Top 20 Celebrities You Didn't Know Are Related

Tomei and Moore both attended Boston University, both starred in the film, “Crazy, Stupid, Love”, and have both won acting Oscars. But they also share something even more unique. On a 2019 episode of the PBS show, “Finding Your Roots” Tomei learned that she shares an “identical stretch of DNA along (their) X-chromosome” with Moore. For all the non-genealogists in the audience, that means Marisa and Julianne are genetic cousins (insert your own “My Cousin Vinny” joke here). The news made Tomei very happy and Moore later expressed her excitement on Instagram, saying, “I KNEW WE WERE ALIKE! @marisatomei is my COUSIN!! OMG I’m so excited.”

Hollywood history is filled with stories of couples meeting on the set of a film and falling in love. But there are many fewer stories that involve actors meeting on set, one of those actors introducing the other one to her sister, and then those two fall in love. However, that is how Tucci and Blunt became inlaws. Stanley worked with Emily on the film “The Devil Wears Prada” and they became friends. Then, at Emily’s 2010 wedding to John Krasinski, she introduced Tucci to her sister Felicity. Two years later Stanley and Felicity were married.

Riley started modeling at 15 and got her first acting role in 2010 when she was 21. In 2015 she landed a supporting role in “Mad Max: Fury Road.” But her true big break came the following year, when she starred in the first season of “The Girlfriend Experience.” So … how does this all connect back to the King? Well, it’s simple! Her mother is Lisa Marie Presely - the daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley. Which makes her the granddaughter of the King!

Jonah and Beanie are actually brother and sister. No, they aren’t step-siblings. They have the same mother and father. This would probably make more sense if you knew that Jonah Hill’s real name is Jonah Hill Feldstein. While Hill has become a pretty big deal in Hollywood over the last decade, his younger sister Beanie, whose real name is Elizabeth, has recently been gaining some recognition as well. She was part of the Screen Actors Guild nominated cast of “Lady Bird” and in 2019 she starred in “Booksmart”, earning a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.

Morrow was an actor for over two decades in Hollywood from the 1950s through the 1970s. He appeared on TV in the show “Combat!” in the 60s and in a number of films, including “The Bad News Bears” in 1976. Sadly, he was one of three people killed when a stunt helicopter crashed on the set of “Twilight Zone: The Movie” back in 1982. In case you hadn’t guessed, Jennifer Jason Leigh is his daughter. She was born Jennifer Leigh Morrow, but early on in her career changed her name and added the “Jason” as a tribute to family friend, actor Jason Robards.

The story of how Liev and Pablo Schreiber became half-brothers sounds like a movie. “Ray Donovan” star Liev was born in San Francisco and the family moved to British Columbia when he was just a year old. Liev’s mother was hospitalized multiple times as the result of a bad LSD trip from years prior. Liev’s father threatened to put her in a mental institution, so she took Liev and ran away. His father was finally able to track them down when Liev was three years old. His parents divorced a few years later, and his mother got custody. His dad went back to BC, remarried and had another son, Pablo. Who recently appeared in Apple TV’s “Defending Jacob.”

This familial relationship takes us all the way from the Korova Milkbar to outer space. Malcolm McDowell has had a great acting career dating back over 50 years, but is still maybe best known for playing Alex in “A Clockwork Orange.” What most people don’t know is that his older sister Gloria, who passed away in 2001, was the mother of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” actor, Alexander Siddig. You might also know him as Doran Martell on “Game of Thrones.” In case you’re still trying to figure out the exact relationship here, Malcolm is Alexander’s Uncle. Like Ned Stark and Jon Snow, just much less confusing.

Ed Sheeran isn’t the only one who thinks that Zoey is “Perfect.” We are going to assume her mother, Lea Thompson feels the same way. Lea and her husband, director Howard Deutch, welcomed daughter Zoey into the world on November 10th, 1994. This was four years after the release of the third “Back to the Future” movie. The film series was Thompson’s big break and she rolled that fame into a starring role in “Caroline in the City,” which was “must see tv” from 1995-1999. Her daughter Zoey is perhaps best known for her roles in “Everybody Wants Some!!”, “Set It Up”, and “The Politician”, and it looks like she’s on the road to superstardom. Where she is going, they still need roads.

Once again we have the PBS show, “Finding Your Roots” to thank for this familial discovery. RuPaul appeared on an episode of the series last year and it was during that recording that he was told that he and Senator Cory Booker are cousins. Once you know this, it’s hard to look at them and not see the resemblance. RuPaul claimed to have seen it even before getting the DNA results, saying, “every time I’ve ever seen him, he reminds me of my cousin Yula.” Both the “Drag Race” host and the Senator from New Jersey had only good things to say about each other.

It isn’t a requirement on SNL to be related to a person you do an impersonation of. In fact, that is pretty much never the case. As far as we know, Dana Carvey isn’t related to George Bush, Tina Fey isn’t related to Sarah Palin, and Alec Baldwin has no familial connection to Donald Trump. And in fact, when Larry David was doing his Bernie Sanders impression on the show back in 2016 he didn’t know that they were related. But in 2017, thanks yet again to the show, “Finding Your Roots,” both men learned that they were cousins. We can definitely see it!

These women are actresses, comedians … and cousins! These two gals hail from opposite ends of the spectrum: Melissa’s best known for her funny characters, and Jenny made a name for herself as a Playboy model and TV host. Today, the cousins both maintain steady careers in Hollywood, though their circles rarely overlap. Jenny has co-hosted Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve since 2010, and appears on “Wahlburgers” and “Donnie Loves Jenny” with husband Donnie Wahlberg. Melissa, meanwhile, won an Emmy for her role on “Mike and Molly,” and earned an Oscar nomination for “Bridesmaids.” The cousins’ career paths may’ve diverged over the years, but they’re cut from the same cloth.

Not only did both of these esteemed Scottish actors appear in “Star Wars” films; they’re also uncle and nephew! To give you a refresher on that galaxy far far away, Lawson starred as Wedge Antilles in the original trilogy, while McGregor played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequels. Lawson actually inspired his nephew to get into acting, and both their careers have spanned the big and small screens, as well as the stage. In fact, Lawson once directed a play starring McGregor! Neither’s a stranger to accolades, either, as Lawson won the 1983 Olivier Award for his role in the stage musical “Mr. Cinders,” and McGregor has received Golden Globe nominations and is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. These charming gentlemen are always fun to watch.

What could a Grammy-winning rocker and a famous weather forecaster have in common? They happen to be cousins! Kravitz’s late mother Roxie Roker, famous for her role on “The Jeffersons,” was Roker’s first cousin, which makes the men first cousins once removed. Roker’s weathercasting career began in 1974, and he’s since become a household name through “The Today Show.” He didn’t stop there, though, as he’s made TV and movie cameos, co-wrote a series of murder mystery novels, and holds the Guinness World Record for “the longest uninterrupted live weather report.” On the other side of things, Kravitz is not only a successful musician, but also a seasoned actor, appearing in critical and commercial successes like “Precious” and “The Hunger Games.” Talent runs in the family.

Along with their director cousin Sofia, these cousins are part of the famous Coppola family. Cage is a critically acclaimed actor, whose performance in “Leaving Las Vegas” earned him an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He’s also ventured into producing and comic book collecting. Schwartzman is best known for his work with Wes Anderson, and has additionally had notable roles in “Marie Antoinette,” “Saving Mr. Banks” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.” Like his younger brother Robert – who you might know from “The Princess Diaries” – Schwartzman is also a musician: he was the drummer for Phantom Planet and is behind the indie pop project Coconut Records. It’s pretty obvious that Cage and Schwartzman aren’t just Hollywood royalty, but also gifted performers in their own right.

These two are a couple of Hollywood’s most acclaimed actors, and are actually brother and sister. Over six decades, Beatty and MacLaine have appeared in such iconic films as “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Terms of Endearment,” and “Bugsy.” With 20 Academy Award nominations between them, and almost as many Golden Globe nods, both siblings received Kennedy Center Honors, the Cecil B. DeMille Award and the AFI Life Achievement Award for their outstanding careers. But perhaps most admirable is the pair’s lasting friendship. Only three years apart in age, they’ve always inspired and encouraged each other, and this close bond helped them achieve success. Far from a sibling rivalry, MacLaine and Beatty are a testament to the power of supportive family.

This action star and prominent Scientologist may be one of Hollywood’s biggest names, but there’s another actor in the family. Cruise’s first cousin William Mapother has often starred in thrillers and horror movies, including “In the Bedroom” and “The Grudge.” On the small screen, he’s best known for playing evil doctor Ethan Rom on “Lost.” Mapother and Cruise have also appeared in five movies together, with Mapother’s roles ranging from cameos like in “Minority Report,” to small roles in “Mission: Impossible II” and “Magnolia.” Whether they’re kicking butt or scaring us silly, these cousins sure know how to keep us entertained.

This outspoken English singer and actor are brother and sister - who’d a thunk it? Lily shot to fame in 2006 with the release of her debut album, “Alright, Still,” while Alfie is best known for playing Theon Greyjoy on “Game of Thrones.” The siblings are so close, Lily even wrote a song about Alfie, delivering lines only a sister could. Lily has been known for her controversial remarks and feuds, but she’s now much more focused on her family and charity work. Besides “Game of Thrones,” Alfie has starred in films like “John Wick” and “Pandemic.” Lily and Alfie have both received recognition for their work, including Grammy and Screen Actors Guild nominations respectively. Now that’s something to smile about! Lily also has a famous cousin – “Stay With Me” singer Sam Smith.

At first glance, the sketch comedy star and the host of “Unsolved Mysteries” might seem like completely different people. And yet, Taran Killam’s great-uncle was, in fact, the one and only Robert Stack. Stack’s acting career lasted over sixty years, and he won an Emmy for his role as Agent Eliot Ness on the TV series, “The Untouchables.” Killam shot to fame as the youngest-ever cast member on “MADtv,” and is one of only four “SNL” stars to do over a hundred impressions. Like his great-uncle, Killam has also taken to films, landing roles in “Big Fat Liar,” “The Heat,” and “12 Years a Slave.” Stack passed away in 2003, but his talent lives on through his great-nephew.

For these funny men, comedy is hereditary. Wendt is Sudeikis’ maternal uncle, and you may know him for playing Norm Peterson on “Cheers.” The two are tight-knit, and Wendt inspired his nephew to pursue an acting career. Wendt received six Emmy nominations for his iconic role, and even played Norm outside of “Cheers.” He also played Chicago Superfan Bob Swerski on SNL. Sudeikis was a long-time “SNL” star as well, and has since appeared in dozens of shows and movies, including “30 Rock,” “Son of Zorn,” and “Horrible Bosses.” Wendt has dabbled in theatre as Edna Turnblad in “Hairspray,” and continues to act on the small screen. So it’s safe to say that with these two, there’s never a dull moment!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Janet Leigh & Jamie Lee Curtis
From “Psycho” to “Halloween”: These Queens of Scream Are Mother & Daughter

Kyra Sedgwick & Edie Sedgwick
Edie Is Kyra’s First Cousin Once Removed & a Distant Cousin of Husband Kevin Bacon!

Jesse Eisenberg & Hallie Eisenberg
The 90s “Pepsi Girl” & “The Social Network” Star Are Brother & Sister

Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper
Gloria Was an Heiress, Socialite, Blue Jean Designer & Mother of CNN Anchor Cooper

Matthew Perry & Keith Morrison
“Dateline” Correspondent Keith Morrison Has Been Perry’s Step Dad Since He Was 12 Years Old

These musicians are among the top selling artists in their genres, and they’re first cousins! Brandy and Snoop are mostly known for their music, although they’ve both ventured into acting, endorsements, and charity work. Since he started rapping in 1992, Snoop has sold over 35 million albums around the world, and has been nominated for 17 Grammys. And Brandy is nothing short of a trailblazer herself. Her duet with Monica, “The Boy is Mine,” is the bestselling female duet ever, and she became the first African-American woman to play Cinderella. The cousins have even worked together, releasing the song “Special” with Pharrell in 2009. These famous family members are at the top of our list, and the top of their game.