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Stars and their famous fathers

Stars and their famous fathers

By Aja Hoggatt and Maureen Lee Lenker

June 12, 2020 at 01:17 PM EDT

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It's all in the family

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Father’s Day is all about celebrating the dads and father figures in your life. There’s plenty to be found in films and television, but what about the real life Hollywood dads who have produced some famous offspring? In honor of dad’s special day, here’s a round-up of some of Hollywood’s most memorable father-child pairs.

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Denzel and John David Washington

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Denzel Washington is a modern acting legend, but his son John David Washington is quickly following in his dad’s footsteps with leading roles in projects like Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman and Christopher Nolan’s Tenet. John David got his start in small uncredited roles in some of Denzel’s most beloved films like Malcolm X and Devil in a Blue Dress, but now he’s a movie star in his own right. —Maureen Lee Lenker

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Stellan, Alexander, Bill, Gustaf, and Valter Skarsgård

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Like father, like son seems to rule the Skarsgård family lives by. Patriarch Stellan Skarsgård has over an astounding 140 acting credits to his name and it's clear his children were watching. Four of his eight children are actors. His most famous offspring, Alexander, rose to fame on the popular HBO vampire series True Blood and has since gone on to star in high-profile projects such as The Legend of Tarzan and Big Little Lies which earned the actor several awards including an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Proving that Hollywood loves handsome brothers, Alexander's younger brother Bill Skarsgård terrified a new generation as Pennywise in It and It 2. Gustaf has been seen in Westworld, Vikings, and Netflix's Cursed, and Valter appeared in the Scandinavian series Black Lake. —Aja Hoggatt

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Quincy and Rashida Jones

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Actress Rashida Jones is the daughter of legendary record producer and composer Quincy Jones and Twin Peaks actress Peggy Lipton. Quincy Jones has a long and varied career that spans from scoring films like In Cold Blood to producing Michael Jackson’s hit records Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. Rashida has carved out a similarly impressive range for herself, appearing on shows like The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Angie Tribeca. She’s also a writer and producer, penning feature film Celeste and Jesse Forever and producing a documentary about her father, Quincy. —M.L.L.

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Clint and Scott Eastwood

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Following in Clint Eastwood's footsteps are large boots to fill, which is why — following a few early appearances in his father's films — Scott Eastwood decided not to use his famous last name, instead adopting his mother's maiden name for a number of years. He has since embraced his roots and gone on to appear in a string of blockbusters including Pacific Rim: Uprising, Suicide Squad, and The Fate of the Furious. —A.H.

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Ron and Bryce Dallas Howard

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Ron Howard is such a beloved Hollywood dad, he inspired Bryce Dallas Howard to make her feature film directorial debut with a documentary called Dads. The two have a lot in common, having both started their careers as actors (Ron in The Music Man, American Graffiti, and The Andy Griffith Show; Bryce in films like The Help and the Jurassic World franchise), but eventually transitioned to directing. —M.L.L.

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Don and Dakota Johnson

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Dakota Johnson is yet another star with two famous parents on this list. Miami Vice star Don Johnson and Working Girl’s Melanie Griffith are her parents. She exploded on the scene after winning the highly coveted role of Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades of Grey adaptations, but has continued to work steadily since, aiming for career longevity just like good old dad who continues to have scene-stealing roles in projects like Knives Out, Django Unchained, and Watchmen. —M.L.L.

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Josh and James Brolin

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How do you one-up a dad like James Brolin with an Emmy-winning acting career and a 20-year marriage with Barbra Streisand? You become a full-fledged movie star like Josh Brolin with a list of enviable acting credits including Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, Milk, Deadpool 2, and the upcoming Dune. —A.H.

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Phil and Lily Collins

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Phil Collins is a 1980s icon, both for his work with band Genesis and his rock star bonafides as a solo artist. He passed along the talent to his daughter Lily Collins, who chose to pursue acting and modeling instead of music. She’s appeared in films like Mirror Mirror, Rules Don’t Apply, and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. —M.L.L.

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O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Ice Cube

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As the spitting image of his father Ice Cube, it's no surprise that O'Shea Jackson Jr. made his big screen debut playing his father in the 2015 N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton. Since his breakout performance, Jackson has appeared in a steady string of films, but the young actor has his work cut out for him if he hopes to catch up to his father's long list of acting credits. —A.H.

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Ethan and Maya Hawke

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Daughter of ‘90s “it” boy and girl Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, Maya has acting in her blood. She made her screen debut as Jo March in a television adaptation of Little Women and has since appeared in projects like Stranger Things and Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Ethan, who rose to fame on projects like Training Day and Before Sunrise, continues a prolific output and has a new TV show The Good Lord Bird in the works. —M.L.L.

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Donald and Kiefer Sutherland

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While Donald and Kiefer Sutherland appeared together in Max Dugan Returns and A Time to Kill the pair did not share screen time or play father and son until the 2016 Western Forsaken. —A.H.

Related: Forsaken: EW review

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Steven and Liv Tyler

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Steven and Liv Tyler make for another musician father-actress daughter combo. Steven is the lead singer of rock band Aerosmith, while Liv is best known to audiences for playing Arwen in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. She’s also appeared in Empire Records, Armageddon, The Incredible Hulk, and Hulu’s Harlots. —M.L.L.

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Jake and Gary Busey

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While he has yet to star in films as popular as Point Break or Lethal Weapon like his father Gary, Jake Busey has maintained a consistent acting career, appearing in television shows From Dusk Till Dawn, Ray Donovan, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, L.A.'s Finest, and season 3 of Stranger Things. —A.H.

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Ryan and Tatum O’Neal

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Ryan and Tatum O’Neal have had a rocky relationship for much of her life, amplified by divorce and addiction. But the two made an unforgettable onscreen duo in 1973’s Paper Moon, which made Tatum the youngest person ever to win a competitive Oscar. Both Ryan and Tatum are still acting, often appearing as guest stars on TV or in theatrical productions. —M.L.L.

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James and Scott Caan

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From a mobster in The Godfather to elite Hawaiian police officer in Hawaii Five-0, James and Scott Caan always play memorable characters. —A.H.

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Lenny and Zoey Kravitz

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Rock star Lenny Kravitz is the son of actress Roxie Roker, so it’s not all that odd that his daughter by actress Lisa Bonet, Zoe Kravitz, chose the same path. While Kravitz continues his music career, Zoe has built a steady career for herself, particularly in prestige television projects like Big Little Lies and High Fidelity. —M.L.L.

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Paul and Stella McCartney

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As a member of The Beatles and a storied artist beyond that, Paul McCartney is one of the biggest rock stars to ever live. But his daughter Stella has her own brand recognition. Literally. Stella is an iconic fashion designer with an eponymous brand, and she’s partnered with everyone from Adidas to Taylor Swift, even being the Creative Director for Team Great Britain during the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. —M.L.L.

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Will, Jaden and Willow Smith

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Both veteran actors in their own right, Will and Jaden Smith have made acting a family affair, having starred in two films together over the years. Daughter Willow is also a force to be reckoned with, appearing opposite Will in I Am Legend and launching a music career with Jay-Z’s record label Roc Nation. —M.L.L.

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Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, and Emilio Estevez

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One's the controversial sitcom star, Charlie Sheen. One's a former member of the 1980s Brat Pack, Emilo Estevez. One's played both a US president and Uncle Ben, Martin Sheen. But they all have left a lasting impact on Hollywood. —A.H.

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The Fonda family

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It’s incredible that so much talent could be in one family but Henry Fonda and children Jane and Peter suggest there’s something special in their gene pool. Henry Fonda was a classic Hollywood star in films like 12 Angry Men and The Grapes of Wrath. Peter and Jane both followed in dad’s footsteps as performers. Peter and Jane were both 1960s icons with Peter emblematizing the counterculture writing and starring in Easy Rider and Jane taking an active role in Civil Rights activism and anti-Vietnam War protests. Peter died in 2019, but Jane is still acting and agitating in projects like Netflix’s Grace and Frankie. —M.L.L.

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Arnold and Patrick Schwarzenegger

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After small roles in both film and television throughout the years, Patrick Schwarznegger proved he was a leading man in his own right when he starred in Midnight Sun alongside Bella Thorne and followed it up with the horror film Daniel Isn’t Real. After proving that he can play a dynamic lead, only one question remains — will he follow in his father Arnold’s footsteps and add action star to his resume? —A.H.

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Brian and Allison Williams

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While Brian Williams rose to popularity as a respected newsman and nightly anchor (though he was demoted in 2015 for misrepresenting events while he was covering the Iraq War in 2003), Allison Williams chose to pursue acting. She rose to fame on HBO’s Girls, and has continued to work steadily in projects like Get Out and A Series of Unfortunate Events. —M.L.L.

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Damon Wayans Jr. and Damon Wayans

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Within a family of entertainers too big to count, are Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. From Happy Endings, to New Girl, to Lethal Weapon, the father even turned up on his son’s sitcom, Happy Together. —A.H.

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Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie

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Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie don’t have the best relationship of the families on this list. She’s previously said they don’t speak, and she chooses to use her mother’s surname. But they do share a profession. Jolie actually made her screen debut opposite her father in Lookin’ to Get Out. Voight rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s in films like Midnight Cowboy, and Jolie made a similar provocative bid for fame in edgier fare like Hackers and Girl, Interrupted before embarking on franchises like Tomb Raider and Maleficent. —M.L.L.

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Adam and Alan Arkin

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While Alan Arkin has followed in his father Alan’s footsteps as an actor, it seems he is just as passionate about a career behind the camera, directing episodes of Masters of Sex, Billions, and Fargo to name a few. —A.H.

Related: Oscar race 2007: Alan Arkin

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Rob Schneider and Elle King

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Funny-man Rob Schneider is known for his work alongside friends Adam Sandler and David Spade is father to singer-songwriter Elle King. Best known for her hit single, “Ex's & Oh's", King has carved herself out a space as a bluesy vocalist distinct from her father’s goofier sensibilities as an artist. —M.L.L.

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Jeff, Lloyd, and Beau Bridges

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One of Hollywood's most famous acting families, this critically acclaimed trio of Jeff Bridges, Lloyd Bridges, and Beau Bridges have amassed countless acting awards between the three of them and brought us unforgettable characters. —A.H.

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John and Jennifer Aniston

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Arguably, Jennifer Aniston has eclipsed her father in fame with her star-making success on Friends that she parlayed into a film career (The Break-Up, Cake, Horrible Bosses) and continued TV work like The Morning Show. The two share a start in television – John is most famous for his role as Victor Kiriakis on NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, which he originated in July 1985 and has played continuously since. —M.L.L.

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Tom and Colin Hanks

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There was a period of time when Tom Hanks' other son, rapper Chet Haze, was stealing most of the spotlight — and not necessarily for the best reasons. But Colin's roles on Drunk History, Life in Pieces, and Fargo, among others, have him back on top. —A.H.

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Lionel and Nicole Richie

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Nicole Richie is perhaps the epitome of celebrity in that she’s predominantly famous for being herself, but she has strong Hollywood roots. The adopted daughter of famous “Hello” singer Lionel Richie, she rose to fame alongside childhood best friend Paris Hilton on reality series The Simple Life. Since then, Nicole has branched out into acting, having a series regular role on sitcom Great News, and a satirical lifestyle show on Quibi, Nikki Fre$h. —M.L.L.

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Stars and their famous fathers

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It's all in the family

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Denzel and John David Washington

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Stellan, Alexander, Bill, Gustaf, and Valter Skarsgård

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Quincy and Rashida Jones

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Clint and Scott Eastwood

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Ron and Bryce Dallas Howard

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Don and Dakota Johnson

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Josh and James Brolin

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Phil and Lily Collins

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O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Ice Cube

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Ethan and Maya Hawke

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Donald and Kiefer Sutherland

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Steven and Liv Tyler

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Jake and Gary Busey

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Ryan and Tatum O’Neal

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James and Scott Caan

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Lenny and Zoey Kravitz

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Paul and Stella McCartney

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Will, Jaden and Willow Smith

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Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, and Emilio Estevez

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The Fonda family

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Arnold and Patrick Schwarzenegger

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Brian and Allison Williams

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Damon Wayans Jr. and Damon Wayans

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Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie

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Adam and Alan Arkin

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