

Yes. Mark Calaway has daughters in addition to his son, but he has chosen to keep much of his family life private.

Did The Undertaker give his life to Jesus?

Mark Calaway has spoken publicly about his Christian faith and belief in God. However, there is no widely documented public conversion story, so it’s best to describe his faith based only on his own public statements.

Is Paul Bearer really Kane’s father?

No. That was part of a fictional WWE storyline. In real life, Paul Bearer was not Kane’s father.

Who is The Undertaker’s best friend?

The Undertaker has had close friendships with several wrestlers, including Kane, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Kevin Nash. He has never officially identified a single “best friend.”

Is “undertaker” the same as “funeral director”? 

Yes, essentially. “Undertaker” is the older, more traditional term, while “funeral director” is the more common professional title used today, especially in the U.S.

Do you need a family connection to become a funeral director? 

No. Anyone can enter the profession by completing a mortuary science program, an apprenticeship, and the required licensing exams, regardless of family background.

Why do so many funeral homes have “& Sons” in the name? 

It reflects a long tradition of family owned funeral businesses being passed from parent to child, often across several generations, which builds local trust and recognition.

Is working in the family funeral business a full time job from a young age? 

Not usually. Most sons start with light, informal tasks as teenagers and only take on licensed duties like embalming or directing services after finishing formal training as adults.

What happens to a funeral home if the children don’t want to take it over? 

The owner may sell to another local funeral director, sell to a larger funeral services company, bring in non family staff, or simply continue running it independently.

Is funeral service a stressful career for someone who grew up around it? 

It can be emotionally demanding for anyone, family background or not. Many people in the field say the routine and structure of the work, along with strong support systems, help them manage it long term.

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Conclusion

An undertaker’s son typically grows up around the funeral home, starts with small helper tasks, and if he chooses to stay in the field   works his way through formal mortuary training, licensing, and hands on experience before eventually taking on full funeral director duties or running the business himself.

It’s a common enough pattern that “family run” funeral homes are found in nearly every town, though plenty of sons choose other careers entirely. Either way, becoming a licensed funeral director requires the same formal training and exams for everyone, family name or not.