Family Relationship: 8 Celebrities Portrayed in Movies by Their Close Relatives (9 Photos)

Sometimes casting directors don't even have to think twice about choosing candidates. After all, the ideal actor literally grew up in the same family as the star.





Not long ago, it was announced that Michael Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will play the King of Pop himself in an upcoming biopic. The film is scheduled to premiere on April 24, 2026. But Jaafar is far from the first to receive this honor and responsibility. Other actors have successfully transformed their famous relatives in full-length biopics or cameos as younger versions of the stars. Let's take a look at the most striking examples of family casting in Hollywood.

1. Michael Jackson's role in the upcoming biopic "Michael" (2026) will be played by his nephew, Jaafar Jackson.



Jermaine Jackson's 29-year-old son not only bears a striking resemblance to the legend, but also has direct access to those who knew Michael best. This gives him a unique opportunity to perfectly inhabit the role.

2. O'Shea Jackson Jr. played his father, the legendary Ice Cube, in the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton (2015)





Despite the fact that O'Shea is the spitting image of his father, inheriting his famous scowl, manner of speech, and all his habits, he had to audition. As he himself admitted:

I had to fight for the role. I had little experience, so I tried to live up to the trust placed in me.

3. Young Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was played by Hero Fiennes Tiffin, the nephew of Ralph Fiennes, the very same Lord Voldemort.



If you found the young actor's performance frighteningly convincing, it's logical, as talent is in his blood. Hero is the nephew of Ralph Fiennes (his mother, Martha, is the actor's sister), so the role of the future Dark Lord was literally passed down to him.

4. In the film "The Wife" (2017), the lead character, Joan Castleman, was played by two actresses – Glenn Close and her daughter, Annie Stark.



They literally shared the same role. Stark brilliantly portrayed the younger version of the character, while her famous mother played the older version.

5. Ali Lohan, Lindsay's younger sister, also made a brief appearance in her iconic music video.



In 2005, she played the role of a younger version of Lindsay herself in the hit "Confessions of a Broken Heart." So in this video, Lindsay Lohan literally reconnected with her past.

6. In 2019, social media users spotted a funny coincidence: Tom Hanks and his son Colin were wearing the same iconic cardigan.



Oscar-winning Tom played Mister Rogers himself in the film "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood." And his son Colin also portrayed the same character, but with a twist, in an episode of "Drunk History." What can I say—it's a true family tradition with a touch of humor.

7. Mamie Gummer, the legendary Meryl Streep's daughter, played her younger self in "Evening."



In this case, the genes definitely played their part. The role of the younger version of Mamie's mother was so convincing that it makes you want to say, "Why not give her an Oscar now?" This truly is a true artistic succession.

8 Susan Sarandon and her daughter, Eva Amurri Martino, starred in the same film, which earned Susan an Oscar.



The legendary actress won the Oscar for her role in the drama "Dead Man Walking," and her daughter Eva played a younger version of her character in the same film.