Top 10 Times Nepo Babies Took on Roles That Reminded Us of Their Parents

Many celebrity kids fight to get away from their famous parents’ legacy. Billie Lourd openly embraces it. Carrie Fisher’s daughter didn’t just make an appearance in the franchise that made her mother famous. She even donned a similar hairstyle. While her mom originated Princess Leia, and her unmistakable hairdo, Lourd entered a galaxy far, far away in 2015’s “The Force Awakens,” playing Lieutenant Connix. She appeared in all three installments of the new trilogy. If that weren’t enough, after Fisher’s untimely passing, Lourd stood in as the young Leia in scenes taking place during the original movies.

There are few actors who embody the western like Clint Eastwood. Given his long history with the genre, and the fact that Hollywood doesn’t make as many gunslingers as they used to, it would seem unlikely that his son would go down that road. But 2015’s revisionist western, “Diablo,” is a story in dialogue with the kinds of movies the senior actor made. Scott Eastwood’s performance provides a twist on his dad’s persona. His character here is actually a villain, masquerading as a gun-toting hero. It’s an interesting concept, and one that tries to do something interesting with the myth of the wild west, even if critics were cold on it.

There’s a reason Philip Seymour Hoffman and director Paul Thomas Anderson were frequent collaborators. They brought out the best in each other. Hoffman passed in 2014, but his legacy lives on his son. Cooper Hoffman had never acted before, which was exactly the quality Anderson was looking for here. In “Licorice Pizza,” he plays a child actor, and seems to have the same ability to give an authentic, ground performance in front of a camera as his father. The fact that it’s his debut performance is truly shocking. Hoffman won acclaim, and even nabbed a few award nominations, for his work.

Uma Thurman starred in three Quentin Tarantino movies, and about 15 years later, her daughter would be in front of his camera. “Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood” is an alternate history of Hollywood in the late ‘60s. Maya Hawke was just one of several celebrity kids cast in the movie’s large ensemble, but her mother’s history with the director makes her appearance especially notable. Hawke plays Flowerchild, a character based on Manson Family member Linda Kasabian. Her performance is all too brief, but it feels like a fun and exciting way to honor her mom’s legacy. If it means she may work with the director again in the future, we’re all for it.

James Gandolfini gave one of the best performances of all time as Tony Soprano. Over six seasons, his incredible work was the centerpiece of one of HBO’s greatest series. Sadly, Gandolfini passed away in 2013. Following this, his son Michael entered the industry. As luck would have it, a prequel film about Tony Soprano went into production, and he was cast as the younger version of his father’s iconic character. Of course, these would be hard shoes to fill for any actor. However, Gandolfini more than wears them admirably, with many even singling out his performance as a high point.

The son of movie legend Bruce Lee was on the verge of superstardom when he played a vengeful antihero in this flick. Though it was very different in style from the martial arts movies his father made, it was easy to draw parallels between the two. Indeed, Brandon was well on his way to becoming an action star in his own right. But there’s another, more tragic reason his participation in the film reminded people of Bruce Lee. Sadly, he died during production due to a freak accident with a prop gun. His dad unfortunately passed shortly prior to “Enter the Dragon”’s release, which would become his most famous project.

Denzel Washington has done some career-best work with writer-director Spike Lee. Together, they told some unforgettable stories. So, when it was announced the actor’s son, John David Washington, would star in Lee’s 2018 movie, “BlacKkKlansman,” it immediately invited comparison. But it wasn’t just that he was working with one of his father’s frequent collaborators. In the film, Washington plays a detective trying to investigate local Ku Klux Klan members. It's an important and urgent story, and the leading role feels like one his dad would have played for the director had it been made 30 years earlier.

In the blockbusting erotic trilogy, Johnson plays Anastasia Steele, a college student who becomes twisted up in the web of a businessman with an intense approach to relationships. You’d think some of the stuff in this drama could only be made in a more progressive, modern era. But if you know anything about Dakota Johnson’s mother, Melanie Griffith, you’d know that roles in risqué projects are something of a family hobby. Griffith had many femme fatale roles in thrillers like “Body Double” and “Night Moves.” These movies almost feel like precursors to the titillating thrills of “Fifty Shades,” as they all share a desire to push the boundaries of what can be shown on the silver screen.

A sexy, dark Bob Fosse musical set against the backdrop of the rising fascism in 1930s Germany is a far cry from the kind of happy, old-fashioned jaunts Judy Garland made. However, it was hard not to see her legendary knack for song, dance, and drama in “Cabaret”’s star. Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli, rightfully won an Oscar for her role as Sally Bowles, the headliner of a seedy Berlin cabaret. With the part, Minnelli proved she has more than nepotism on her side. She’s a natural talent. While she was able to carve out an image and persona of her own, Minnelli still pays tribute to her mother’s massive legacy in her own work.

Director John Carpenter was upfront about why he decided to cast the daughter of “Psycho” Janet Leigh as his lead: smart marketing for his indie horror flick. “Psycho” was a modern horror masterpiece, and Leigh’s onscreen death was a defining cinematic moment. Ultimately, Curtis’ casting turned out to be doubly effective. She was a huge get not only for her pedigree, but also because she turned out to be an undeniably good performer. As “Halloween”’s final girl Laurie Strode, she launched a career and embodied a horror movie archetype. She would go on to play other roles in other genres, but her movie debut is still one of her most famous appearances.

Which of these nepo babies wowed you with their talent? Let us know in the comments.