53 Celebrities You Forgot Were 'Nepo Babies' From Famous Families
Some of Hollywood’s biggest names have famous relatives but some A-list connections are better known than others!
Ah, yes, good old nepotism. Anyone who tries to tell you it’s not alive and well in Hollywood is a big liar because practically everyone running around Tinsel Town is related. Unless you’re a struggling actor without any inside connections via your family, it’s actually not a bad thing — we love connecting the dots and finding out new branches of our favorite celebs’ family trees. And just when we think we know everything about who is related to whom, we find out another famous person’s parent(s) are just as famous (if not more famous) than they are, and we’re totally shocked.
Known as “nepotism babies,” there are a lot more out there in LA than you’d expect. From the Jackson family to the Willis family, from Friends alum to supermodels, a bunch of your favorite A-lists have fame running through their bloodline.
Some of these stars embrace their family, while others try to keep it under wraps while breaking into Hollywood themselves. Either way, we love them (and their super cool family!)
So, tell us: is it fate, or is it all in the family? Here are some of our favorite celebs who were born and raised in super-famous families.
A version of this article was originally published in April 2016.
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Lily Collins
Emily in Paris star Lily Collins is the daughter of British rock legend Phil Collins known for hits like “In the Air Tonight.”
Hailey Bieber
Model Hailey Bieber was born a Baldwin, making her the daughter of The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas actor Stephen Baldwin and the niece of The Boss Baby actor Alec Baldwin.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Tracee Ellis Ross, known for roles in Girlfriends and Black-ish, is the daughter of musical legend Diana Ross!
Emma Roberts
American Horror Story star Emma Roberts is the daughter of Eric Roberts, star of King of the Gypsies, Runaway Train and more. And in case you haven’t put it together, that makes her the niece of Pretty Woman star Julia Roberts!
George Clooney
George Clooney was born for the screen just like his dad Nick Clooney who was a journalist, anchorman, and television host who even had his own talk show!
Maya Rudolph
SNL icon Maya Rudolph, also known for her roles in Grown Ups, Bridesmaids and Loot, is the daughter none other than soul singer extraordinaire Minnie Riperton, the legendary voice behind “Lovin You.”
Jamie Lee Curtis
Star of Halloween, A Fish Called Wanda and Everything Everywhere All at Once, Jamie Lee Curtis is the daughter of fellow scream queen Janet Leigh who is known for her roles in Psycho and Bye Bye Birdie.
Curtis’ dad, Tony Curtis, was also an actor known for his roles in Some Like It Hot and Operation Petticoat.
Robert Downey Jr.
Since getting his start on Saturday Night Live, Robert Downey Jr. is often mistaken for being the nephew of former SNL writer Jimmy Downey but that isn’t true!
The Iron Man star and Oppenheimer Oscar winner does, however, have a claim to fame in another way. His father, Robert John Downey Sr., was a filmmaker known for underground movie Putney Swope.
Kaia Gerber
Kaia Gerber gets her modelesque looks from her 90s super model icon mom Cindy Crawford.
Kate Hudson
2000s rom-com icon Kate Hudson, star of How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Goldie Hawn who is known for her roles in Cactus Flower and First Wives Club.
Zoey Deutch
We know her as Lorraine Baines-McFly from Back to the Future, Lea Thompson is known as “mom” to Set it Up star Zoey Deutch.
Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson became a household name overnight thanks to her role in the Fifty Shades of Grey franchise but she was well prepared for fame thanks to her actor parents Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson.
And, fun fact, she also grew up with Puss in Boots star Antonio Banderas as her stepdad!
Jennifer Aniston
Friends alum Jennifer Aniston is the daughter of Days of Our Lives star John Aniston but she had a troubled relationship with both of her parents for most of her life.
Dan Levy
Schitt’s Creek co-creator Dan and Eugene Levy are one talented father-son duo!
Lily-Rose Depp
Lily-Rose Depp gets her modelling skills from mom Vanessa Paradis and is following in her dad Johnny Depp’s footsteps with roles in The Idol and The King.
Riley Keough
Riley Keough is an indie movie darling with roles in Zola, The Runaways and hit Hulu show Daisy Jones & The Six but she’s also descended from musical icons!
Her mom is Lisa Marie Presley and her granddad is Elvis Presley.
Margaret Qualley
Margaret Qualley is making a name for herself in Netflix series Maid and hit movies Poor Things and Kinds of Kindness. She’s following in the footsteps of mom Andie Macdowell, the star of Groundhog Day and Sex, Lies, and Videotape.
John David Washington
Don’t they look like twins? Tenet and Malcolm & Marie star John David Washington looks just like his dad Denzel Washington.
Jackson White
Tell Me Lies star Jackson White also has a famous mom, Married… with Children actress Katey Sagal.
Nico Parker
The Last of Us star Nico Parker is the spitting image of her mom, Thandiwe Newton.
Charlie Hall
Julia Louis Dreyfus’ son Charlie Hall started his acting career with a bang by starring in Bel-Air, The Sex Lives of College Girls and Single Drunk Female.
Kiefer Sutherland
24 star Kiefer Sutherland also has famous parents, actors Donald Sutherland and Shirley Douglas.
Jack Quaid
Although you could probably already tell by the face, and his name, actor Jack Quaid is the son of Dennis Quaid and actress Meg Ryan.
Ever Gabo Anderson
Ever Gabo Anderson, who just made her leading lady debut in Peter Pan & Wendy, is the daughter of Milla Jovovich and filmmaker Paul W. S. Anderson.
Sosie Bacon
Rising star Sosie Bacon, who’s starred in Smile, Mare of Easttown and 13 Reasons Why, is the daughter of Kevin Bacon and Keira Sedgwick.
Mason Gooding
Scream star Mason Gooding is none other than the son to disgraced actor Mason Gooding Jr.
Prince, Paris, & Bigi Jackson
Prince, Paris, and Bigi Jackson are Michael Jackson’s children.
Maya Hawke
Stranger Things star Maya Hawke gets her talents from both her maternal and paternal side as the gorgeous daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke.
Maude Apatow
Euphoria star Maude Apatow is the eldest daughter of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann.
Gracie Abrams
Singer Gracie Abrams is the daughter of JJ Abrams, the director Armageddon, Cloverfield and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Scout Willis, Tallulah Willis, & Rumer Willis
Scout Willis, Tallulah Willis, and Rumer Willis are the three daughters of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis.
Billie Lourd
Scream Queens star Billie Lourd is not only the daughter of the late Star Wars legend Carrie Fisher, but also the granddaughter of Debbie Reynolds.
Robin Thicke
Alan Thicke bestowed his charm and good looks onto his musician son, Robin.
Rashida Jones
Parks and Recreation star Rashida Jones is the daughter of music mogul Quincy Jones and actress Peggy Lipton.
O’Shea Jackson Jr.
Ice Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., played him in the film Straight Outta Compton.
Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper expressed his deep love for his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, in the documentary, Nothing Left Unsaid.
Francis Bean Cobain
Daughter of grunge legend Kurt Cobain and rocker Courtney Love. Frances is a model and an artist.
Kelly Osbourne
Daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Kelly is a singer/songwriter and voice actress.
Eve Hewson
Born Memphis Eve Sunny Day Hewson, the actress is the daughter of U2 rocker Bono. Eve is best known for her role in Apple TV+ series Bad Sister.
Gigi & Bella Hadid
Gigi and Bella Hadid are following in their model mom Yolanda Hadid’s footsteps but most of us probably know their mom from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Willow & Jaden Smith
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s two kids, Willow and Jaden Smith, inherited their musical and acting talents.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina may have gotten her acting chops from her famous father, the legendary Jon Voight.
Eva Amurri
You may have seen the striking resemblance — actress Eva Amurri of Saved! looks just like her mama, Susan Sarandon.
Bryce Dallas Howard
Jurassic World star Bryce Dallas Howard dad is the Oscar-winning director Ron Howard.
Ava Sambora
Ava Sambora made her debut in This Is 40 and is the daughter of Melrose Place star Heather Locklear and Bon Jovi rocker Richie Sambora.
Zo? Kravitz
Actress and director Zo? Kravitz’s parents are none other than rocker Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet.
Fun fact: Zo? lead the Hulu adaptation of film High Fidelity which her mom starred in back in 2000!
Allison Williams
Allison Williams is known for her roles in Girls and Get Out. She’s the daughter of the daughter of former NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams and TV producer Jane Gillan Stoddard.
Miley & Noah Cyrus
Singers Miley and Noah have followed in the footsteps of their dad, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.
Liv Tyler
Liv Tyler’s dad is Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler. Her modelling career began in her teen years before she entered acting with roles in the Lord of the Rings franchise, Jersey Girl and Hulu’s Harlots.
Jane Fonda
Film icon Jane Fonda, known for roles such as Coming Home and Grace and Frankie, is the daughter of Academy Award winner Henry Fonda.
Michael Douglas
Wall Street star Michael Douglas’ dad is the legendary Kirk Douglas, star of The Bad and the Beautiful and Lust for Life.
Colin Hanks
Jumanji actor Colin Hanks is a dead ringer for his dear old dad, the one and only Tom Hanks.
Scott Eastwood
That sexy, steely stare is definitely hereditary. Scott Eastwood’s pops is Clint Eastwood. Scott has starred in several of his dad’s hit movies including , including Flags of Our Fathers, Gran Torino, Invictus, and Trouble with the Curve.
