When On-Screen Romance Became Real: Celebrities Who Dated Their TV And Movie Family Members

Hollywood can get seriously awkward when actors who play siblings or family members start dating in real life.

Imagine kissing someone on-screen as your brother or sister, then going out to dinner with them later! These celebrity couples proved that sometimes the heart wants what it wants, even when the script says you’re related.

Get ready for some seriously surprising pairings that made fans do a double-take.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for entertainment and general informational purposes. All relationships, roles, and production details are based on publicly available information from reliable sources at the time of writing. Celebrity and relationship statuses may change over time. Brand, network, or studio names are included for context only and do not imply endorsement or current association by the parties mentioned.

1. Michael C. Hall & Jennifer Carpenter

Playing adoptive siblings on the dark crime drama Dexter didn’t stop these two from falling in love behind the scenes. Michael and Jennifer portrayed Dexter and Debra Morgan, a brother-sister duo navigating Miami’s criminal underworld together.

They secretly married in 2008 while still filming the show, making their on-screen family dynamic extra complicated. Though they divorced in 2011, both actors remained professional and continued working together until the series ended. Talk about keeping things awkward at family dinner!

2. Lauren Graham & Peter Krause

Who knew the Braverman siblings from Parenthood would become one of Hollywood’s most enduring couples? Lauren and Peter played Sarah and Adam, brother and sister navigating family chaos in the beloved NBC drama.

After the show wrapped, they began dating and stayed together for over a decade. Their chemistry was undeniable on-screen, but fans were shocked to learn it translated to real-life romance. Sometimes the best relationships start with pretending to be family first!

3. Ian Somerhalder & Maggie Grace

Before Ian became a vampire heartthrob, he was stranded on a mysterious island with his on-screen stepsister. Ian and Maggie portrayed Boone and Shannon Rutherford on Lost, step-siblings with a seriously complicated relationship on the show.

During filming, the actors started dating in real life, adding another layer of intrigue to their already twisted on-screen dynamic. Their romance didn’t last beyond the series, but it definitely gave fans something extra to gossip about during commercial breaks!

4. Matthew Broderick & Jennifer Grey

Ferris Bueller’s iconic day off got even more interesting when the on-screen siblings became a real couple! Matthew played the charming troublemaker Ferris while Jennifer portrayed his annoyed sister Jeanie in the classic 1986 comedy.

After filming wrapped, sparks flew and they began dating. Their relationship didn’t last forever, but it remains one of the most memorable instances of sibling actors crossing the friendship line. Just saying, family reunions must have been super weird after that!

5. Emily VanCamp & Chris Pratt

Long before Chris became a Marvel superhero, he was just a small-town guy on Everwood playing brother to Emily’s character. They portrayed siblings Amy and Bright Abbott in the heartfelt family drama that ran from 2002 to 2006.

During the show’s run, the actors dated from 2004 to 2006, keeping their romance relatively low-key. Though they eventually went their separate ways, both found massive success in Hollywood. Emily went on to star in Revenge while Chris conquered the galaxy!

6. Anna Kendrick & Bill Hader

Santa’s kids fell for each other off-screen in the most unexpected holiday twist! Anna and Bill played siblings Nick and Noelle Kringle in Disney’s 2019 Christmas movie Noelle, bringing festive magic to the streaming service.

A few years later, around 2020, the actors quietly began dating in real life. They kept their relationship super private until splitting around 2022. Fans were stunned when the news broke since they’d been so secretive about the whole thing. Holiday magic indeed!

7. David Tennant & Georgia Tennant

Time Lord meets Time Lord’s daughter in the most wholesome Doctor Who love story ever! David played the Tenth Doctor while Georgia portrayed Jenny, his artificially created daughter in the 2008 episode “The Doctor’s Daughter.”

After filming, they began dating and eventually married in 2011, creating their own adorable family with five children. Fun fact: Georgia is actually the real-life daughter of Fifth Doctor actor Peter Davison! The Whoniverse truly came full circle with this beautiful romance.

8. Amy Poehler & Will Arnett

Already married in real life, Amy and Will took things to a hilariously awkward level by playing brother and sister in Blades of Glory. The 2007 comedy featured the couple as Fairchild and Stranz Van Waldenberg, creepy ice-skating siblings with questionable boundaries.

Their willingness to portray such bizarre characters while actually being a couple shows serious comedic commitment. Though they divorced in 2016, their on-screen sibling antics remain comedy gold. Only true professionals could pull off that level of weird!

9. Tom Hanks & Rita Wilson

Hollywood’s most beloved couple played siblings in Sleepless in Seattle, and somehow it wasn’t weird at all! Tom starred as the widowed father Sam while Rita had a brief role as his sister Suzy in the 1993 romantic classic.

They were already married when filming began, having tied the knot in 1988. Their real-life chemistry and decades-long marriage make them relationship goals. Playing family members was just another day at the office for this iconic duo who prove true love lasts forever!