Top 10 Celebs You Didn't Know Were Nepotism Babies

Zoey Deutch first hit our screens on Disney Channel’s “The Suite Life on Deck” as Zack Martin’s girlfriend, and made her big breakthrough as the lead in the 2014 “Vampire Academy”. She has since starred in Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” music video and movies such as Netflix rom-com “Set It Up” and the horror sequel “Zombieland: Double Tap.” As it turns out, Deutch does have some industry connections. Her dad is “Pretty in Pink” director Howard Deutch and her mother is “Back to the Future” actress Lea Thompson. Zoey’s older sister, Madelyn, is also an actress. The dramedy “The Year of Spectacular Men” was a real family affair, directed by Thompson, produced by Zoey and Howard, and starring both sisters with a screenplay and film score by Madelyn.

You might recognise Wyatt Russell as John Walker from the Disney + series “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” or perhaps as the lead from the “Playtest” episode of “Black Mirror.” His career may be on the up, but he’s not yet reached the heights of his famous family. Russell is the son of Hollywood actors Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn. Incidentally, Kate and Oliver Hudson are his half siblings. Even his grandfather, Bing Russell, was an actor, appearing in films such as “The Magnificent Seven.” Wyatt was actually a professional ice hockey player until 2010, when he was forced to retire due to injuries. In need of a new career path, Russell finally decided to follow in his family’s footsteps.

Margaret Qualley recently earned Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her starring role in Netflix’s “Maid.” She has previously appeared in the HBO show “The Leftovers” in addition to movies such as “Once Upon A Time…in Hollywood.” Qualley originally trained as a ballerina and later became a model. When visiting an actor boyfriend on the set of “Palo Alto”, she was snapped up for a small role and the rest is history. What you may not have realized is that Qualley is actually the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell, star of movies such as “Groundhog Day” and “Four Weddings and a Funeral.” Qualley’s sister, Rainey, is also an actress and musician, sometimes known by the stage name Rainsford.

Nowadays, American-British actress Lily Collins is probably more easily recognisable than her famous father. If you didn’t know already, the “Emily in Paris” star is the daughter of English musician, Phil Collins. Lily’s dad was the drummer in rock band “Genesis” and went on to be one of the most successful UK solo artists of the eighties. He even has an Oscar for Best Original Song, which we won for “Tarzan’s” “You’ll Be in My Heart.” Lily sings too, and although Phil no longer treads the boards, it’s possible his daughter caught the acting bug from her dad. After all, he did star as the Artful Dodger in the West End when he was thirteen. Seems it runs in the family.

Elvis Presley remains one of the most beloved stars of all time and, although he was gone far too soon, it’s nice to see that he’s passed down some of his talents. Riley Keough had her first film role in movie biopic “The Runaways” when she was twenty years old. She has sung on screen in 2017’s “We Don’t Belong Here” and will soon appear as the title character in a TV adaptation of “Daisy Jones & The Six”, which follows a 1970s rock band. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in “The Girlfriend Experience” and won a Caméra d'Or Award with her directorial debut “War Pony.” At this point, you might not even connect her with her famous grandfather.

#5: Jack Quaid

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Although Jack Quaid had a small role as a tribute in “The Hunger Games” his big break came when he was cast as Hughie Campbell in Amazon series “The Boys.” You might also recognise him from the 2022 “Scream” reboot. Quaid is yet another up and coming actor with two famous parents. We think he bears a strong resemblance to his dad, Dennis, who played the twins’ father in “The Parent Trap.” Jack’s mom is also none other than rom-com queen Meg Ryan, star of “You’ve Got Mail” and “When Harry Met Sally.” Jack’s uncle, Randy Quaid, is also an actor, with a plethora of accolades to his name.

Mariska Hargitay made her name in the eighties and nineties but is probably best known as Olivia Benson in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”, which has been on our screens since 1999. But, did you know that her mother was also an actress? Jayne Mansfield was 20th Century Fox’s answer to Marilyn Monroe and one of the “blonde bombshells” of the fifties and sixties. She won a Golden Globe for “Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?” in 1957 but is more often associated with her glamorous image and well-publicized personal life. She died in a car crash at the age of thirty four. Hargitay, then three years old, and her two brothers were also in the crash but escaped with only minor injuries.

Maya Rudolph kick-started her career on SNL. Her most famous film role is probably Lillian in “Bridesmaids” but she’s also done extensive voice acting and won three Primetime Emmy nominations for her role in “The Good Place.” You may not know the identity of Rudolph’s famous mother, who died when she was seven years old, but chances are you’ll have heard her voice. The actress is the daughter of singer Minnie Riperton, best known for the 1975 single “Lovin’ You.” Riperton’s trademark highnotes are legendary - she had a four octave vocal range, stretching from D3 to F♯7. Reportedly, the melody for “Lovin’ You” was written as a distraction for baby Maya, and her name can be heard at the end of the unedited track.

Did you know that Nicolas Cage’s real name is Nicolas Coppola? The Oscar winning actor may have won acclaim in his own right, but he’s also the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola, the acclaimed director of “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now.” At the age of fifteen, Cage badgered his uncle to give him a screen test, but Coppola wouldn’t play ball. Nevertheless, the actor changed his name so that any future achievements wouldn’t be connected with his uncle. Cage’s first cousins include “Princess Diaries” actor Robert Schwartzman, his actor brother Jason Schwartzman, and award winning screenwriter and director, Sofia Coppola.

“The Gilded Age” is a recent period drama from the creator of “Downton Abbey.” The show is set in New York in the in 1880s, and features a young cast of mostly unknowns. Louisa Jacobson plays Marian, one of the main characters in the first season. However, it’s likely she’ll feel more at home in the acting world than Marian does in New York society. Jacobson is actually the youngest of Meryl Streep’s four children. Her older sisters, Mamie and Grace Gummer are also actresses, working both in TV and the theater world. Jacobson graduated from Yale School of Drama and has done some stage work, but “The Gilded Age” is her debut television role.