The entertainment business is much smaller than you think. It’s an industry that’s often the result of who you know, and sometimes it actually comes down to who you’re related to. The acting bloodlines run deep in Hollywood.
Did you know that some on-screen family members are actually related in real life? It goes unnoticed many times but some actors are actually related in real life in the same way their characters in films and TV shows are. This adds a layer of realism to the film or TV show. These actors look more alike and related and share an undeniable chemistry, which makes their bond appear more genuine.
Take a look at some of the most famous on-screen families that you didn’t realize were played by real-life relatives.
1. Wanda Ventham And Timothy Carlton, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Parents, Played Sherlock’s Mom And Dad On Sherlock (2010)
“They’re trained actors with a resume and were available,” Benedict said with a laugh in an interview. “They’ve played my parents in the background in something before…” he added.
Eugene Levy And Dan Levy Played Father And Son On Schitt’s Creek (2015-2020)
The duo didn’t just act but also co-wrote the series together. It was Dan Levvy’s brilliant idea which after his father’s inputs resulted in on the most hit TV series
Sylvester Stallone Played In Rocky V (1990) With His Son Sage
The Rocky franchise made Sylvester Stallone an international star, and in 1990, he introduced his son, Sage, to the family business with the role of Rocky’s on-screen son in Rocky V.
Spouses Emily Blunt And John Krasinski Played Husband And Wife In A Quiet Place (2018)
Emily was reluctant initially for being in the film and suggested a friend of hers for the role instead. However, after reading the script she completely changed her mind.
Leslie Mann And Her Daughters, Iris And Maude Apatow, Played Debbie And Her Children In Knocked Up (2007)
The family went on to reprise their roles in This Is 40. Both films were directed by Judd Apatow, who is Leslie’s husband, and Iris and Maude’s father.
Angelina Jolie And Her Father, Jon Voight, Played Lara And Richard Croft In Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Voight and daughter Angelina had reunited on screen after 19 years but in an interview, Jon gave after the film’s release, their relationship took a rift. The two have “gotten to know each other” through Angelina’s children in recent years.
Jake Gyllenhaal And His Sister, Maggie, Played Siblings Donnie And Elizabeth Darko In Donnie Darko (2001)
Richard Kelly, the film’s director, had to convince Maggie that they weren’t offering her the part just because she was Jake’s big sister. This film is often considered to be Jake’s breakout role, whereas Maggie’s would come a year later in the equally dark Secretary
Tom Hanks And Colin Hanks Played Father And Son In The Great Buck Howard (2008)
Colin Hanks got to work alongside his dad in 2008’s The Great Buck Howard. Tom plays Mr. Gable, father to Colin’s character, Troy, a law-school dropout in search of meaningful life experience
The Wilson Brothers Played The Wright Brothers In Around The World In 80 Days (2004)
The Wilson brothers have been spotted together in several movies, though not playing brothers always.
Mamie Gummer And Meryl Streep Played Mother And Daughter In Ricki And The Flash (2015)
Mamie Gummer joked that she was “one of five people on the planet” who wouldn’t be intimidated to work with Meryl Streep, with the other four being the rest of their family.
Will Smith And His Son Jaden Played Christopher Gardner Jr. And Chris Gardner In The Pursuit Of Happyness (2006)
Jaden Smith got his start in Hollywood opposite his father in 2006’s The Pursuit of Happyness. Both performances were critically acclaimed, and Will Smith even earned two Best Actor nominations.
Ben Stiller And His Dad, Jerry, Played Father And Son, Eddie And Doc Cantrow, In The Heartbreak Kid (2007)
The duo appeared in several projects together. Sadly, Jerry Stiller left for his heavenly abode last year.
Ryan O’Neal Played In The Movie Paper Moon (1973) With His Daughter Tatum
Ryan O’Neal got his daughter Tatum in the film Paper Moon for which she won an Academy Award for the best supporting actress at the age of 10.
Bruce Willis And His Daughter Rumer Played Jeff And Amanda Talley In Hostage (2005)
Bruce in an interview with BBC told that when Rumer requested him to be part of the film, he asked her to audition. “I’m not going to give you this part, you have to earn it,” he told her.
Spouses Jennifer Connelly And Paul Bettany Played Wife And Husband In Creation (2009)
The actors met on the set of A Beautiful Mind and since then have worked together a number of times.
The Douglas Family Plays The Gromberg Family In It Runs In The Family (2003)
In the spirit of the film, three generations of the Douglas family starred in 2003’s It Runs in the Family.
Matthew Perry And John Bennett Perry Played Father And Son In Fools Rush In (1997)
John Bennett Perry played Matthew Perry’s dad in the movie Fools Rush In and in the episode My Unicorn (2004) of the sitcom Scrubs. He even worked with his son on his cult classic hit FRIENDS.
Siblings John And Joan Cusack Played Brother And Sister In Martian Child (2007)
Since the 1980s, this brother-sister duo has popped up in dozens of films, including 16 Candles (1984), High Fidelity (2000), and War, Inc. (2008). Surprisingly, the two have only played siblings once.
Henry Fonda And His Daughter Jane Shared The Screen In On Golden Pond (1981)
The film earned Henry his first and only Best Actor award at age 76, though he sadly passed away one year later. Jane said that accepting the Oscar for Best Actor on his behalf was the happiest moment of her life.
Martin Sheen And Charlie Sheen Played Father And Son In Wall Street (1987)
The pair played father and son in the movie Wall Street (1987). The film featured them in the roles of blue-collar airline worker Carl Fox and his unscrupulous stockbroker son, Bud.
Miley Cyrus’ Dad Billy Ray Played Her Character’s Father In Hannah Montana TV Show And In The Movie
While Hannah Montana made their relationship appear all set, Billy Ray Cyrus has admitted that Miley almost destroyed their family. She was getting in a lot of scandals and Billy was blaming himself for it and wished that he could have been a better dad
Michael And Autumn Chiklis Play Father And Daughter In The Shield (2002-2008)
Autumn Chiklis claimed that she felt very lucky to have been able to work with her dad and that she learned set etiquette from him: She also stated that even though her dad looks tough to everyone else, he is really loving and compassionate
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Source: BoredPanda
