By Iris Goldsztajn
6:17pm PST, Feb 23, 2026
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Talent runs in the family — and in Hollywood, it often becomes a legacy. From dynasties that span generations to siblings who've shared the spotlight, these acting families have shaped film and television history with unforgettable performances and enduring star power.Keep reading to find out 41 famous families with two or more members who are movie or TV stars…
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The Baldwins
While some Hollywood dynasties work vertically (from parent to child and so on), the Baldwins broke through horizontally — with all four brothers in the family working in the industry. Alec Baldwin is by far the most successful, but Daniel Baldwin, Stephen Baldwin and Billy Baldwin are all actors, too.The Arquettes
The Arquette family's acting success is actually three generations strong! Not only are siblings Patricia Arquette, David Arquette, Rosanna Arquette and the late Alexis Arquette all actors, but their father, Lewis Arquette, was too, while their grandfather Cliff Arquette was a comedian!The Hemsworths
There are three Hemsworth brothers of note: Luke Hemsworth, Chris Hemsworth and Liam Hemsworth. And if you were wondering whether they ever get envious of one another's careers, "there's a great rivalry there — a very healthy one," the Thor actor once said.The Coppolas
So, you know about Francis Ford Coppola and Sofia Coppola, but there's also Francis' son Roman Coppola (a director), Francis' dad, Carmine Coppola (though he wasn't an actor, he composed for movies), and Francis' sister Talia Shire née Coppola (also an actress).Now for the real curveball: Did you know that Nicolas Cage is actually a Coppola, too? He's Francis' nephew!
But wait, there's more! Jason Schwartzman is Francis' nephew, too.
Now that's what we call a family tree.
The Barrymores
Though we're calling all of these famous families dynasties, most of them are only one or two generations deep. The Barrymores, though? Their acting goes back to — wait for it — the mid-1800s, per People. The name itself was even chosen as a stage name, and it has stuck… all the way down through generations of actors to the people's princess Drew Barrymore.The Wilsons
Three brothers in one family being famous is a pretty common set-up, it seems. Yes, Owen Wilson is Hollywood royalty, but his brother Luke Wilson also appears in gems like Legally Blonde and Bottle Rocket, while Andrew Wilson is known for Idiocracy and Bottle Rocket. All three brothers notably appeared in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums.The Fondas
Henry Fonda was the smoldering actor who started it all in the 1940s, while his daughter Jane Fonda is a legendary actress and activist. Peter Fonda is her brother, also an actor though less high-profile than Jane.Peter's daughter Bridget Fonda and Jane's son Troy Garity mark the third generation of actors in the family, per Woman's World.
The Leigh-Curtises
It's hard to think of Jamie Lee Curtis as a nepo baby, given everything she's done for cinema, but nepo baby she is. She's the daughter of Oscar-winning actor Tony Curtis and Psycho star Janet Leigh.The Cusacks
The Cusack siblings' father, Richard Cusack, was also an actor, known for films like The Fugitive and While You Were Sleeping, according to People. His children, John Cusack (Say Anything), Joan Cusack (School of Rock), Ann Cusack (A League of Their Own), Bill Cusack (The Fugitive) and Susie Cusack (High Fidelity), all went on to be actors as well.The Voight-Jolies
Though they don't have the same name, Midnight Cowboy star Jon Voight is, in fact, A-lister Angelina Jolie's dad. However, the two have had a pretty complicated relationship over the years.The Sandlers
While Adam Sandler is obviously the big star of the bunch, he actually met his wife, Jackie Sandler, ahead of filming Big Daddy, when she played a small role. Since then, he's not only helped cast her in a whole bunch of his movies, but their two daughters, Sadie Sandler and Sunny Sandler, too. Aw!The Hustons
The Hustons have cinema in their blood. The original patriarch, Walter Huston, starred in classic movies of the '30s and '40s, including The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and Dodsworth. His son John Huston was best known for The Maltese Falcon and Chinatown. Meanwhile, John's children, Danny Huston and Anjelica Huston, made their own names in Hollywood — John with The Constant Gardener and The Aviator, and Anjelica with The Addams Family and The Royal Tenenbaums.The Eastwoods
Clint Eastwood is a living legend thanks to movies such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Gran Torino. That said, his son Scott Eastwood is also a successful actor who appeared in Gran Torino, The Longest Ride and Stolen Girl.The Zeta-Douglases
Kirk Douglas was a Hollywood legend, known for Spartacus and Paths of Glory. Though he passed away in 2020, his legacy lives on not only through his life's work but also through his descendants. Kirk's son, Michael Douglas, is a huge star in his own right, having filmed movies like Wall Street and Fatal Attraction. All three of Michael's children — including the two he shares with fellow film star Catherine Zeta-Jones — have gone on to have acting careers as well. They are: Cameron Douglas, Dylan Douglas and Carys Zeta Douglas.The Howards
Ron Howard has been a huge actor for decades, with roles in The Andy Griffith Show, Happy Days and A Beautiful Mind. His daughter Bryce Dallas Howard (not to be confused with her doppelgänger Jessica Chastain) was clearly inspired by her dad's career, and has been cast in blockbusters like the Jurassic World franchise, The Help and Rocketman.The Garland-Minnellis
Judy Garland was the child star who rose to fame as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939) and went on to star in films such as A Star Is Born (1954), as well as pursuing a more purely musical career. Her daughter, with the theater director Vincente Minnelli, Liza Minnelli, carries the torch to this day, with notable roles in Cabaret (1972) and Arrested Development (2003-2019).The Dern-Ladds
Rambling Rose actress Diane Ladd and Nebraska actor Bruce Dern had two daughters. The eldest, Diane Elizabeth Dern, tragically died at 18 months old, but Laura Dern grew up to be yet another Hollywood treasure — known for Jurassic Park and Jay Kelly.The Hawn-Hudson-Russells
Goldie Hawn is an actress known for Overboard and The First Wives Club. She was married to musician and actor Bill Hudson for a few years and has been in a relationship with The Thing actor Kurt Russell since the 1980s. All three of her children from both of those partnerships have gone on to pursue acting careers. Kate Hudson is the most famous, having starred in movies like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Bride Wars. Oliver Hudson has appeared in films including A Merry Little Ex-Mas and shows including Dawson's Creek. Lastly, Wyatt Russell has appeared in 22 Jump Street and Thunderbolts*, among others.The Deschanels
Zooey Deschanel probably has the most recognizable name thanks to New Girl and (500) Days of Summer, but she comes from a total Hollywood family. Her sister Emily Deschanel is best known for her role in Bones. Meanwhile, their mother, Mary Jo Deschanel, is an actress known for Winter Passing and Twin Peaks, and their father, Caleb Deschanel, is a cinematographer and director.The Quaids
Dennis Quaid is a big star who has appeared in The Parent Trap, The Substance and The Day After Tomorrow. His son Jack Quaid is enjoying an equally fruitful career: He's nabbed roles in The Hunger Games, Scream and The Boys.The Newton-Parkers
Thandiwe Newton is a beloved actress known for her roles in Mission: Impossible II and Westworld. Meanwhile, her daughter, Nico Parker, has had a ton of high-profile roles, including in How to Train Your Dragon, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy and The Last of Us.The MacDowell-Qualleys
This mother-daughter pairing may not have the same name, but they definitely have a ton in common. Did you know Andie MacDowell (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Groundhog Day) is the mother of Margaret Qualley (The Substance, Poor Things)?!The Presley-Keoughs
You may not think of the Presley dynasty as being particularly actorly, but that's not the whole picture. Sure, patriarch Elvis Presley was primarily known as a singer, and his Hollywood career wasn't stellar, but he did star in a whopping 31 movies back in the day.Meanwhile, his ex-wife Priscilla Presley has also acted in a solid handful of movies. Their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, mainly pursued a career in music, but acted in a few music videos. It's Elvis' granddaughter Riley Keough, though, who is the most serious actor of the bunch: So far, she's starred in movies and TV such as Daisy Jones & The Six, Mad Max: Fury Road and American Honey.
The Levys
You know Eugene Levy and his son, Dan Levy. How could you not? The former has been famous since forever, with roles in the American Pie series and New York Minute, while the latter created, starred in and cast his father in the hit show Schitt's Creek. What may have escaped your attention, however, is that another major cast member from that show is also a Levy: Sarah Levy, who played Twyla and is Dan's sister.The Griffith-Johnsons
Mother-daughter actor pairings are fun because a lot of people don't know about them when they don't have the same last name. That's certainly the case with mother Melanie Griffith (Working Girl) and daughter Dakota Johnson (50 Shades of Grey).The Wayans
There are so many famous Wayans, it's not even funny. Keenen Ivory Wayans has a few acting roles to his name, but is famous for writing movies, including White Chicks. His siblings Shawn Wayans (White Chicks), Marlon Wayans (Little Man), Damon Wayans (My Wife and Kids) and Kim Wayans (In Living Color) are all actors as well. In the next generation down, Damien Dante Wayans has had roles in My Wife and Kids and Dance Flick, while you know Damon Wayans Jr. from New Girl, plus a bunch of action and romance movies.The Smiths
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith had a somewhat inauspicious beginning: They met while auditioning for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, for which Jada didn't get the part she was up for, AND while Will was still married to Sheree Zampino, per People. They both went on to act in huge projects, as we know, but that's not all: All three of Will's kids (two of whom he shares with Jada) have gone on to pursue acting as well. Trey Smith only has four credits to his name, while Jaden Smith has roles in The Karate Kid, The Pursuit of Happyness and Skate Kitchen. Meanwhile, Willow Smith has had roles in I Am Legend and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, among others.The Robertses
Julia Roberts is the big star of the lot, having featured in era-defining movies like Pretty Woman, Notting Hill and Erin Brockovich. Julia's brother Eric Roberts is known for The Dark Knight and Runaway Train. Julia's sister Lisa Roberts Gillan has had smaller roles in Maid in Manhattan and Eat Pray Love. And, of course, Julia's niece — and Eric's daughter — Emma Roberts has made a name for herself in Scream Queens and We're The Millers.The Skarsgårds
Stellan Skarsgård is the Skarsgård who started it all. Name any movie, he's probably been in it — Sentimental Value, Good Will Hunting, Mamma Mia!, Pirates of the Caribbean… And SO many of his many children are also prominent actors. Alexander Skarsgård is particularly known for Big Little Lies and Succession. Bill Skarsgård has had roles in the It franchise, Nosferatu and many other horror movies, while Gustaf Skarsgård has been in Vikings and Oppenheimer. Meanwhile, Valter Skarsgård is known for Lord of Chaos and Beck.The Bonet-Kravitzes
Lisa Bonet stole hearts around America. The daughter she shares with Lenny Kravitz, Zoë Kravitz, has done her so proud. The actress has starred in Big Little Lies, The Batman, Blink Twice and many more.The Danner-Paltrows
Gwyneth Paltrow is yet another nepo baby who's done an amazing job of making the world forget they had famous parents — simply by being super talented in their own right. But the Marty Supreme actress and goop founder is actually the daughter of Bruce Paltrow, a TV director, and Blythe Danner, an actress known for the Fockers franchise and The Lucky One, among other things.The Thurman-Hawkes
Maya Hawke made a name for herself in Stranger Things, so much so that her über-famous dad, Ethan Hawke, has even been ignored when he's out and about with her. Oh, and her mom is Uma Thurman.The Brolins
James Brolin is a living legend known for Westworld and Capricorn One. His son Josh Brolin is equally, if not more successful than his dad, having starred in No Country for Old Men and the Avengers franchise.The Mann-Apatows
Judd Apatow, the iconic producer-director responsible for projects like Girls, Knocked Up and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, married Leslie Mann, the actress known for dozens of movies like This Is 40, Knocked Up, How to Be Single, etc. We probably shouldn't be surprised, then, that their look-alike daughters, Iris Apatow and Maude Apatow, have both dipped their toes into the acting world.The Hill-Feldsteins
Here's another one you'll only know if you're really into cinema… or fun facts. While they don't hide their family connection, these two sibling actors don't go by the same last name as performers: Booksmart actress Beanie Feldstein is Superbad star Jonah Hill's younger sister. His birth name is Jonah Hill Feldstein.The Fannings
We're suckers for a one-generation dynasty. Both Dakota Fanning and her younger sister Elle Fanning are total superstars — with the former known for the Twilight franchise and War of the Worlds, and the latter known for Sentimental Value and A Complete Unknown.The Mansfield-Hargitays
The emblematic actors Jayne Mansfield (Promises! Promises!, The Girl Can't Help It) and Mickey Hargitay (Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?, Bloody Pit of Horror) were married between 1958 and 1964. They later welcomed daughter Mariska Hargitay, our Law & Order queen.The Schwarzeneggers
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a legend of '80s and '90s action movies, such as the Terminator franchise and Predator, while his son Patrick Schwarzenegger has gone for a slightly broader range as an actor — from Midnight Sun to The White Lotus.The Dow-Anistons
Friends star Jennifer Aniston didn't spring out of nowhere. Her parents were John Aniston — an actor best known for his role on the soap opera Days of Our Lives — and Nancy Dow — who appeared on The Wild Wild West.The Willis-Moores
In the '80s and '90s, Die Hard star Bruce Willis and Ghost actress Demi Moore were THE Hollywood power couple. So, is it any surprise that all three of their daughters — Rumer Willis, Scout LaRue Willis and Tallulah Willis — are successful? Only Rumer pursued acting past the early 2000s, going on to score roles in Empire and The House Bunny.The Gyllenhaals
Jake Gyllenhaal and Maggie Gyllenhaal are both successful in their own right — the actor appeared in Nightcrawler, Prisoners and Brokeback Mountain. Some of Maggie's films include Secretary (2002), The Dark Knight (2008), Crazy Heart (2009), and The Kindergarten Teacher (2018).