Talent really does run in the family for these celebrity actors, as aspiring sons and daughters reach out for some of daddy's spotlight.
/ 38 PHOTOS
Peter and Henry Fonda
"Henry Fonda's son. That's how everybody identified me until 'Easy Rider' came along," noted Peter Fonda, left, of his late Oscar-winning pop. The two shared a screen credit only once, in 1979's "Wanda Nevada," which Peter directed and starred in. Dad's role? As an "old prospector." Solid gold!
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Emilio Estevez, Ramon Estevez, Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen
Acting is a family business for, from left, Emilio Estevez, Ramon Estevez, Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen. This father-sons group loves sharing screen time together. Martin has appeared as Charlie's pop in television shows, including "Spin City" and "Wall Street," and the elder Sheen has played Emilio's dad in films such as "In the Custody of Strangers." Emilio is often the one giving orders these days, directing his dear old dad in films such as 2010's "The Way."
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Freddie and Freddie Prinze Jr.
Freddie Prinze Jr., right, never really knew his dad, who died when Prinze was just 10 months old. But by following in his father's footsteps, he's kept the "Chico and the Man" star in mind every step of the way. "Every decision I've made in this business has been motivated by my father," Prinze said in 2005.
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Bob and Ziggy Marley
And the beat goes on, at least in the case of Bob, left, and Ziggy Marley. Father Bob was a legendary reggae artist, and Ziggy was one of 11 children he sired. But Ziggy (and sibs Sharon, Cedella and Stephen) managed to get a chance to officially play with Dad before his death — on 1979's "Children Playing in the Streets," which marked their recording debut.
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John, Sean and Julian Lennon
Legendary Beatle John Lennon, left, had two sons who followed him into the music business: Julian, right, and his younger brother Sean. Julian's 1984 debut album gave him immediate success and was nominated for a Grammy, but following records were not as well received. Sean became a member of the group Cibo Matto in the 1996, and released his first solo album in 1998.
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Jeff, Lloyd and Beau Bridges
Where Lloyd Bridges, center, went, sons Jeff, left, and Beau would follow, pretty much since their infancy. At least, when it came to the screen, that is. Both sons appeared with their late father on his classic 1950s series "Sea Hunt" and in his variety series, "The Lloyd Bridges Show." Both have gone on to have successful careers in acting.
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John and Sean Astin
Actor John, left, best known for his role as Gomez Addams on "The Addams Family," may not be Sean's biological father, but Sean has always considered him his "real" dad. John adopted Sean after marrying his mom, Patty Duke in 1972. Sean made his movie debut in 1985's "The Goonies" and went on to star in films such as "Rudy" and "Lord of the Rings." He's now part of the ensemble cast of the critically acclaimed Netflix series "Stranger Things."
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Gary and Jake Busey
Like father, like son ... at least in parts: Jake, right, has not only caught the acting bug from pop Gary, he's also a rock 'n roller like his dad. But acting came first for the younger Busey, who debuted with Gary in "Straight Time" in 1978 when he was just 7. The two have gone on to appear in several other rough-and-tumble flicks since. Meanwhile, the younger Busey also toured with several of his dad's bands and now has one of his own, "Sons of the Lawless."
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Nicolas and Weston Cage
Weston Cage, right, may not literally be following in the steps of dad Nicolas, but both have a flair for the dramatic: Weston is best known as the singer in the black metal band Eyes of Noctum — a role that prepared him perfectly to play a Ukranian mechanic in Nicolas' 2005 film "Lord of War." He also played the younger version of Nicolas' character Paul in 2014's "Rage."
— Alison Buck / FilmMagic
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George and Nick Clooney
George Clooney, left, nearly followed in his journalist father's footsteps, but opted not to compete with dad Nick and became an actor instead. The two have one tiny credit together: both speak on the commemorative video "The Golden Anniversary" about Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's relationship. The two are largely connected today outside the family by their shared commitment to charitable causes.
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Michael and Kirk Douglas
Though Michael, left, was a well-established actor in 1975, his legendary father -- who starred in "Spartacus" — gave his son's career a real kickstart when he handed over the rights to make a film of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Michael got the movie made and earned a producing Oscar for his work. The two have appeared alongside one another in a handful of films, including 2003's "It Runs in the Family," which also featured Michael's son Cameron and mom Diana.
— GREG GORMAN / AP
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Bob and Jakob Dylan
Unlike many famous celebrity father-son teams, Jakob, right, and Bob Dylan have not spent any time letting their careers overlap, even though they've both forged rock inroads for themselves: Bob as the architect of the folk-rock 1960s and Jakob largely as leader of The Wallflowers.
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Tom and Colin Hanks
It's not hard to figure out who Colin Hanks', right, father is — he and Oscar-winning dad Tom are almost spitting images of each another. Colin has also chosen to forge his own path in film and television. He appeared together with his dad, as father and son in the comedy-drama "The Great Buck Howard," in which Colin had a leading role. Colin also had a minor role in the 1996 film "That Thing You Do!," written/directed by and starring Tom.
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Romeo and Master P
When your mother (Sonya C), uncles (C-Murder, Silkk the Shocker) and father (Master P, right) are all rappers, let's just say it's in the blood. Such is the story of Romeo (aka Percy Romeo Miller Jr.). Father and son have shared some screen time together (notably in 2007's "Uncle P"), while Romeo dedicated the tune "Ice Cream Man Jr." to his father in 2010. Both have also appeared on "Dancing With the Stars," Master P in season two, and Romeo in season 12. At VH1 ‘Hip Hop Honors’ in 2010, Romeo graced the stage for a tribute performance to his dad.
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Phil and Lily Collins
Phil Collins, a Grammy-winning musician, is best known as the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also as a solo artist; his most successful singles including "In the Air Tonight" and "Against All Odds." Unlike her dad, Lily Collins has gained her fame in movies, appearing in "Mirror, Mirror," "The English Teacher" and most recently in "To the Bone." She also dabbles in writing. Her debut novel, "Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me," was released to critical praise.
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Alan and Robin Thicke
Yes, like his late father, Alan, musician Robin Thicke is also a songwriter, but it's hard to imagine two more different muses: Alan took credit for theme songs such as "The Facts of Life" and "Diff'rent Strokes" (plus he starred "Growing Pains" and "I'm in the Band") while Robin's tastes tend toward R&B and artists such as Lil Wayne and Will Smith, both of whom he's worked with. Alan Thicke passed away suddenly in December 2016 and Robin honored him on Instagram: “He was the best man I ever knew. The best friend I ever had. Let’s all rejoice and celebrate the joy he brought to every room he was in. We love you Alan Thicke. Thank you for your love. Love, your grateful son.”
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Carl and Rob Reiner
Give father-son funnymen Carl, left, and Rob Reiner a reason to make you laugh, and they will. Sure, Rob is a director of sometimes funny, sometimes treacly films, while his dad is more about outrageous slapstick, but they continue to work together just fine. One of Rob's first screen appearances was in Carl's "Enter Laughing" in 1967.
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Will and Jaden Smith
Few kids come out of the womb as camera-ready as Jaden Smith — and why not? His dad is box-office king Will Smith, and mom is actress Jada Pinkett Smith. Jaden won audiences over with his performance in "The Pursuit of Happyness" — his film debut — in 2006, opposite Will, who played his father. Jaden starred in 2010's "The Karate Kid," produced by dad, which sent him into superstardom. The two reunited onscreen for 2013's sci-fi film "After Earth," in which they again played father and son.
— Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic
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Kiefer and Donald Sutherland
They're both strong actors, so it's a surprise that Donald, left, and Kiefer Sutherland haven't appeared in more films together. They have shared screen time in both 1983's "Max Dugan Returns" and 1996's "A Time to Kill," but nothing significant since. Donald's most notable films include "MASH," "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and, more recently, "The Hunger Games" film series, while Kiefer's includes the series "24" and films "Stand By Me" and "Lost Boys."
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Jerry and Ben Stiller
Somehow, not only did Ben Stiller, right, inherit his father Jerry's funny bone, it turns out it's pretty similar to the same wacky, surreal one his dad made famous. The two sync so well they've got a ton of shared film credits, from 1991's "Highway to Hell" to 2001's "Zoolander." Jerry even got a thanks in 1994's "Reality Bites," one of Ben's early hits.
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James and Scott Caan
James, left, kicked off his acting career with TV series including "The Untouchables" and "Alfred Hitchcock Hour" before later moving to films. He earned an Oscar nod for his role as Sonny Corleone in "The Godfather." The younger Caan kicked off his career in music as a roadie for Cypress Hill and House of Pain. It wasn't until the late '90s that he appeared in indie and low-budget films. Since then, he has had roles in the "Ocean's Eleven" trilogy and HBO series "Entourage." He now stars as Danno in the "Hawaii 5-0" remake on CBS.
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Alec and Ireland Baldwin
Both Ireland Baldwin's parents — Alec Baldwin and his ex-wife Kim Basinger — are Hollywood stars, but she's carved her own path as a fashion model ... who occasionally acts. While dad wowed audiences in "Beetlejuice," and "The Hunt For Red October" (and later starred in the NBC hit comedy "30 Rock"), Ireland signed her first modeling contract as a teen. She made her own screen debut in 2013 playing a younger version of her mother's character in "Grudge Match."
— Jim Spellman / WireImage
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Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley
Billy Ray and his daughter Miley Cyrus share a love of music, acting and tattoos. (In fact, Miley paid tribute to the old man with a tattoo that says "Dad" on her foot.) Billy Ray scored a crossover country mega-hit with 1992's "Achy Breaky Heart," and later flexed his acting muscles on his own CMT series "Doc." Miley joined her dad a few times on that series before the pair starred together in the Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana." Like dad, free-spirited Miley eventually conquered the pop world and is now a mentor on "The Voice."
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Josh and James Brolin
Emmy winner James Brolin became a television star way back in 1969 thanks to his co-starring role on "Marcus Welby, M.D." He returned to TV on the '80s primetime soap "Hotel" and continues to be a near-constant presence. He's also appeared in memorable roles in films including "Pee-wee's Big Adventure" and "Catch Me If You Can." Son Josh Brolin got an early start on his acting career when he was cast in the kids' flick "The Goonies," and later earned raves for his dramatic turns in "No Country for Old Men," "Milk" and "Jonah Hex," among other films. The duo have appeared in just two movies together: 1989's "Finish Line" and 1997's "My Brother's War."
— Kevin Mazur / WireImage
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Johnny and Lily-Rose Depp
Johnny is one of Hollywood's most sought-after actors, with a career that's taken him from teen star on "21 Jump Street" to action hero in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise. (Of course, Depp's appeared in no shortage of offbeat cult films along the way!) Lily-Rose shares her dad's penchant for acting. The actress and model (whose mom is French pop singer Vanessa Paradis) is just 18 but has already appeared alongside her dad in the American horror flick "Tusk," and its sequel "Yoga Hosers." She also portrayed Isadora Duncan in "The Dreamers," and more recently, starred opposite Natalie Portman in the foreign drama "Planetarium."
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Francesca, Clint and Scott Eastwood
Before becoming a two-time Oscar-winning director, Clint was one of Hollywood's most famous tough guys, portraying rogue cop Harry Callahan in five "Dirty Harry" movies. His lookalike son, Scott Eastwood, is also an actor, one who remembers being in awe of his famous dad. "As a younger kid, there was kind of an aura of greatness. Like's he's my hero," Scott has said. The two have appeared onscreen twice so far: in 2008's "Gran Torino" and again in 2012's "Trouble With the Curve." Clint's daughter Francesca Eastwood starred in the E! reality series "Mrs. Eastwood & Company" with her step-mom Dina and her half-sister Morgan. In 2017, she and her mom, actress Frances Fisher, played the young and old versions of the same character on an episode of "Fargo."
As an award-winning musician, composer, and producer, Quincy Jones has been at the forefront of the music industry for decades. Daughter Rashida (whose mom is actress Peggy Lipton) is a talented musician in her own right, even singing backing vocals for Maroon 5. But where Rashida really shines is onscreen. The Harvard-educated funny lady became a household name playing nurse Ann on NBC's "Parks and Recreation." She now stars on TBS's hilarious cop comedy "Angie Tribeca."
— Michael Kovac / WireImage
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Bryce and Ron Howard
Ron Howard and Hollywood go hand-in-hand. After all, the Oscar-winning director got his start as a child star on "The Andy Griffith Show" back in 1960. He later won new fans when he played wholesome '50s teen Richie Cunningham on "Happy Days." Bryce is following in her father's acting footsteps, and early on she appeared in three of his films as an extra. Her career skyrocketed after she starred in the 2004 thriller "The Village" and, later, "Spider-Man 3." More recently, Bryce charmed audiences in "The Help" and "Jurassic World."
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Daniel and Eugene Levy
Eugene Levy became a comedy giant thanks to his starring roles in the "American Pie" movies and his hilarious turns in offbeat gems including "Waiting For Guffman" and "Best In Show." The "SCTV" alum's son, Daniel got his start as an MTV personality in his native Canada and later appeared as a judge on "Canada's Next Top Model." More recently, he and his dad joined forces to create and star in the kooky Canadian sitcom "Schitt's Creek."
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Zoe and Lenny Kravitz
Zoe Kravitz inherited the same bohemian spirit and style her famous parents, Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet, have been rocking since the 1980s, so perhaps it's no surprise she inherited their love of acting and music, too. While mom rose to fame as a teen star on "The Cosby Show," Zoe's rocker dad started acting as a second career, showing off his dramatic chops in 2009's "Precious" and the first two "The Hunger Games" flicks. Zoe started racking up film and TV credits at 19, including roles in "X-Men: First Class" and "Mad Max: Fury Road." The actress, now a regular on HBO's "Big Little Lies," also fronts the funky electro-pop band Lolawolf.
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Paul and Stella McCartney
With a Beatle dad, you may have thought Stella McCartney might have become a musician herself, but instead she focused her ample creativity on the fashion world, creating her own critically acclaimed namesake designer label. Stella, whose late mom, Linda McCartney, was a famous rock photographer and a member of dad's band Wings, exhibits her own love of music with her costume collaborations with some of pop's biggest names, including her pal Madonna. No one's prouder of Stella than Paul himself, who told NBC News being the designer's dad was "pretty cool."
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Kelly and Ozzy Osbourne
In her younger, more rebellious years, especially, it wasn't hard to see the similarities between Kelly Osbourne and her rocker dad Ozzy. The two starred together with the rest of the family on the now-iconic reality series "The Osbourne" from 2002-2005. Kelly, whose mom is "The Talk" host Sharon Osbourne, recorded two solo albums before bringing her sharp wit to E!'s "Fashion Police" in 2011. She's now a judge on both "Australia's Got Talent" and "Project Runway Junior."
— Jerod Harris / WireImage
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Alexander and Stellan Skarsgard
Alexander Skarsgard inherited his dramatic flair from his father, actor Stellan Skarsgard, who's given memorable performances in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," "Thor" and "The Avengers," among other films. The younger Skarsgard created a name for himself with knockout performances in the TV shows "Generation Kill," "True Blood" and, most recently, HBO's "Big Little Lies." The father-son duo acted together for the first time in 2011's "Melancholia." Said Alexander, "It was awesome. He's one of my best friends. I love hanging out with him."
— Jeffrey Mayer / WireImage
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Lionel and Nicole Richie
Lionel Ritchie became a chart-topping musician as singer and songwriter for the legendary Motown group The Commodores and carried that success into his own remarkable solo career. The Grammy winner's daughter, Nicole Richie, flexes her creative muscles through acting, writing and fashion design. The once-wild teen rose to fame on the MTV reality show "The Simple Life" opposite then-BFF Paris Hilton, and now has the lead role on the NBC sitcom "Good News." In the meantime, she's managed to create her own fashion and home decor line and publish two novels.
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Chelsea, Mia, Liv and Steven Tyler
Rocker Steven has fronted the Grammy-winning band Aerosmith for decades and he's got the hits to show for it. His gorgeous daughters, Chelsea, Mia and Liv also love to entertain. Liv jumpstarted her acting career at 17 when she appeared (opposite Alicia Silverstone) in the video for Aerosmith's 1994 hit "Crazy." Mia did a stint as a VJ for MTV's "House of Style," but has really made her mark as a model. She and her dad appeared together on a 2014 episode of the reality cooking competition "Hell's Kitchen." Meanwhile, Tyler's youngest daughter, Chelsea, is a musician like her dad. Chelsea is one-half of the electronica pop duo Kaneholler.
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Damon Jr. and Damon Wayans
Comedy is the Wayans family business and no one knows that better than "In Living Color" star Damon Wayans and his son, actor and writer Damon Jr. After being cast in dad's 1994 movie "Blankman" and appearing on his hit sitcom "My Wife and Kids," Damon Jr. was soon starring (alongside uncles Keenen, Shawn and Marlon) in the Wayans family 2009 comedy "Dance Flick." The younger Wayans later played one of the lead characters on the ABC sitcom "Happy Endings."
— Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images for Disney
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Brian and Allison Williams
Actress Allison Williams loves her news-anchor dad Brian, but she's the first to admit it took a long time to get out from under his shadow. "It took years and a lot of diligence on my part. But I've formed my own thing, and now I get people who are surprised to find out he's my dad." Allison rose to fame as one of the stars of the cutting-edge HBO drama "Girls," and, later, NBC's "Peter Pan Live!" More recently, she earned raves for her role in the edgy horror flick "Get Out."
— Jason LaVeris / FilmMagic
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Rumer and Bruce Willis
The oldest daughter of dad Bruce and his ex-wife Demi Moore, Rumer Willis is carrying on the family tradition of entertaining. The singer and actress made her screen debut alongside her mother in 1995's "Now and Then," and later appeared in two movies with her dad, 2000's "The Whole Nine Yards" and 2005's "Hostage." Her screen and stage credits continue to mount — and even include a Season 20 championship win on "Dancing With the Stars."