Being born to a Hollywood family doesn't leave you with many other options. After growing up in the public's eye, these celebrity's children followed their parent's footsteps and made a career for themself that sometimes leaves their famous parents in the dust. Here are some of the most successful heirs that rose above their families in fame and glory. Being a part of a famous family sure comes with its pros and cons but these celebrity kids found a way to build an independent career and established a name for themself with a bit of help from their parents. Lucky for us, talent and grace do run in the family.
1. Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson
Goldie Hawn has been a well-known actor for the past 3 decades, with movies like Foul Play, First Wives, and Private Benjamine. She is married to Kurt Russell and they have 4 kids together. Kate is the most famous of them all.
Kate Hudson is a spitting image of her mother and has her own lane as an actor. She rose to fame after appearing as Penny Lane in 'Almost Famous'. She continued acting as meant romantic comedies like: 'How to Lose A Guy In 10 Days' and 'Raising Helen'.
2. Josh Brolin and Barbara Streisand
There is no need to introduce Barbara Streisand, one of the world's best singers. She has won every prize in the industry and acted in many movies like: 'Funny Girl' and 'Meet the Fockers'.
Josh Brolin is an actor and son of James Brolin and stepmother, Barbra Streisand. We all know Brolin from the 'Avengers' movies, 'Deadpool 2', and the movie 'Everest'.
3. Kylie and Kendall Jenner
We have come to know Kylie and Kendall back in 2007 in 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians'. Kylie has become a makeup artist and an influencer and Kendall is a leading model and was named the world's Highest-paid model by Forbs.
The girls' mom, Caitlyn Jenner, started her career as an Olympian. At the 1976 Olympics Jenner won a gold medal and broke a world record scoring 8,634 points in the decathlon. Jenner has 6 children and is a television celebrity leading her family in their wildly successful reality show.
4. Gwyneth Paltrow and Blythe Danne
Blythe Danne is a Tony and an Emmy award-winning actress. She started her career on Broadway and won a Tony for her performance in 'Butterflies Are Free' and in 2004 she won an Emmy for her role in Huff.
Blythe's daughter, Gwyneth Paltrow, is a one-woman empire. It has been said that Paltrow and her mom have their special way of making the camera fall in love with them. We got to know Gwyneth as Emma and since then she has acted in many successful movies and even has her own blog called GOOP.
5. Gigi and Bella And Yolanda Hadid
Yolanda Hadid is a Dutch-American television personality and a former model. She is well known for her part in The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and of course for being the mom of the 2 supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid.
Gigi is her oldest and began her career dropping out of school and signing in IMG models. By 2016 she was named International Model of the year and has posed in 35 VOGUE covers. Her young sibling Bella, followed her footsteps, signing on in the same agency and moving to New York where is established herself as a busy and well-known model.
6. Angelina Jolie and Jon Voight
She is one of the attractive most popular actresses in the world, known as Brad Pitt's wife, a mother of 6 kids, and a humanitarian. Jolie made her first screen appearance alongside her dad Jon Voight, in the movie Lookin' to Get Out in 1982.
Voight is an American actor who appeared in many movies. We also saw him on several TV shows like 'Ray Donovan'. He won several awards and even won an academy award for the movie 'Coming Home'.
7. Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus
Miley Cyrus became a huge hit after landing the Disney channel Hanna Montanna role and soon after, became a teen pop idol. While the entire Cyrus family took from their musical father, Miley is the most famous of all, leading an international career and establishing herself as one child star that will not fade away.
Cyrus's dad, Billy Ray, has recorded over 16 albums, but eventually, one song had brought him to the public eyes and made him popular. The song 'Achy Breaky Heart' achieved triple platinum status in Australia and led to the rise of popularity in line dancing.
8. Kiefer and Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland performed in movies like Normal People and Pride & Prejudice (2005). We also saw him recently in the 'Hunger Games' franchise. But he never reached mainstream success like his son, Kiefer.
Kiefer, or like everyone knows him, Jack Bauer, from the hit TV show '24'. Kiefer won an Emmy for his role, a Golden Glove, and 2 Screen Actor Guild awards.
9. Kirk and Michael Douglas
Kirk Douglas was one of the world's biggest movie stars in the world. He won the Academy Honorary Award for his lifetime achievements and even wrote 10 novels. He died in May 2020.
Kirk's elder son, Michael, is a successful actor, married to actress Cathrene Zeta-Jones. Along with his well known acting career, Douglas has received notice for his humanitarian and political activism.
10. Chris and Robert Pine
Robert Pine is best known for his role in the NBC crime drama series CHIPS as Sargeant Joe Getraer. After the show ended we saw him in guest appearances in many soap operas like Dallas, Dynasty, and Days Of Our Lives.
Robert's son, Kirk, made a name for himself as an actor as Captain James T. Kirk in 'Star Trek' including winning the best actor in a science fiction movie. He is also known for his singing role in 'Into The Woods' (2014) and in a sidekick role in 'Wonder Women' (2017).
11. Rashida Jones and Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones, a star singer, songwriter, record and film producer, and composer. His career spans over 60 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy award nominations, 28 Grammy wins, and a Grammy Legendary award in 1992.
Jones's daughter, Rashida, is an actress, writer, and producer. She performed in the NBC comedy show 'The Office' from 2005-2011, co-wrote the movie 'Toy Story 4' and in 2018 She made the doco movie 'Quincy' about her father who the Grammy award for Best Music Film in 2019.
12. Jennifer and John Aniston
John Aniston had a long career in show business. He did several roles in films and on television but the part that made him familiar was his role as Victor Kiriakakis In the soap opera 'Days Of Our Lives'.
Jennifer Aniston followed her father's footsteps in television and had become a guest in everyone's house as Rachel Green in 'Friends'. Her role in Friends launched her career and since then she became one of the most sought actresses of out time.
13. Kaia Gerber and Cindy Crawford
Kaia's mom is Cindy Crawford, How would she not turn out to be a model with legs longer than 90% of the world? Cyndy modeled for every major designer across the fashion world. Her face has been on numerous covers of magazines and her famous mole next to her mouth has become an icon.
Nowadays Gaia is walking the runways, just like her mom did. She is making waves with her figure and super intelligent look. Plus, She looks very much like her mom which is a huge advantage in the fashion industry.
14. Emma and Eric Roberts
Eric Roberts is known for his main role as Dave Stepanowits in the movie 'King Of The Gypsies', which earned him his first Golden Globe nomination. Robert's career spans over 40 years with a number of notable works under his belt.
With a father like Eric and an aunt called Julia Roberts, Emma's acting career was on the right track. Her first role was in the Nickelodeon channel, and after that in 'American Horror Story' and 'Scream Queens' which put her in the spotlight as a young, promising actress.
15. Liv and Steven Tyler
When your dad is Steven Tyler, it's a hard act to follow, but Liv managed to rise to the challenge. Steven was the lead singer of 'Aerosmith', One of the best Rock bands in the world, who sold over 150 million records worldwide.
Liv has made a serious name for herself as an actress. We have got to know her in movies like 'Armageddon', 'The Lord Of The Rings' films and 'The Incredible Hulk'. Liv is married and Steven is a grandfather of 2.
16. Chris and Abby Elliot
Chris Elliot is a comedy actor that we all know from funny TV shows like: 'Everyone Loves Raymond', 'How I Met Your Mother', 'Scary Movie 2', and 'Television's Schitt's Creek'. Chris is also the dutiful father of Abby Elliot.
Abby has managed to be funnier than her father and added a level of charm to the equation. Abby has been in shows like 'How I Met Your Mother', 'Two Broke Girls', and a whole lot of 'Saturday Night Live'.
17. Stellan and Alexander Skarsgård
Stellan Skarsgård is a Swedish legendary actor. He became familiar with the award-winning movie 'Breaking The Waves' and kept his momentum with roles in 'Mamma Mia' and The Pirate Of The Carabians' films, where he played Bootstrap Bill Turner.
Stellan's son, Alexander Skarsgård, is far more recognized than his dear old dad thanks to his role as Eric Northman in HBO's 'True Blood', the title role in 'The Legend Of Tarzan' and now in his role in the hit show 'Big Little Lies'. Just like his father. it is sure good seeing him around.
18. Dakota Johnson and Melanie Griffith
Melanie Griffith had her big break in the 1980s in the comedy 'Something Wild' and in 'Working Girl'. Griffith was married to Antonio Banderas, but the two divorced in 2014. They have 3 kids including Decota.
Decota Griffith followed her parents in the film industry and rose to fame in the movie 'Fifty Shade Of Grey'. After her major success in the movie she opened her own production company, she produced a video clip for Coldplay, and judging from her parents, she will continue to stay in the spotlight.
19. Charlie and Martin Sheen
Unbelievable Things About People With Dark Personalities You Never Knew BeforeMartin Sheen is an American actor best known for his role as President Josiah Bartlet, in the Drama series 'West Wing' that was aired throwout 1999- 2006. Sheen was married in 1961 and has 4 kids.
Charlie Sheen, Martin's son had his credited film debut in 1983, with his role as Lance in Grizzly 2: The Predator. From 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' to his Typicale Rick role in 2017, Charlie has certainly made a name for himself.
20. Ben and Jerry Stiller
We all know him as George Constanza's father from the hit comedy 'Seinfeld', but the actor Jerry Stiller has been on our screen for years, acting with his wife of 60 years, Anne Meara. His role in Seinfeld' earned him an Emmy nomination.
The apple definitely didn't fall far from the tree in this case as Ben Stiller is one of the funniest actors around. Throwout his career he has written, directed, and starred in over 50 movies including Zoolander, Meet the Parents, and Night at the Museum.
21. Allison and Brian Williams
Brian Williams is no actor or musician, he is the talented NBC nightly news anchor. Williams's daughter, Alison, shot to fame with her role in 'Girls', where she played Hanna's best friend, the lovable Marnie Michales.
Most recently, Alison starred in the horror film 'Get Out', which won a lot of attention for her excellent performance. Looks like, the Williams family is going to stay on our screen for many more years.
22. Jessica and Kate Capshaw
Jessica Capshaw is an American actress known for her role as Jaimi Stringer in 'The Practice' and as Dr. Arizona Robbins in ABC medical drama 'Grey's Anatomy'. Jessica's mom Kate Capshaw divorced her father and is now married to Hollywood director Steven Spielberg.
Kate Capshaw is a firmer actress herself, mostly known for her role in 'Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom'. She retired from acting after her final screen appearance in the 2001 TV movie 'Due East'.
23. Katie and David Cassidy
David and Katie Cassidy had a very complex father-daughter relationship. David was an actor, a singer, and a guitarist, He was best known for his role in 'The Partridge Family', which turned him into a teen idol and a pop superstar in the 1970's.
Cassidy's daughter, Katie, is a well-known actress who appeared in many movies and TV shows like 'Gossip Girls', 'The Flash', and even in a music video clip on the rapper Eminem. She was raised by her mother, who was separated from David, and their relationship knew ups and downs until his passing in 2017.
24. Mariska Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield
Throughout the '50s and the '60s, Jayne Mansfield was a Hollywood actress best known for her 'wardrobe malfunction' and scandalous career in the press. She considered to be a sex symbol and while her acting career was short, she did some memorable roles like replacing the diseased Marylin Monroe in 'Kiss Me, Stupid'.
Mansfield's daughter, Mariska Hargitay, is famous as Olivia Benson, NYPF captain in Law & Order: Special victims unit. Mariska is a Golden Globe award winner and won 2 Emmys for her performance in the series.
25. Drew and John Barrymore
John Barrymore Jr. started his acting career in 1950 in a small role on 'the Sundowners' but after an unsuccessful movie career, he turned to Tv, doing several guest star appearances until he retired from acting in 1974.
Following her father, Drew became an actress at a young age in the movie classic E.T. As she has gotten older, Barrymore took on more mature and successful roles like in 'Chalie's Angels'. Barrymore's films compiled a worldwide box office gross of over $2.3 Billion.
26. Lily and Phil Collins
The classically beautiful Lily Collins is the daughter of rewarded musician Phil Collins. Phil and his first wife had Lily prior to the separation. While her dad is a legend in the music world, it is Lily who is known for her acting.
She appeared in 'Mirror Mirror'. 'The Blind Side' and nowadays in Netflix's big hit 'Emily In Paris'. She had gained a name for herself as an actress with the ability to transform into any role and successfully move audiences.
27. Lenny Kravitz and Roxie Roker
Roxie Roker is mostly known for her role as Helen Willis in 'The Jeffersons', the first interracial relationship shown on primetime television. She will go on to win a Tony award for her role as Mattie Williams in 'The River Niger'.
It's safe to say that Kravitz got all of his swag from his mom. His Second Album 'Mama Said' had reached the top 40 charts and solidified Lenny Kravitz as a name in music to remember. He won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock vocal performance 4 years in a row.
28. Julio and Enrique Iglesias
Julio Iglesias, one of the famous Spanish singer, sold over 300 million records worldwide in 14 languages and has released 80 albums. During his career, Iglesias has won many awards in the music industry including the Grammy.
Julio son, Enrique, followed his dad's footsteps when he gave us his song 'Hero', and made Latin music mainstream. He was named the' King of Latin Pop' and in 2016 was the 14th most successful top male dance club artist of all time.
29. Freddie Prinze Jr.
Freddie Prinze was a standup comedian and an actor. Prinze was the star of NBC hit TV show 'Chino and The Man' in the '70s. He is the father of the actor Freddie Prinze Jr. who followed his dad's footsteps I'm becoming a successful actor.
Freddie Prinze Jr. is not only an actor but also a movie producer. He starred in the movie 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' and in many other box office hits. He is the only son of Freddie Prinze and his father's death had a great effect on him and his choice of characters.
30. Olu Dara And NAS
In NAS's song 'Bridging the Gap' we can hear his NAS's father Olu Dara discussing his son's birth and his own life. Before becoming NAS's father Olu Dara was a singer and a guitarist playing with Davis Murray and Cassandra Wilson. He formed 2 bans and released his first album in 1998.
In 1994 NAS step into the Rap scene as Nasty NAS, with his first album Illmatic. the album became a hit and was called the best hip hop album of all times.
31. Benedict Cumberbatch And Wanda Ventham
Wanda Ventham is an American actress that starred in the British fiction movie from the '70s UFO. Later on, she appeared in a number of shows like Minder and Coupling. She met her husband Timoty Carlton, Benedict's father while filming 'A Family at War.
Benedict is familiar as Sherlock Holmes from the BBC series 'Sherlock'. He was included in the Time's 2014 100 most influential people in the world list and appointed Commander of the order of the British Empire.
32. Debbie Reynolds And Carrie Fisher
Debbie Reynolds is a true film icon. She is on our screen for over 70 years, she became a central figure in Hollywood's films. In 1969 she got her own show called 'the Debbie Reynolds show' who earned her the Golden Globe for.
Carrie Fisher did her acting debut in 1975 in the movie 'Shampoo', but her iconic role as Princess Lie in 'Star Wars'gained her into a phenomenon. Carrie did several roles before returning to the 'Star Wars' franchise in 2015.
33. Whitney And Cissy Houston
Cissy Houston had a successful career as a backup singer for Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin. Since then she pursued a solo career that earned her two Grammy awards. Later on, she recorded a song with her daughter Whitney called 'I Know Him So Well'.
Just like her mother, Whitney signs a label right after she graduated from high school. Not long after her career took off and she was cemented as a music icon. She has won two Grammys and her songs were on the top charts all over the world.
34. Liza Minnelli And Judy Garland
Both mother and daughter are super talented and famous. Judy Garland is one of the most iconic actresses, mainly after playing Dorothy in 'Wizard of Oz'. She was also the first woman to win the Grammy award for album of the year in 1961.
Liza Minnelli won the Oscar in 1972 for 'Cabaret' and appeared in many films and TV shows over the years. Minnelli also hasd a successful singing career, she did 11 studio albums and won a Grammy award for best traditional pop vocal performance.
35. Norah Jones And Ravi Shankar
Ravi Shankar is the most famous Indian musician in the world. He brought the Sitar to mainstream music and corporate with Beatle George Harrison. He won 5 Grammy awards and had his daughter Norah after having an affair with Sue Jones, a New York concert producer.
Ravi's daughter, Norah Jones, has sold over 50 million records worldwide, won 9 Grammy awards, and is regarded as one of the best singers in our generation. She has 2 half-sisters that are a musician as well.
36. Jane And Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda was the oldest actor to win the Oscar for Best Actor at the age of 76 for 'On Golden Pond'. He was an incredibly popular film and stage actor in his days, mostly throw out the 30's and 40's
Jane Fonda secured 2 Best actress wins and 7 Golden Globe awards. In 1982 she released her first exercise video. It was a huge hit and became the first out of 22 videos. Fonda was a symbol of Anti-Vietnam war sentiments in the '70s.
37. Tori And Aaron Spelling
Aaron Spelling is a well-known appreciated producer in Hollywood for many years. Among his work, we can find Charlie's Angels, Dynasty, The Love Boat, and of course the show that we all fell in love with, Beverly Hils 90210.
Speaking of Beverly Hills, 90210, the show that brought Spelling's daughter, Tori to every household with her character Donna Martin. After the show ended she had her own reality show with her husband and children which placed her permanently in the public eye.
38. Jaden And Will Smith
Will Smith is the ultimate 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'. He is an actor, a rapper, and most recently a film producer. We know him from movies like Men In Black, Aladdin, and Hancock.
Will's son, Jaden, has starred in several movies on Netflix and released 2 studio albums and 15 singles. He even walked the runway for Louis Vuitton. He played in the modern version of 'The Karate Kid' (2010) and contributed his voice to the original Netflix anime 'Neo Yokio'.
39. O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Ice Cube
O’Shea Jackson, better known by the name Ice Cube, is an American rapper, actor, and filmmaker. During the 90's he established the 90's Gangsta rap and made it famous worldwide. He acted in the movie 'Boyz in the Hood' and in 'Friday' (1995).
O’Shea Jackson Jr. is known by the stage name OMG followed his dad's career and grow up to be an actor and a rapper. He is Ice Cube's older son and in 2014 it was announced that he is going to portray his father in 'Stright Outta Compton' a biographical film.
40. Katherine and Sam Waterston
Sam Waterston is an actor who we all know from the NBC TV show Law& Order where he played the iconic Jack Mccoy. He also played Abraham Lincoln in the miniseries 'Lincoln' and is currently starring in the Netflix Comedy series 'Grace And Frankie'.
Waterston's daughter, Katherine, is an actress like her father, who did her first acting performance in the movie 'Michal Clayton' in 2007. She then continued getting more roles in movies like 'Steve Jobs' and The Deasapirance Of Elinor Rigby'. Looking at her father's career we can only guess that it's only the beginning for Waterston junior.