20 Times Actors Acted with Their Kids

I’m going to come right out and say this. I’m not against nepotism. I would actually say I’m pro-nepotism. That’s right. I’m all for using your connections for your advantage in any aspect of your life, even if your life is in Hollywood. Every job I’ve ever gotten was because I knew somebody. And everything I get is because I’m a child of God. Boom nepotism. And sometimes actors will let their loved ones (in this instance their kids) appears in their movies. Maybe I should make a list of times actors let their parents be in their movies, like Glen Powell always does. Anyways, I’m rambling so let’s get back to the focus. Times that actors had their kids appear in their films. Some of these kid went on to have acting careers of their own while others just made a few appearances. Lets a go.

James, Inez, & Olin Reynolds in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’- The most recent addition on this list goes to the daughter & son of Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively, whom both appear in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ While Reynolds of course plays one of the titular characters, Lively also cameos as Lady Deadpool with their 8-year old daughter Inez playing Kidpool and their 1-year old son playing Babypool, all of whom are members of the Deadpool Corps. Their oldest daughter, James, also makes an appearance as a screaming mutant. Their daughter, Betty, does not make an appearance, but was credited as a ‘Hugh Jackman wrangler’ for the film.

Hayes Costner in ‘Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter One’- In this film written, directed, produced by, and fully funded by Kevin Costner, I think he can put whoever the heck he wants in this movie, his kids included. His 14-year old son Hayes plays Nathaniel Kittredge in the opening act of the film and quite honestly, he gave one of my favorite performances of the whole movie.

India Rose & Tristan Hemsworth in ‘Thor: Love & Thunder’- Another Marvel movie! Of course Chris Hemsworth stars as the titular God of Thunder, Thor. His daughter, India Rose, actually plays an important role as the villain, Gorr’s, daughter whom he wants to resurrect. Hemsworth’s son, Tristan, plays a young version of Thor in a brief flashback montage and his wife, Elsa Pataky, also appear as one of Thor’s former love interests.

Vivienne Jolie-Pitt in ‘Maleficent’- Starring Angelina Jolie as the titular character, her daughter, Vivienne actually plays the role of a 5-year old Aurora. Jolie said in an interview that they needed a kid that wouldn’t be afraid of her in her Maleficent make-up to act across her.

Sage Stallone in ‘Rocky V’- The character of Robert Balboa Jr. (Rocky’s son) has been played by a handful of actors. In his first appearance as a baby in ‘Rocky II’ Stallone’s son Seargeoh played the part. Two other actors appeared as the character in ‘III’ & ‘IV’ before Stallone’s older son, Sage, took on the role in ‘V.’ However when the film ‘Rocky Balboa’ rolled around, Sage was working on his own film so the role was taken over by Milo Ventimiglia.

Mamie Gummer in ‘Ricki and the Flash’- Just by looking at her name you may not know whose daughter she is, but if you saw her picture you’d know that Mamie Gummer acted across her mom, the legendary Meryl Streep, in this film. In the film, Mamie plays Julie, the daughter of Streep’s Ricki.

Jaden Smith in ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ & ‘After Earth’- One of the most famous nepo-babies, Jaden Smith pursued an actor (& happyness) before he transitioned to making music full-time. He appeared in two films with his father, Will Smith, and played the role of his father’s character’s son in both movies.

Zelda Williams in ‘House of D’- Daughter of the late, great Robin Williams, Zelda Williams got the opportunity to star alongside her father in this 2004 coming-of-age dramedy.

Domhnall Gleeson in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part One’- Domhnall Gleeson is one actor who I had no idea had a famous father for a very long time. Known for his roles in ‘Peter Rabbit,’ ‘About Time,’ ‘Ex Machina,’ ‘The Revenant,’ & the ‘Star Wars’ sequel trilogy, Gleeson outdated all of these appearances with his role as the oldest Weasley child, Bill, in the last two ‘Harry Potter’ movies. In ‘Deathly Hallows- Part One’ Bill takes part in the Battle of the Seven Potters. Another participant in this battle is Mad-Eye Moody, played by Oscar nominee Brendan Gleeson, who is Domhnall’s father.

Rumer Willis in ‘Striptease’- In this 1996 film, Demi Moore stars as Erin Grant, a woman who turns to stripping to make the money she needs. The film also feature Moore’s daughter with Bruce Willis, Rumer, as Erin’s daughter, Angela.

Jane Fonda in ‘On Golden Pond’- Henry Fonda’s final film role was an Oscar winning one as Norman Thayer. The film follows he and his wife Ethel (Katharine Hepburn, who also won an Oscar), as they try to reconnect with their estranged daughter and her soon to be stepson. Their daughter is played by Jane Fonda, who is Henry’s real life daughter, who purchased the rights of the play because it mirrored the two’s real life relationship.

Charlie Sheen in ‘Wall Street’- Though Michael Douglas plays the most memorable & Oscar winning of Gordon Gekko, Charlie Sheen also stars as Bud Fox. Charlie’s father, Martin Sheen, stars as Bud’s union worker father, Carl.

Emilio Estevez in ‘The Way’- This 2010 film stars Martin Sheen (again!) as a man morning the death of his adult son. Sheen’s son, Emilio Estevez not only appears as the deceased son, but also wrote, produced, & directed the film.

Iris & Maude Apatow in ‘This is 40’- This is what the French call a double wammy. Not only because we have two kids in sisters, Iris & Maude Apatow, but because both of their parents were a part of this film. The girls play the daughters of Debbie, played by their real mother, Leslie Mann. The film was also written, directed, & produced by the girls’ father and Mann’s husband, Judd Apatow.

Scott Eastwood in various films- Scott Eastwood has appeared in handful of films directed by his father, Clint, such as ‘Flags of Our Fathers’ & ‘Invictus’ and has appeared in films both directed by & starring Clint, such as ‘Gran Torino’ & ‘Trouble with the Curve.’

Sadie & Sunny Sandler in ‘You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah’- Adam Sandler is notorious for putting his friends in his movies. Most fans of his also know that his wife, Jackie, appears in almost all of his movies. In this film, Sandler doesn’t take on the lead role but the father role of teenage daughters Ronnie & Stacy, who are played by his real life daughters, Sadie & Sunny.

Truman Hanks in ‘A Man Called Otto’- This tragic dramedy stars Tom Hanks as a man… who is called Otto. The film features some flashbacks of the character to help us understand his cynicism & pessimism, in which the younger version is played by Tom & his wife, Rita Wilson’s, son, Truman.

Bille Lourd in ‘Star Wars’ sequel trilogy- The daughter of Carrie Fisher, who herself is the daughter of Debbie Reynolds, Billie Lourd was born into nerd royalty. When Fisher returned as the iconic Princess (now General) Leia in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ and its two sequels, her daughter joined her in the role of Lt. Connix, a member of the Resistance force.

Alexander Skarsgård in ‘Melancholia’- This 2011 sci-fi drama stars two of the many Skarsgårds in father, Stellan, and oldest son, Alexander. However, the characters that they play don’t share any relation as the boss & husband, respectively, of Kirsten Dunst’s lead character. Here’s hoping the two can reunite on the big screen with the rest of their family, Gustaf, Bill, & Valter, in tow.

John David Washington in ‘Malcolm X’ & ‘Devil in a Blue Dress’- Now an actor in his own right, having starred in films such as ‘BlacKkKlansman,’ ‘Tenet,’ ‘Malcolm and Marie,’ & ‘The Creator,’ John David Washington got his start appearing as an extra in two of his father, Denzel’s, films.