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Twitter Users Share 46 Celebrities Most Didn’t Know Were Related, It Sparks A Discussion About Nepotism In Hollywood
Whether it's honest or not (it's probably not), Hollywood is aiming at becoming more inclusive. In recent years, stories of sexism, racism and abuse have circulated the media more often than ever before. For this reason, the big execs at studios will surely do anything to not get canceled. However, in our humble opinion, one form of inequality gets overlooked more often than we'd like it to be—nepotism.
The word itself is derived from nepos in Latin, meaning nephew. In Italy, it became nipotismo, named after the practice of when popes would give jobs to their nephews. Centuries have passed but it appears that little has changed. If you're a frequent lurker on social media or like to read magazines on celebrities, you sure as hell know the names (and faces) of Lily-Rose Depp, Gigi Hadid, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lena Dunham... the list could go on and on and never reach its end. Yes, you guessed it correctly—all of these people came from rich, powerful, and talented families. Nothing wrong with talent, but we can guess that casting auditions are just slightly easier when your dad is the producer of the movie.
We recently came across one interesting thread on Twitter that points out the sometimes unexpected family relations between (semi) famous people. Some were really surprising, some—kind of obvious. Nonetheless, we hope it will help you to put some things in perspective. One of them being that, it's not always just hard work that it takes to make it, no matter how hard celebrities try to make us believe it. We surely don't deny that there are many outstanding actors, singers, musicians, and dancers that don't come from a famous background, but more about that next time. This time, let's put the focus on celebs who really made it, but not without the support of their famous family members. Bear in mind that the intention of the post is purely educational, we're not intending to trash talented people just because they have relatives in the industry. Scroll down below to see the list, have fun, and drop a comment on whether you remember any more celebs that probably benefited from nepotism!
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2 horror movie icons . The original scream queen ,and the scream queen in waiting 😍
After Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” came out, it sparked a debate online about nepotism. The widely popular film featured three young actresses—Margaret Qualley, Harley Quinn Smith and Maya Hawke. Surprisingly or not, all of them came from artistic families. Margaret's mother is none other than the legendary Andie MacDowell, while Harley Quinn is the daughter of Kevin Smith. Maya's parents probably need no introduction too—Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. Yes, the same Uma Thurman who's been Quentin Tarantino's muse for years.
I can't remember where but I saw family movies of her with her brother and parents and they were all so in love with each other. Also her mother was one of the first celebrities to not hide her breast cancer, "for the sake of other women". She hit the highest notes in more than one way....
One of the most obvious challenges that Hollywood is facing is its lack of diversity. However, with nepotism in the picture, it becomes even harder for creatives to cast diverse actors and create diverse films. One of the most famous recent examples is director Greta Gerwig’s recent adaptation of “Little Women”—in it, 3 out of 7 of the main cast members came from famous and powerful families in the business.
And actor Eric Roberts is Julia’s brother, Emma’s father. Some people don’t know him by name but he’s been in many movies.
And Alexander (True Blood) and Gustav (Vikings). There are other brothers too that act but I’ve never seen them I guess because they are only in Swedish films.
There's no denying that while nepotism in Hollywood exists, children of famous parents can also be extremely talented. Take Sofia Coppola as an example. Daughter of the legendary Francis Ford Coppola, Sofia has made quite an impact on the industry with her one-of-a-kind film style. However, it certainly didn't hurt her career when her dad helped her to make The Virgin Suicides—her debut feature—by producing it using his own company, American Zoetrope.
Well there ya go! I made this comment regarding Julia and Emma...
Yes, but they didn't know they were related until she was already in Hollywood.
Don't forget Jack Quaid (from Logan Lucky or Amazon's The boys) he's Dennis Quaids and Meg Ryan's son.
This is just sad to me because her mother is so much prettier and can act circles around her daughter.
A long time ago, I looked up one of them on IMDB and couldn't find one of their acting credits and I knew it was them in the film. Then I learned it was his twin brother lol.
She was an early 90s child actress who was in lots of stuff but then she just fell out of the spotlight.
I get such a kick out of James Brolin in Life in Pieces. It is hard for me to reconcile Amityville Horror dad with the hilarious Pop Pop on Life In Pieces. And Josh Brolin is sooooo pretty.
Am I the only one that looks at Casey and sees Green Day's Billy Joe Armstrong??
Don't forget the singer Rosemary Clooney (White Christmas) and her nephew George (Attack of the Killer Tomatoes 2). OK, he's made a lot of great movies but that was his first.
You'd have to be living under a rock not to know most of these. Also, having a common career within a family is hardly nepotism. My Dad was an electrician, and I had a career in telecommunications - does the fact we both worked with electricity make it nepotism?
Hold the front page! Children sometimes follow the career footsteps of their parents!!!! Although the Rashida and Quincy Jones one was well interesting
There’s a whole lot of guilt by association implied in this article. I’m sure some of these people benefit from their famous relatives, but simply listing as many relatives as you can find without information that backs up how one person helped out the next puts a lot of people in a group that implies quite a bit. In addition, while nepotism in government is illegal, is it that strange that families help each other out? We’re a country that celebrates family businesses. If you grow up around folks that are highly dedicated to their profession, you’re more likely to be interested in that profession as well. You’ll probably get some good advice, too.
So many more. Tom and Colin Hanks, Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon's daughter Jennifer Grant, Bridget Fonda is the daughter of Peter, niece of Jane, granddaughter of Henry. Jennifer Aniston, daughter of soap star John. And on and on and on.
This one actor has caught my eye the last couple of years- in Mr. Mercedes, Fortitude, Attack the Block, Star Trek:Pickard, penny dreadful and geez the list goes on! Wow he’s been in so many things and he’s so young I thought........ it’s actually two actors! Twins Harry and Luke Treadaway
You somehow missed part of the Scheen family, the DeVitos and above all, the entire Baldwin family
This is not unusual. Someone gets famous and their family wants in on it too. There's many more than just this. What about Tom Hanks and his sons.
Of course someone in the business has a better chance. They are living in the right place, they already have connections. This is true in any industry. It's not unreasonable to get your child a meeting with a director. Really the bigger discussion should be how this is across the board true. If you come from money and influence you have a better chance in life.
What was the point of this??? I almost lost it when I got to the Wahlbergs
"It's who you know" has been the gold standard in Hollywood since it began....
I knew a lot of these but it took time, for instance it was years before I knew Eric and Julia were siblings but loved them both. I don't think this is nepotism in any form, but the one time I ever wondered how someone got a part in a movie because their acting was so bad and they just did not seem right for the part, I googled and found out she was daughter of someone high in the industry - won't name its not important - but that is the only time I have ever thought, wow how ? as I had also never seen them in anything before that, and then thought oh well that would have potentially gotten them in the door. But getting in the door is only half way, decades ago who you knew was what got you gigs but I don't think that is as much the case now, we see up and comers all the time.
Guess i've been living under the proverbial, rock didn't know half of them . know actors who acted and didn't hove to be naked to do it. I know I'm a mouthy bad a*s old broad. It my be nepotism -most of the time the talent does not relate.
I don't know most of these people. I don't spend my money on Cable or the movies.
A few weeks ago, I found out that Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) is the mother of Toby Stephens (Black Sails).
Really? You’d have to have NEVER seen a magazine, newspaper, television (or encountered a person who had) to NOT know these. And a lot of well known ones are missing...but the point is, stop recycling the same old lists. Let’s see the OBSCURE ones for a change!
There is a whole issue going on in India about nepotism and an actor named Sushanth. The trailer of a movie called Sadak 2 is the second-most disliked video on youtube right now. This was because the producer's daughter was the lead and also because of the death of Sushanth Singh Rajput, who committed suicide
The funny thing is that I've always heard that Carrie Fisher basically didn't even WANT to be famous or in show business. And she would specifically chose roles that weren't likely to be too appealing. Except Star Wars didn't behave itself and made her a super-famous star anyway. XD
You really must be very gullible and ignorant if you didn't know that nepotism exists in all walks of life. Famous father introduces son to the set, makes sure he gets acting lessons and Presto! another star is born. Bill Gates only got his chance because his mother had connections with IBM Chairman John Opel. It's the same in music and if you look at politics it isn't hard to see the special favors Trump granted to his family without even trying to conceal it. During the Republican National Convention 4 out of 8 featured speakers belonged to the Trump-clan.
Probably not exciting for most people but I’m a coronation street fan and recently found out that Linus Roache is the son of the patriarch of the show, William Roache
How about Donny&Marie or all those Jackson's and don't forget the Jonas Brothers or Bill and Hillary Clinton
If you don't know that they're related, it's not nepotism. It's nepotism when the only reason they got the job is because of their relative. If you had no idea they were related, it means they're talented enough that nobody was asking "why the hell did they even get the job?".
Let's talk about the fact that talent is often hereditary. then there are the realities of an entire lifestyle shift for a family in order to accommodate one acting child, much less two or more. And then there are the things that the child of a public figure would learn in order to manage any kind of career. These things are not nepotistic. These are the realities of how family connections affect our lives. Growing up in a business, being in circles where you have a chance to meet opportunity, understanding the business well enough to navigate it better than people who weren't associated with it earlier, these are all legitimate realities that can change a life. It doesn't mean that those changed lives aren't legitimate.
You'd have to be living under a rock not to know most of these. Also, having a common career within a family is hardly nepotism. My Dad was an electrician, and I had a career in telecommunications - does the fact we both worked with electricity make it nepotism?
Hold the front page! Children sometimes follow the career footsteps of their parents!!!! Although the Rashida and Quincy Jones one was well interesting
There’s a whole lot of guilt by association implied in this article. I’m sure some of these people benefit from their famous relatives, but simply listing as many relatives as you can find without information that backs up how one person helped out the next puts a lot of people in a group that implies quite a bit. In addition, while nepotism in government is illegal, is it that strange that families help each other out? We’re a country that celebrates family businesses. If you grow up around folks that are highly dedicated to their profession, you’re more likely to be interested in that profession as well. You’ll probably get some good advice, too.
So many more. Tom and Colin Hanks, Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon's daughter Jennifer Grant, Bridget Fonda is the daughter of Peter, niece of Jane, granddaughter of Henry. Jennifer Aniston, daughter of soap star John. And on and on and on.
This one actor has caught my eye the last couple of years- in Mr. Mercedes, Fortitude, Attack the Block, Star Trek:Pickard, penny dreadful and geez the list goes on! Wow he’s been in so many things and he’s so young I thought........ it’s actually two actors! Twins Harry and Luke Treadaway
You somehow missed part of the Scheen family, the DeVitos and above all, the entire Baldwin family
This is not unusual. Someone gets famous and their family wants in on it too. There's many more than just this. What about Tom Hanks and his sons.
Of course someone in the business has a better chance. They are living in the right place, they already have connections. This is true in any industry. It's not unreasonable to get your child a meeting with a director. Really the bigger discussion should be how this is across the board true. If you come from money and influence you have a better chance in life.
What was the point of this??? I almost lost it when I got to the Wahlbergs
"It's who you know" has been the gold standard in Hollywood since it began....
I knew a lot of these but it took time, for instance it was years before I knew Eric and Julia were siblings but loved them both. I don't think this is nepotism in any form, but the one time I ever wondered how someone got a part in a movie because their acting was so bad and they just did not seem right for the part, I googled and found out she was daughter of someone high in the industry - won't name its not important - but that is the only time I have ever thought, wow how ? as I had also never seen them in anything before that, and then thought oh well that would have potentially gotten them in the door. But getting in the door is only half way, decades ago who you knew was what got you gigs but I don't think that is as much the case now, we see up and comers all the time.
Guess i've been living under the proverbial, rock didn't know half of them . know actors who acted and didn't hove to be naked to do it. I know I'm a mouthy bad a*s old broad. It my be nepotism -most of the time the talent does not relate.
I don't know most of these people. I don't spend my money on Cable or the movies.
A few weeks ago, I found out that Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey) is the mother of Toby Stephens (Black Sails).
Really? You’d have to have NEVER seen a magazine, newspaper, television (or encountered a person who had) to NOT know these. And a lot of well known ones are missing...but the point is, stop recycling the same old lists. Let’s see the OBSCURE ones for a change!
There is a whole issue going on in India about nepotism and an actor named Sushanth. The trailer of a movie called Sadak 2 is the second-most disliked video on youtube right now. This was because the producer's daughter was the lead and also because of the death of Sushanth Singh Rajput, who committed suicide
The funny thing is that I've always heard that Carrie Fisher basically didn't even WANT to be famous or in show business. And she would specifically chose roles that weren't likely to be too appealing. Except Star Wars didn't behave itself and made her a super-famous star anyway. XD
You really must be very gullible and ignorant if you didn't know that nepotism exists in all walks of life. Famous father introduces son to the set, makes sure he gets acting lessons and Presto! another star is born. Bill Gates only got his chance because his mother had connections with IBM Chairman John Opel. It's the same in music and if you look at politics it isn't hard to see the special favors Trump granted to his family without even trying to conceal it. During the Republican National Convention 4 out of 8 featured speakers belonged to the Trump-clan.
Probably not exciting for most people but I’m a coronation street fan and recently found out that Linus Roache is the son of the patriarch of the show, William Roache
How about Donny&Marie or all those Jackson's and don't forget the Jonas Brothers or Bill and Hillary Clinton
If you don't know that they're related, it's not nepotism. It's nepotism when the only reason they got the job is because of their relative. If you had no idea they were related, it means they're talented enough that nobody was asking "why the hell did they even get the job?".
Let's talk about the fact that talent is often hereditary. then there are the realities of an entire lifestyle shift for a family in order to accommodate one acting child, much less two or more. And then there are the things that the child of a public figure would learn in order to manage any kind of career. These things are not nepotistic. These are the realities of how family connections affect our lives. Growing up in a business, being in circles where you have a chance to meet opportunity, understanding the business well enough to navigate it better than people who weren't associated with it earlier, these are all legitimate realities that can change a life. It doesn't mean that those changed lives aren't legitimate.