Hollywood may be like a never-ending galaxy of stars, but strip away the red-carpet glitz and it’s one giant family tree, complete with surprise cousins, unexpected siblings, and the occasional royal relative. Check out our countdown of 10 of the most shocking celebrity family ties that show that Tinseltown is smaller than you’d imagine.
10. Sabrina Carpenter & Nancy Cartwright
Pop singer Sabrina Carpenter grew up with one wildly animated aunt, Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson. Sabrina has remarked that it was trippy having Bart at the dinner table, making family gatherings a tad louder (and humorously so) than most.
9. Snoop Dogg, Brandy & Ray J
West Coast hip hop collides with R&B royalty; Snoop Dogg is first cousins with Brandy and Ray J. Though they didn’t stress it initially, their family tree would serve as a greatest-hits playlist.
8. Gabrielle Union & Saweetie
Actress Gabrielle Union and rapper Saweetie are relatives as well, second cousins, to be precise. Union has revealed that Saweetie’s father is her first cousin, and even drew inspiration for a movie character from Saweetie’s grandmother. Saweetie, for her part, refuses to ride the coattails of the star power in her family.
7. Jason Sudeikis & George Wendt
Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis is the nephew of Cheers legend George Wendt (aka Norm!). Sudeikis has attributed his interest in acting to his uncle, and Wendt has cheerfully referred to his nephew as smart, thoughtful, and talented.
6. Nicolas Cage & Sofia Coppola
Nicolas Cage might have lost the Coppola surname, but he’s still Hollywood royalty. Cage is the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola and thus a cousin of Sofia Coppola. He famously changed his surname to “Cage” to stop people from making Godfather jokes about him, but the family name says it all.
5. Shirley MacLaine & Warren Beatty
Oscar-winning skills are in the genes for Shirley MacLaine and her sibling, Warren Beatty. The two powerhouse actors have both established legendary careers, with Beatty thanking his feminist sister and mother for influencing his perspective.
4. Elle & Dakota Fanning with Kate Middleton
The Fanning sisters have an unexpected royal connection; they’re distant cousins of Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales. Elle once described the discovery as “so weird,” but confessed she’d always wanted to explore her family tree. Guess Hollywood royalty does meet with real royalty.
3. Jimmy Carter & Berry Gordy
Former President Jimmy Carter and Motown creator Berry Gordy have more in common than legendary careers; they’re third cousins. The pair found out about their relationship at a benefit in the ’80s and soon began addressing one another as “cuz.” Talk about a funky family reunion.
2. Ben Affleck & Jennifer Affleck (The Secret Life of Mormon Wives)
Here’s the twist: Ben Affleck is connected to TikTok star Jennifer Affleck, who appears on Hulu’s The Secret Life of Mormon Wives. To make it even crazier, Jennifer’s mom gave her the name J.Lo, and so she shares the same name as Ben’s wife.
1. Hugh Grant & Thomas Brodie-Sangster
The top spot goes to Love Actually co-stars Hugh Grant and Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who are actually second cousins. Neither knew until they met on set, making their connection one of the sweetest surprises in Hollywood.
So, the next time you’re watching a movie or a show, remember, Hollywood isn’t just about stars. Sometimes, it’s all in the family.