In Hollywood, the real drama isn’t always in the movies, it’s in the family connections you never saw coming. Some of your favorite stars are actually related, from cousins to siblings and everything in between. Here are 30 celebrity pairs who prove that fame really does run in the family.
Kate Middleton & Dakota and Elle Fanning
The Duchess of Cambridge is a distant cousin of the Fanning sisters. They’re linked through 17th-century British royalty.
Riley Keough & Elvis Presley
Riley is the granddaughter of the King himself, Elvis Presley. Her mother is Lisa Marie Presley.
Tom Cruise & William Mapother
William, best known for Lost , is Cruise’s first cousin. They’ve even acted together in multiple films.
Lily Allen & Alfie Allen
Pop singer Lily Allen is the older sister of actor Alfie Allen, who played Theon Greyjoy in Game of Thrones . She even wrote a song named after him.
Julia Roberts & Emma Roberts
Emma is Julia’s niece and followed in her aunt’s footsteps into acting. They share both looks and talent.
Beyoncé & Bianca Lawson
Bianca, known for roles in Pretty Little Liars and Buffy , is Beyoncé’s stepsister. Their parents married in 2015.
Whitney Houston & Dionne Warwick
These two powerhouse singers were cousins. Both came from the same famous gospel family and dominated the charts in their eras.
Melissa McCarthy & Jenny McCarthy
The actresses are cousins, though their career paths and styles are very different. Both found success in Hollywood in their own ways.
Nicolas Cage & Sofia Coppola
Cage is the nephew of Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola, making him Sofia’s cousin. He changed his last name to avoid the perception of nepotism.
Oona Chaplin & Charlie Chaplin
Oona is the granddaughter of silent film icon Charlie Chaplin. She’s carried the acting legacy into modern TV, including a role on Game of Thrones .
Miley Cyrus & Dolly Parton
They’re not blood-related, but Dolly is Miley’s godmother, a fun and famous bond in country and pop music history.
Blake Lively & Robyn Lively
Blake and Robyn are half-sisters and both actresses. Robyn starred in Teen Witch while Blake rose to fame with Gossip Girl .
Dakota Johnson & Tippi Hedren
Dakota is the granddaughter of legendary actress Tippi Hedren. That makes three generations of Hollywood stars in their family.
Maya Rudolph & Minnie Riperton
Maya is the daughter of soul singer Minnie Riperton, best known for “Lovin’ You.” Her musical and comedic talents clearly came from her mom.
Jonah Hill & Beanie Feldstein
These talented siblings have both found success in film and comedy. Beanie even called Jonah her “best friend.”
Zoë Kravitz & Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa is Zoë’s former stepdad and remains close with her. He was married to her mother, Lisa Bonet.
Jake Gyllenhaal & Maggie Gyllenhaal
The Gyllenhaals are one of Hollywood’s most talented sibling duos. Both have starred in critically acclaimed films and received Oscar nods.
Emily Blunt & Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci is married to Emily’s sister, Felicity Blunt. That makes him Emily’s brother-in-law, and they even co-starred in The Devil Wears Prada .
Rob Schneider & Elle King
Comedian Rob Schneider is the father of singer Elle King. They kept their relationship private early in her career.
Gracie Abrams & J.J. Abrams
Gracie is a nepo baby, meaning she is the child of famous and influential parents. Her father is filmmaker J.J. Abrams (Star Wars, Star Trek), and her mother is producer Katie McGrath. This background has undeniably given her advantages in the entertainment industry.
Brandy & Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg and singer/actress Brandy are first cousins. Their shared musical roots go deep.
Denzel Washington & John David Washington
John David is Denzel’s son and former pro athlete turned actor. He’s now carving out a major career in his own right.
Rashida Jones & Quincy Jones
Actress Rashida is the daughter of legendary music producer Quincy Jones. Her mother was Twin Peaks actress Peggy Lipton.
Laura Dern & Bruce Dern
Oscar-winner Laura Dern is the daughter of acclaimed actor Bruce Dern. They even appeared in the same film, Wild .
Gwyneth Paltrow & Katherine Moennig
Gwyneth and The L Word actress Katherine Moennig are cousins. Their shared aunt is actress Blythe Danner.
Ashley Tisdale & Austin Butler
Ashley Tisdale and Austin Butler aren’t just former Disney Channel co-stars, they’re actually distant cousins! The two discovered their family connection years after working together, proving Hollywood really is one big family.
Kate Hudson & Goldie Hawn
Kate is the daughter of iconic actress Goldie Hawn. They’ve often been called one of Hollywood’s most glamorous mother-daughter duos.
Ben Affleck & Matt Damon
The lifelong friends are actually distant cousins, tracing their family tree back to colonial New England. No wonder their chemistry is so strong.
Al Roker & Lenny Kravitz
The weatherman and the rocker are distant cousins. They’re connected through the Kravitz family on Lenny’s mother’s side.
Liev Schreiber & Pablo Schreiber
These two actors are half-brothers, though they rarely appear together in public. Both have had impressive careers in drama and action.
