Famous Hollywood actors’ children are forced to live in their parents’ shadows. This is even more true when both parent and child have a career on the big screen. Children are constantly compared to their parents while trying to make a career for themselves.
Some parents and their children took their acting talents and played the roles of parent and child on-screen. This creates a more genuine relationship for viewers and the actors cherish the experience of working with their parents forever.
10 Two of Sylvester Stallone’s Children Starred In Rocky
Sylvester Stallone had not only one, but two of his real-life children portray his character’s son, Rocky Balboa Jr., in the Rocky films. His younger son, Seargeoh, played the role of a baby in Rocky II. Stallone’s other son, Sage, played the role in Rocky V at only 14 years old.
The father/son duo went on to work together in the 1996 film Daylight. Sage did not re-rise his role for the film Rocky Balboa due to commitments to another project. He sadly passed away in 2012 at only 36 years old from heart disease.
9 Meryl Streep Has Two Acting Daughters
Meryl Streep’s eldest daughter, Mamie Gummer, followed in her footsteps and became a professional actor. The mother/daughter duo starred in the 2015 film Ricki And The Flash. Streep plays rockstar Ricki Randazzo, who is trying to reconnect with her kids after being away for so long.
One of her kids is her daughter Julie, who is played by Streep’s actual daughter, Mamie Gummer. Streep and Gummer enjoyed working together on-set. Streep stated about her daughter: “She’s really good. I was really proud of her.” Streep’s other daughter, Grace, also has an interest in acting.
8 Bruce Willis Appeared Alongside His Daughter Rumer
Rumer Willis is Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s eldest daughter. She is no stranger to working on film projects with her parents. Before working with her dad, she starred in the films Now and Then and Striptease with her mom in the ’90s.
She appeared in The Whole Nine Yards and Hostage, with her father. Rumer plays the daughter of a cop in the 2005 film Hostage, which is played by her actual father, Bruce Willis. She continued her acting career and even landed a role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
7 The Douglas Family Proves It Really Does Run In The Family
The Douglases are known to be an acting family in the Hollywood film industry. The 2003 film It Runs in The Family proved exactly what the title says. The film features three generations of Douglases. Kirk Douglas, who had an extensive film career and recently passed in 2020, plays the grandfather, Mitchell Gromberg.
Kirk’s son, Michael, plays Alex Gromberg, Mitchell’s son in the film. Michael’s actual son, Cameron, plays Asher Gromberg, Mitchell’s grandson. The movie even features Kirk’s ex-wife, Diana Douglas, as Mitchell’s wife.
6 This Time, Tom Hanks’ Son Is The Star
Colin Hanks, Tom Hanks’ eldest son, starred in the 2008 film The Great Buck Howard alongside his co-star John Malkovich. Colin plays the character of Troy Gable, who is an aspiring writer that goes against his father’s wishes of him becoming a lawyer.
Colin’s father, Tom, makes an appearance in the film as Troy’s father. John Malkovich’s character, Buck Howard, is based upon the mentalist The Amazing Kreskin.
5 Henry Fonda Would Star In His Last Film With His Daughter
Jane Fonda played opposite her real-life father, Henry Fonda, in the 1981 drama film On Golden Pond. Henry starred in movies across five decades. Jane plays Chelsea Thayer Wayne, who has somewhat of a strained relationship with her father.
Henry plays Norman Thayer Jr. and his character’s wife is played by movie star Katharine Hepburn. Jane considers the proudest moment of her career to be producing On Golden Pond and giving the Oscar to her dad five months before he died as this was his last film.
4 James & Scott Caan Also Portray Characters With A Strained Relationship
Scott Caan is the son of longtime actor James Caan. James is known for many movies, one of which is for his performance of Sonny Corleone in The Godfather. Scott is widely known for his role as Detective Sergeant Danny Williams in Hawaii Five-0. In addition to acting, Scott was also a part of the ’90s hip-hop group The Whooliganz. He wrote the 2009 film Mercy and plays the character of Johnny Ryan.
The character also has a strained relationship with his father, Gerry Ryan, who is played by James Caan. The film was released at the Cinevegas Film Festival in 2009.
3 Donald & Kiefer Sutherland Play Estranged Father & Son
Donald Sutherland is another actor who has had a career in the Hollywood film industry for over five decades. His son, Kiefer, is also known for his acting abilities in films like The Lost Boys and Stand by Me.
The father/son duo star in Forsaken, a western film released in 2015. Kiefer plays John Henry Clayton, who leaves behind the life of crime in hopes of repairing the broken relationship between him and his father, Rev. Samuel Clayton, who is played by Kiefer’s actual dad, Donald.
2 Ben Stiller Starred Alongside His Father Jerry
Jerry Stiller, before starring in films with his son, Ben, was a part of a comedy duo called Stiller and Meara with his wife, Anne Meara. The couple was married until she died in 2015.
Jerry starred alongside his son, Ben, in several films. This includes Zoolander, Hot Pursuit, Heavyweights, and they play father/son in the 2007 film The Heartbreak Kid. The Heartbreak Kid is a remake of the 1972 film with the same name. Jerry recently passed in May 2020.
1 Will Smith & Jaden Smith Star In A Heartfelt Movie Together
The Smiths are another family that is full of acting talent. Will Smith starred in the 2006 heartfelt true story film The Pursuit of Happyness and played the father to his real-life son, Jaden Smith. Will was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his performance of single dad, Chris Gardner.
Jaden continued to pursue acting and worked with his dad again in 2013 for the film After Earth. He also starred in the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid alongside martial arts and acting superstar Jackie Chan.
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