Celebrities With Famous Parents You Totally Forgot About
There’s a moment in almost every adult's life when you realize your parents are just people—they have lives, thoughts, and dreams that, shock, have nothing to do with us. It can feel like an earth-shattering revelation—or maybe not–but it must be especially strange for celebrities with famous parents.
Imagine looking at your mom on a magazine cover, or driving past your dad on a billboard. What would you do if you grew up watching people asking your parents for an autograph every time your family went out to dinner? What do kids with celebrity parents realize first: that mom/dad is famous or that most people's are not famous? Hilary Duff described this phenomenon when she spoke about raising her son, Luca, on Good Morning America. “He's seen me on the cover of a magazine before in the grocery store,” she said. “But I think he thinks that the next day it's the next mommy's turn to be on it."
Celebrities with famous parents grow up with a lot of perks and privilege, but that doesn't mean it doesn't come without some complications. Regardless, many of these offspring have used their inherited fame to launch their own careers in Hollywood. They give a whole new meaning to that phrase, “It's who you know.” You'll find just a few examples of these celebrities with famous parents, below.
Dakota Johnson
Dakota Johnson rose to fame in 2015 after she landed the role of Anastasia Steele in the mega-popular 50 Shades of Grey franchise, but she was already well accustomed to the spotlight given that her parents, Don Johnson (Miami Vice) and Melanie Griffith (Milk Money), are both celebrated actors themselves.
Jaden and Willow Smith
Actors Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith certainly set their kids up for success. From a young age, their son Jaden was acting alongside his dad in movies like The Pursuit of Happyness, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and After Earth. Willow also made her acting debut in a movie with her dad: the massively successful I Am Legend.
Stella McCartney
As a singer and songwriter for The Beatles, one of the biggest bands in music history, Sir Paul McCartney is arguably the most famous parent on this list. But his daughter, Stella McCartney, didn’t choose to pursue music like her father. Instead, she achieved success as a fashion designer with her own line.
Emma Roberts
Emma Roberts has been blessed with not one but two famous family members: her dad, Eric Roberts, and aunt, Julia Roberts. Eric has had a successful career in movies, TV shows, and even music videos. (Check out Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together.”) And, well, you probably know all about “America's Sweetheart” Aunt Julia.
Jessica Capshaw
Jessica Capshaw—or, as I prefer to call her, Dr. Arizona Robbins—rose to fame on Grey’s Anatomy as the spirited and lovable pediatric surgeon. But did you know that her mom is Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom actor Kate Capshaw? Oh, and that her stepdad is Indiana Jones director Steven Spielberg?
Zoë Kravitz
It’s safe to assume that Zoë Kravitz inherited some, if not all, of her incredible artistic talent from her parents, actor Lisa Bonet and musician Lenny Kravitz. Zoë, who was a standout in Big Little Lies, saw her famous family grow even more when her mother married Aquaman Jason Momoa. Now that's a Thanksgiving gathering I'd like to attend.
Lenny Kravitz
Speaking of Lenny Kravitz…the rocker and Hunger Games actor is also the child of a famous parent. His mother Roxie Roker was a TV star who appeared in a number of beloved shows, but is best known for playing Helen Willis on The Jeffersons. She was also nominated for a Tony Award in 1974.
Lily Collins
Lily Collins has acted in numerous films, including The Blind Side, Stuck in Love, and Mirror Mirror, but fun fact: Her father is musician, record producer, and actor Phil Collins. You'll recognize him as the voice behind several hits like the popular Tarzan single “You’ll Be in My Heart” and “In the Air Tonight.”
Lily-Rose Depp
Lily-Rose Depp was born in France to American actor Johnny Depp and French singer, actor, and model Vanessa Paradis. After her parents separated, she split her time between Paris and Los Angeles and eventually choose to follow in her father’s career footsteps. With roles in The King and A Faithful Man, she has developed quite the burgeoning acting career.
Riley Keough
Actor Riley Keough, the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley, is related to two singers who changed music: “People always ask, ‘How crazy is it that your grandpa was Elvis and your stepdad was Michael Jackson?’ I make them happy and say, ‘Yeah, it’s soooo crazy!’” Keough revealed to Esquire. “But actually, I don’t think about it, ever…But I always wanted my own money.”
John David Washington
Being actor Denzel Washington’s son would leave anyone with big shoes to fill. Luckyily for John David Washington, he’s held his own in Hollywood. He first got attention on the HBO comedy series Ballers, followed by a leading role in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman, for which he received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.
Hailey Baldwin
At this point, Hailey Baldwin's fame has arguably eclipsed her own parent’s celebrity. The daughter of Stephen Baldwin and Alec Baldwin's niece, Hailey has a notable career in modeling. She's also gained notoriety for her famous friendships with celebs like Kendall and Kylie Jenner and her marriage to singer Justin Bieber, who is pictured here with a young Hailey.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow used her fame from roles in Emma and Shakespeare in Love to launch her own business, the lifestyle and wellness brand Goop. Perhaps she got some tips for navigating Hollywood from her mom, Blythe Danner? Danner is a successful actor herself with multiple Emmy nominations for her roles on series like Will & Grace.
Enrique Iglesias
"Bailamos" singer Enrique Iglesias is pictured here as a young boy with his dad, Julio Iglesias, who is still celebrated as one of the top record sellers in music history. Father and son both have won Grammy awards for their beautiful voices, something I hope has been passed on to Enrique's children with tennis player Anna Kournikova.
Billie Lourd
Billie Loud's had many acting roles, but we particularly love her performance in the Olivia Wilde-directed Booksmart as eccentric party girl Gigi. She’s also starred in Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens and American Horror Story, and it’s evident she’s going to carry on the legacy of her late mother Carrie Fisher.
Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland comes from a family of actors, most notably his father, Donald Sutherland. The pair share a lot more in common than DNA. They both have received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and both have won Emmy awards. Donald was honored for Citizen X, while Kiefer won for his role as Jack Bauer in 24.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie made her screen debut opposite her actor dad Jon Voight in the 1982 film Lookin' to Get Out. Since then, she has become oe of Hollywood's highest-paid actors for starring in major blockbusters like Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Maleficent. She's also received three Golden Globes and one Academy Award for her acting.
