Did You Know These Celebrities Were Related?
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Generally, when one child in a family gets into show business, others are often soon to follow. It seems that once someone is famous, it can naturally open doors for their siblings that would have otherwise remained shut. Also family members, (siblings in particular) are very competitive.
There is no denying that the talent runs deep in some of Hollywood's well-known family trees. There are all those Baldwin brothers and through the years so many Barrymores, as well as several Stillers and then too Will Smith and his family. As in Smith’s case, it seems some of the most successful actors and actresses often produce stars of their own.
Therefore we thought it was time to compile a list of celebrities that are related, see how many come as a surprise.
17. George Clooney and Miguel Ferrer
George Clooney and Miguel Ferrer are first cousins. Clooney's father is the brother of Ferrer's mother, Rosemary Clooney. George Clooney has starred in such films as “Up in the Air”, “Gravity” and the recently released "The Monuments Men". Ferrer has appeared in such TV shows as "Twin Peaks" and "Crossing Jordan."
16. Melissa McCarthy and Jenny McCarthy
Melissa McCarthy and Jenny McCarthy are first cousins. Melissa’s dad Michael and Jenny’s father Dan, are brothers. Melissa McCarthy has starred in such films as “Bridesmaids” and “Identity Thief”, she has also had great success with as a main character on the CBS sitcom "Mike & Molly" . Jenny McCarthy is currently one of the co-hosts on the TV talk show, "The View" and has acted in several movies such as "John Tucker Must Die" and "Dirty Love".
15. Glenn Close and Brooke Shields
Apparently actresses Glenn Close and Brooke Shields are second cousins.
Close's grandfather and Shields's great-grandmother were siblings. Brooke Shields was the star of “The Blue Lagoon” and "Suddenly Susan." Glenn Close has appeared in such films as “Fatal Attraction” and “Erin Brockovich”.
14. Tom Cruise and William Mapother
Tom Cruise and William Mapother are first cousins and they even share the same last name. Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV. Their fathers are brothers – Cruise has appeared in such films as “Mission Impossible” and “Vanilla Sky”. William Mapother has TV credits on "Lost" and also “The Mentalist”.
13. Brandy and Snoop Lion (Snoop Dogg)
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr., known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and actor) is the first cousin of Brandy Rayana Norwood, also known as Brandy, (an American recording artist and entertainer) and her brother William Ray Norwood Jr., known by his stage name Ray J, (an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.)
12. Sissy Spacek and Rip Torn
Actors Sissy Spacek and Rip Torn are first cousins - Torn's mother and Spacek's father were siblings. Spacek even lived with Torn when she first moved to New York to become an actress. Spacek has appeared in such films as “Carrie”. Torn has appeared in “Men in Black”.
11. Kyra Sedgwick and Edie Sedgwick
Kyra Sedgwick (married to actor Kevin Bacon) is the first cousin of the 1960s Andy Warhol muse, the late Edie Sedgwick. Both actresses are decedents of a Sedgwick family that settled in Massachusetts in 1635. Kyra Sedgwick is the star of "The Closer." Edie Sedgwick starred in several of Andy Warhol’s films.
10. James Franco and Dave Franco
James Franco is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, producer, teacher, and author known for his work in the TV biographical film “James Dean” and for playing Harry Osborn in the “Spiderman” film trilogy. His younger brother is American television and film actor Dave Franco who is best known for his roles in films like “21 Jump Street” and “Charlie St. Cloud” and for his work in ninth season of the TV series, “Scrubs”.
9. Gwyneth Paltrow and Katherine Moennig
Actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Katherine Moennig are cousins. Paltrow's mother (actress Blythe Danner) is the half-sister of Moennig's father. Gwyneth Paltrow has appeared in such films as “Seven” and “Shakespeare in Love”. Moennig is best known for her role on the Showtime series, "The L Word."
8. Philip Glass and Ira Glass
Composer Philip Glass and public radio host Ira Glass are first cousins. Phillip Glass has composed scored for such films as, “The Hours” and “Notes on a Scandal”. Ira Glass is the host of "This American Life," a weekly public radio show broadcast on more than 500 stations, which frequently features the music of Philip Glass.
7. Melissa Gorga and Ralph Macchio
Melissa Gorga is an American reality television personality who is known for being a member of the Reality series, “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” is a distant cousin of Ralph Macchio, an American actor best known for his role as Daniel LaRusso in the “The Karate Kid” film series and as Billy Gambini in the film, “My Cousin Vinny.”
6. Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal and Bill Bellamy
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal, nicknamed Shaq, is an American retired basketball player, former rapper and current analyst on the television program, “Inside the NBA”. His cousin is American actor and stand-up comedian, Bill Bellamy who first gained national notoriety on the HBO show, “Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam”.
5. Elizabeth, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen
27 year old twin actresses, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, (former child stars of the television series, “Full House”) and currently fashion designers are the perfect siblings to give their younger sister, 22 year-old Elizabeth Olsen career advice on her new found fame for her film work in “Martha Marcy May Marlene” (due out Oct 21st), “Red Lights” (with Robert De Niro and Sigourney Weaver). Elizabeth also recently wrapped the Josh Radnor-directed film, “Liberal Arts”. Their advice? – just, “be yourself”.
4. Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine
Actors Warren Beatty (of the film, “Heaven Can Wait”) and Shirley MacLaine (of the film, “Terms of Endearment”) are brother and sister. Beatty was reportedly inspired to start acting after witnessing his old sister’s success in Hollywood. Now these siblings (who hail from Richmond, Virginia) are both stars in show business.
3. Rashida Jones and Quincy Jones
Rashida Jones is an American film and television actress, comic book author, screenwriter, and occasional singer. Jones is widely known for her role as Ann Perkins on NBCs comedy “Parks and Recreation” and as Karen Filippelli on the American sitcom "The Office". Her father is Quincy Jones, an American record producer, conductor, arranger & composer. Her mother is Peggy Lipton, an American actress and former model. Lipton was an overnight success and is best known for her role Julie Barnes in the iconic counterculture TV show “The Mod Squad”.
2. Owen Wilson and Luke Wilson
Owen and Luke Wilson are brothers and both are American actors. Owen is known for his roles in such films as “The Royal Tenenbaums”, “Meet The Parents” and "Wedding Crashers”. Luke Wilson can also be seen in, “The Royal Tenenbaums”, “Legally Blonde” and “Old School.”
1. Halle Berry and Sarah Palin
Halle Berry revealed in an interview with “Extra” that she is related to politician/former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. Berry did not specify how she was related to the politician, except to say, "In some twisted way...somebody sent me this information that she was my distant relative.” “You want to know who I’m related to? Sarah Palin!” Berry told ”Extra’s” Jerry Penacoli who shouted “No!” in disbelief. Berry laughed and said, ”That’s what I said, ‘No!’” mimicking a horror movie scream. Berry won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002 for her performance in the film, “Monster's Ball”.
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