17 Actors Who Have Famous Parents
Hollywood has always been a family affair, with talent often running in the bloodline.
Many of today’s biggest stars grew up watching their parents shine on screen or stage, learning the craft from the best.
Some followed directly in those famous footsteps, while others carved out completely different paths in the same industry.
From comedy legends to dramatic powerhouses, these actors prove that star quality can definitely be inherited.
Note: This entertainment feature uses publicly available biographical information and widely reported career credits as of January 13, 2026; details can change over time, and inclusion here is for informational purposes only, not endorsement or evaluation of any individual.
17. Lily-Rose Depp
With actor Johnny Depp as her father and French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis as her mother, Lily-Rose Depp grew up surrounded by the entertainment world.
Depp was born in France and later built an acting career that crosses international projects.
She made her film debut as a teenager, appearing in Tusk (2014).
Films like The King alongside Timothée Chalamet proved she could hold her own in serious historical dramas.
16. Maya Hawke
When both your parents are critically acclaimed actors, the pressure to succeed could be overwhelming, but Maya handled it with grace.
Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman’s daughter first caught attention as Robin in Stranger Things, bringing quirky humor to the hit Netflix series.
Beyond acting, she releases music as a singer-songwriter.
Maybe growing up around artistic parents taught her that creativity isn’t limited to just one medium or genre.
15. Ben Stiller
Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara were a beloved comedy duo who performed together for decades on stage and television.
Their son Ben grew up backstage and on sets, absorbing comedy techniques from two masters of the craft.
He became a comedy mainstay through starring roles and later expanded into directing.
Directing and producing have also become major parts of his career, showing he inherited not just talent but business savvy too.
14. Zoë Kravitz
Zoë Kravitz is the daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet.
Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet gave Zoë an upbringing steeped in music, art, and bohemian values.
She broke out in Big Little Lies and later became Catwoman in The Batman, showing incredible range.
She made her feature directorial debut with Blink Twice (2024).
13. Kate Hudson
Goldie Hawn’s infectious smile and bubbly personality clearly passed down to her daughter, who lights up every scene.
Though Bill Hudson is her biological father, Kate was raised primarily by Goldie and longtime partner Kurt Russell.
Her breakout role in Almost Famous earned her an Oscar nomination and launched a successful romantic comedy career.
Kate Hudson became widely known after Almost Famous, then remained a rom-com favorite for years.
12. Dakota Johnson
Being born to Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith meant Dakota grew up on film sets and award show red carpets.
For years, she took smaller roles in indie films before landing the career-defining part of Anastasia Steele in Fifty Shades of Grey.
The trilogy became a global phenomenon, though critics were mixed on the films themselves.
Since then, Dakota has chosen more artistic projects like The Lost Daughter and Suspiria, showcasing her dramatic abilities beyond blockbusters.
11. Carrie Fisher
Hollywood royalty doesn’t get more iconic than having Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher as your parents.
Carrie grew up surrounded by Old Hollywood glamour, but she made her own mark as Princess Leia in Star Wars.
Beyond acting, she became a celebrated author and script doctor, fixing countless screenplays behind the scenes.
Her candid voice and sharp humor made her a lasting pop-culture presence until her death in 2016.
10. Colin Hanks
Carving his own path, the son of Tom Hanks and Samantha Lewes excels in grounded, relatable roles.
Projects like Orange County and Dexter showcase his range, from approachable humor to dark intensity.
Beyond acting, his documentary directing proves he values craft over celebrity flash.
Staying independent of his father’s massive shadow, he remains a dependable, versatile presence in every ensemble he joins.
9. Angelina Jolie
Jon Voight won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1979, and Angelina Jolie later won an Oscar for Girl, Interrupted.
Though Angelina’s relationship with her father has been complicated over the years, there’s no denying the shared talent.
She won her own Academy Award for Girl, Interrupted and became one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars.
Humanitarian work and directing have become equally important to her, showing that fame can be used for meaningful change.
8. Gwyneth Paltrow
Blythe Danner and Bruce Paltrow raised their daughter in a creative household filled with theater, film, and artistic expression.
Gwyneth’s breakout came with Shakespeare in Love, which earned her an Oscar at just twenty-six years old.
She later joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Pepper Potts, appearing alongside Robert Downey Jr. in multiple films.
These days, she’s equally known for her wellness company Goop, which has sparked both fascination and controversy.
7. Rashida Jones
Having legendary music producer Quincy Jones as your dad and actress Peggy Lipton as your mom creates quite the artistic pedigree.
Rashida studied at Harvard before pursuing acting, bringing intelligence and wit to every role she plays.
She became a fan favorite as Ann Perkins on Parks and Recreation, playing the straight woman to Amy Poehler’s enthusiasm.
Writing and producing have also become major parts of her career, including co-creating the series Claws for TNT.
6. Jamie Lee Curtis
Janet Leigh’s iconic shower scene in Psycho made her a horror legend, and Tony Curtis was a classic Hollywood heartthrob.
Their daughter Jamie Lee became the ultimate scream queen in the Halloween franchise, starting when she was just nineteen.
Decades later, she’s still playing Laurie Strode while also winning an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Her career longevity and ability to reinvent herself proves that talent and determination matter more than just a famous last name.
5. Jack Quaid
Growing up with Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid made Hollywood feel like a family living room for this rising star.
While The Hunger Games provided an early glimpse, The Boys turned him into a breakout favorite.
Playing Hughie with vulnerability and humor makes the character feel refreshingly human.
Navigating the pressure of famous parents with steady charm, he continues to prove his range through voice roles and indie projects.
4. Jennifer Aniston
John Aniston spent decades playing Victor Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives, becoming a soap opera institution.
His daughter Jennifer watched him work growing up, learning the discipline and dedication required for a long television career.
She became a global superstar as Rachel Green on Friends, a role that still defines her decades later.
Film roles in comedies and dramas have kept her relevant, though fans still love her most for that iconic sitcom performance.
3. Sofia Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola directed some of cinema’s greatest masterpieces, including The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now.
Sofia appeared in his films as a child, most famously (and controversially) in The Godfather Part III.
Instead of continuing as an actress, she moved behind the camera and became an acclaimed director herself.
Films like Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides showcase her unique visual style and melancholic storytelling voice.
2. Tracee Ellis Ross
Diana Ross is a Motown legend and one of the most successful singers in music history.
Her daughter Tracee grew up surrounded by music royalty but chose acting as her primary creative outlet.
She starred in Girlfriends for eight seasons before landing the Emmy-nominated role of Rainbow Johnson on Black-ish.
Her comedic timing and ability to balance humor with heartfelt moments made her a standout on the beloved family sitcom.
1. Margaret Qualley
Andie MacDowell became famous for romantic films like Four Weddings and a Funeral and Groundhog Day.
Her daughter Margaret initially trained as a ballerina before switching to acting in her late teens.
She gained recognition in The Leftovers and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood before starring in Maid.
Working alongside Andie in Maid created a powerful on-screen mother-daughter dynamic that mirrored their real relationship beautifully.
