20 TV Stars You Maybe Didn’t Know Were Nepo Babies
In a viral post nearly a year ago now, a Twitter user tweeted her surprise that Euphoria actor Maude Apatow’s parents are Leslie Mann and “a movie director” (read: Judd Apatow). And ever since, social media users have been combing through Hollywood family trees in search of other “nepo babies” (aka “nepotism babies”), or celebrities who arguably owe some of their success to their famous family members.
The nepotism chatter reached a zenith in December 2022, when Vulture writer Nate Jones wrote a 4,000-plus word New York Magazine cover story on “Hollywood’s nepo baby boom.”
Of course, TV viewers have been watching nepo babies on screen for years now. Some of these celebs’ family ties are obvious: Everyone knows, for example, whose progeny Zoë Kravitz and Nicole Richie are. But we’re betting you didn’t know that some of the TV stars below are nepo babies, too…
Jennifer Aniston
The star of Friends and The Morning Show is the daughter of late Days of Our Lives veteran John Aniston.
Jessica Capshaw
This Grey’s Anatomy alum and Tell Me Lies star is the daughter of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom actor Kate Capshaw (and the stepdaughter of filmmaker Steven Spielberg).
Lily Collins
The Emily in Paris lead’s father is Genesis singer Phil Collins, who also found solo success as the singer of hits like “In the Air Tonight.”
Zoey Deutch
This actress of The Politician and The Suite Life on Deck is the daughter of Back to the Future star Lea Thompson and Pretty in Pink director Howard Deutch.
Phoebe Dynevor
The Bridgerton breakout’s mother is Sally Dynevor, who has starred on the British soap opera Coronation Street since 1986.
Hannah Einbinder
The comedian, now starring on Hacks, is the daughter of original Saturday Night Live cast member Laraine Newman.
Mason Gooding
This actor of Love, Victor fame is the son of Jerry Maguire and A Few Good Men actor Cuba Gooding Jr., who himself is a nepo baby as the son of soul singer Cuba Gooding Sr.
Mariska Hargitay
Now in her 24th season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, this actress is the daughter of Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? actress Jayne Mansfield and bodybuilder Mickey Hargitay, Mansfield’s frequent co-star.
Eve Hewson
Those who recognize her surname might know that this star of The Knick, Behind Her Eyes, and Bad Sisters is the daughter of U2 frontman Bono.
O’Shea Jackson Jr.
This actor of Swagger and Obi-Wan Kenobi shares is named after father O’Shea Jackson Sr., better known as the rapper and actor Ice Cube, whom Jackson Jr. played in the film Straight Outta Compton.
Louisa Jacobson
Two of this actress’ costars in The Gilded Age, Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald, are friends with her famous mother, perennial Oscar favorite Meryl Streep. Her two sisters, Grace and Mamie, are also actresses.
Dakota Johnson
The star of TV’s Ben and Kate (and, of course, the big-screen Fifty Shades trilogy) is the daughter of Miami Vice actor Don Johnson and Working Girl star Melanie Griffith.
Rashida Jones
This alum of The Office and Angie Tribeca is the daughter of Grammy-collecting musician Quincy Jones and the late Mod Squad star Peggy Lipton.
Riley Keough
The star of The Girlfriend Experience and The Terminal List recently lost her famous mother, singer Lisa Marie Presley, who was the daughter of Elvis Presley.
Chris Pine
This star of TV’s I Am the Night and film’s Star Trek and Wonder Woman series has a well-known dad: CHiPs actor Robert Pine.
Margaret Qualley
In the series Maid, this actor shared the screen with her famous mother, Four Weddings and a Funeraland Groundhog Day actor Andie MacDowell.
Toby Stephens
This star of Black Sails and Lost in Space is the son of two famous Brits: the late stage actor Robert Stephens and the Downton Abbey and Harry Potter star Maggie Smith. He is also the brother of actor Chris Larkin.
Grace Van Patten
Famous for her roles in Nine Perfect Strangers and Tell Me Lies, this actor is the daughter of TV director and two-time Emmy winner Tim Van Patten.
Jackson White
Another Tell Me Lies cast member, this rising star is the son of Married… With Children and Sons of Anarchy alum Katey Sagal.
Allison Williams
This Girls star — now appearing in the horror movie M3GAN — is one of two kids of former NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams.
Conversation6 Comments
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O
How about Jack Quaid, star of The Boys and The Lower Deck? Son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.
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O
So loud and wrong 😑
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G
Always classy to shame people for having parents in the business, right?
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G
Howard Deutch didn't direct Pretty in Pink - John Hughes did. How do you write clickbait without internet access? I'm amazed.
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B
On the contrary, John Hughes wrote it; Howard Deutch directed it.
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O
this is a funny response!
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