Ion Luca's uncles, Costache and Iorgu Caragiale, also known as "Caragiali", managed theater troupes and were very influential figures in the development of early Romanian theater—in Wallachia and Moldavia alike. Luca Caragiali had himself performed with his brothers during his youth, before opting to settle down. All three had stood criticism for not taking part in the Wallachian Revolution, and defended themselves through a brochure printed in 1848. The brothers Caragiali had two sisters, Ecaterina and Anastasia.