Celebrity Parents Who Have Acted With Their Kids
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Hollywood’s most famous families have produced multiple generations of celebrities and given rise to some amazing acting collaborations. While there has been so much valid debate about nepotism in recent years, there is still something impressive about seeing famous parents share the screen with their kids.
One of the coolest things about Hollywood is how connected you become with the actors’ lives. Fans go bananas when celebs buy a new home, and welcome a bundle of joy into the world. People love to see their favorite actors grow up and then see them act alongside their children.
The “nepo baby” conversation is an important one and Hollywood most definitely needs to work on creating equal opportunities for less privileged actors. However, as long as these second-generation celebrities acknowledge how fortunate they are, we’re willing to give credit where it’s due and recognize that some parent-child pairings have created fantastic movies and TV shows.
Recent examples include Ethan Hawke and his daughter Maya, and Adam Sandler’s 2023 movie with his family, You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah.
Some collaborations have been obvious, such as the Smith family or Sean Penn and his daughter, but there have also been some hard-to-spot instances of famous kids appearing in their parents’ movies (cough, cough, Harry Potter fans).
From voice acting to an upcoming comedy series, there are more familial duos than you’d expect. Here are 36 times celebrities acted alongside their children.
A version of this article was originally published in August 2021.
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Bruce & Rumer Willis
Bruce Willis and Rumer Willis co-starred in his 2005 movie Hostage.
Rumer Willis & Demi Moore
Rumer has also shared the screen with her mom, Demi Moore. The pair co-starred in the 1996 movie Striptease as mother and daughter. Moore played a stripper trying to support her child alone.
At the time, Moore explained how the role came about: “Well, she asked to have the opportunity to audition so after much discussion with my husband, I went and asked them if they would be willing to let her try because she wanted it so badly.”
Tim Allen & Elizabeth Allen-Dick
In the Disney+ show The Santa Clauses, Tim Allen reprised his role as Santa and his IRL daughter Elizabeth Allen-Dick plays his on-screen daughter as well.
In an interview with Us Weekly, Allen said: “It’s one of those moments that I’ll carry with me forever. To see the professional that she’s turned into, [she] treats everybody well, shows up on time, does her job, works long hours, [with] no complaints. At times, I look over there and go, my kid is in this movie with me. I’m so grateful.”
Adam Sandler & Sunny Sandler
Sunny Sandler was front and center in her dad’s latest Netflix comedy, You Are So Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah. The 14-year-old was the lead in the movie that also starred her older sister, Sadie, her dad and mom, Jackie, who is pictured here on the left.
Ethan & Maya Hawke
Ethan and Maya Hawke have worked together on a number of projects. Maya starred in her dad’s critically acclaimed miniseries, The Good Lord Bird, and was directed by her father in their 2023 collaboration, Wildcat.
Uma Thurman & Maya Hawke
Maya has also shared the screen with her talented mom, Uma Thurman. The pair star opposite one another in 2023 indie crime thriller The Kill Room.
Dominic & Senan West
Talking to Town & Country Magazine about his role as Prince Charles in The Crown‘s season 5, Dominic West opened up about acting with his teenage son Senan, who plays a young Prince William in a few episodes of season 5.
“Do you know how lucky you are? Bloody lucky!” Dominic told his son before his scene with co-star Imelda Staunton. “This woman’s amazing. Listen and enjoy and learn.”
Meryl Streep & Mamie Gummer
Mamie Gummer has been in not one, not two, but three movies alongside her mother, Meryl Streep. From minor roles in Heartburn and Evening to starring in the 2015 film, Ricki and the Flash, she’s very used to working with her mother.
Grace Gummer & Meryl Streep
Streep has also starred alongside her younger daughter, Grace. Grace’s first acting role was playing a younger version of her mom’s character in the 1993 movie House of Spirits.
Taika Waititi, Matewa Kiritapu & Te Hinekahu
Taika’s children had brief appearances in Thor: Love and Thunder which he directed and stars in.
Angelina Jolie & Vivienne Jolie-Pitt
On the set of the 2014 fantasy film, Maleficent, the crew found themselves in a bit of an obstacle. Children found Angelina Jolie’s costume so terrifying that they couldn’t get through a scene. So for young Aurora, they got Jolie’s child, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, to play the role.
Jolie said in an interview with Vanity Fair, “The other three- and four-year-old [performers] wouldn’t come near me. It had to be a child that liked me and wasn’t afraid of my horns and my eyes and my claws. So it had to be Viv.”
Angelina Jolie & Jon Voight
Acting with family is nothing new for Jolie who also starred with her father, Jon Voight, in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.
Will & Jaden Smith
Who doesn’t love a good father-son duo? One of the most iconic in Hollywood is definitely Jaden and Will Smith. Jaden’s first feature film credit was alongside Will in The Pursuit of Happyness. And they co-starred once more for the film After Earth.
Jada Pinkett Smith & Willow Smith
Not only did the Smith men star alongside one another, but so did the Smith women. Before their Facebook Watch series, Red Table Talk, they have voice-acted alongside each other for the film, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Willow voiced Jada’s character’s younger self.
Kate Hudson & Kurt Russell
With star-studded parents like step-dad Kurt Russell and mom Goldie Hawn, it was bound that Kate Hudson would star alongside one of them eventually. In 2016’s Deepwater Horizon, Hudson and Russell acted alongside one another in one of the year’s most emotional tales.
Sean & Dylan Penn
Sean and Dylan Penn worked together on 2021’s Flag Day. Sean Penn both directed and starred alongside his daughter in the new father-daughter drama. They admitted that it was such an “authentic” experience, and hope it showed onscreen.
Thandiwe Newton & Nico Parker
Newton and Parker blew up headlines with their dazzling entrance to the Reminiscence premiere back in 2021. They also dazzled audiences with their side-by-side performances in the box office hit.
Robin Williams & Zelda Williams
In the 2004 film, House of D, Robin Williams and his daughter, Zelda, starred as an on-screen father-daughter duo.
Leslie Mann, Maude Apatow and Iris Apatow
It’s often a family affair for the Apatows who have worked together on a number of projects. Maude and Iris starred opposite their mom, Leslie Mann, in Knocked Up and This is 40, which were directed by their dad, Judd.
Iris and Leslie also co-starred in The Bubble in 2022.
Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus & Noah Cyrus
You may or may not remember an iconic Disney series called Hannah Montana. Not only were Billy Ray and Miley starring in every episode for four years, but another Cyrus came in. Miley’s sister Noah guest-starred multiple times as a child. So a mini family reunion would happen every once in a while!
George Lopez & Mayan Lopez
George came back to TV screens in 2022 alongside his daughter, Mayan, for a their NBC show, Lopez vs. Lopez.
Bryan Cranston & Taylor Dearden
A little Breaking Bad trivia: Cranston’s daughter has guest-starred in the show. Back in 2010, Dearden’s first-ever role was as “Sad-Faced Girl” in the season three premiere.
Johnny Depp & Lily-Rose Depp
Lily-Rose has followed in both her parents’ footsteps. Like her mother, Vanessa Paradis, she has starred in many French films over her career. But Lily-Rose has starred alongside her father in the hit Kevin Smith film, Yoga Hosers. And she had a minor role in the other Kevin Smith film with her father, Tusk.
Francis Ford & Sofia Coppola
The directing duo has actually worked together in The Godfather: Part III. During production, Francis actually cast Sofia as Michael Corleone’s daughter. At the time, they received a lot of backlash for nepotism.
Judy Garland & Liza Minnelli
You may have known this, or were today years old when you found out that Liza Minnelli is Judy Garland’s daughter. Sadly, they only ever appeared in one project together before Garland’s death. In Garland’s final project, In The Good Old Summertime, Minnelli appeared in an uncredited role during the ending scene. That’s a beautiful last performance.
Domhnall & Brendan Gleeson
Die-hard Harry Potter fans may know this one already, but for the rest of us, it’s a bit of a shock. Mr. “Mad-Eye” Moody and Bill Weasley are related in real life! The father-son duo appeared in only one scene together throughout the franchise. Specifically Deathly Hallows: Part 1 before Mad Eye’s untimely death. They also appeared in the 2014 film, Calvary.
Colin & Tom Hanks
In 1996, Colin Hanks made his acting debut alongside his dad Tom Hanks in That Thing You Do! The movie was also Tom’s directorial debut.
The duo reunited 10 years later to co-star in The Great Buck Howard.
Tom & Truman Hanks
Tom Hanks has also graced the screen with his other son, Truman Hanks. In the 2023 film A Man Called Otto, Truman played the younger version of his dad’s character, Otto.
Blythe Danner & Gwyneth Paltrow
Blythe Danner and Gwyneth Paltrow’s first time acting together was in a stage performance of The Seagull. The then took their mother-daughter relationship to the screen in the 2003 movie Sylvia.
In 2018, Danner reflected on the tough love she gave her daughter during their theater production while on Paltrow’s Goop podcast.
“It came so damn easily to you and I thought you had to sweat blood and tears to give a great performance and you never did,” she said. “I wish I had recognized that. I wish I had recognized your otherness and embraced it. You know, I could cry about the fact that I didn’t.”
Melanie Griffith & Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson was just 10 years old when she appeared in Crazy in Alabama with her mom. Then, 20 years later, Melanie Griffiths had a small role in Johnson’s The High Note.
Ben & Jerry Stiller
Ben Stiller called on his father to star in his directorial debut, Zoolander, which Ben also starred in.
Martin & Charlie Sheen
Wall Street is likely the most famous project this father-son duo worked on together. They also co-starred in No Code of Conduct and Spin City.
Billie Lourd & Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher starred alongside her daughter in her final Star Wars role, in The Rise Of Skywalker, but tragically passed away before the film’s release.
Lourd also starred in The Force Awakens in 2015 and reflected on working with her mom in an emotional Time essay after her passing.
“In the moment, I was humiliated that my mom was mom-ing me on my first day of work, on the Star Wars set, of all places,” Lourd wrote. “But now I realize she was just being protective.”
Clint & Scott Eastwood
Clint Eastwood and Scott Eastwood have worked together in many films including Flags of Our Fathers, Gran Torino, Invictus, and Trouble with the Curve.
“I’ve tried to take every opportunity I can to learn from him…. Every chance I get, I’m trying to be on set with him,” Scott told GQ in 2016.
Eugene & Dan Levy
This hilarious father-son pair created and star in their Emmy-winning series, Schitt’s Creek in which they play Johnny and David Rose.
Margaret Qualley & Andie MacDowell
While we assume Margaret Qualley and Andie MacDowell’s real-life mother-daughter relationship is nothing like it is in Maid, their performances were powerful and captivating in this emotional limited series.
