Many stars aren't the first in their families to have enjoyed some time in the spotlight. See which celebs have grandparents who were famous first, starting with Dakota Johnson. While everyone knows the actress is the daughter of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, she also has a grandmother who's a legendary actress — Tippi Hedren! Tippi, who's Melanie's mom, has appeared in films including Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" in 1963 and Charlie Chaplin's "A Countess from Hong Kong" in 1967. Talk about a legacy! To mark Grandparents Day on Sept. 13, 2020, Wonderwall.com is taking a look at more Hollywood stars who have famous grandparents…
Just because Rooney Mara and older sister Kate Mara are in the entertainment business doesn't mean they come from a family of actors. Their grandfather, Wellington Mara, was a big name in the NFL — he was the co-owner of the New York Giants from 1959 until his death in 2005. The Mara family's football ties go back even further too: Wellington is the younger son of New York Giants founder Tim Mara.
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Actress Riley Keough has not one but two famous grandparents to thank for those good genes: The late king of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley, and actress Priscilla Presley.
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She might be known as the incredibly cool daughter of incredibly cool parents, but Zoe Kravitz's paternal grandmother was cool before any of them: She's famed actress Roxie Roker, who played Helen Willis on the iconic CBS sitcom "The Jeffersons."
As members of Britain's royal family, Prince Harry and Prince William are certainly famous themselves. But their grandmother was a big deal first. Still, to them, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is simply "Granny." (And to William's son, Prince George, she's "Gan-Gan.")
Chris Pine's bread and butter in Hollywood has long been action flicks, but his grandmother, Anne Gwynne, was more of a horror movie gal. In fact, the actress is considered one of the first scream queens. She was also one of the most popular pin-up models during World War II.
Not only was Drew Barrymore's late father, John Drew Barrymore, an actor, but so were her paternal grandparents, John Barrymore and Dolores Costello. (Going even farther back, Drew's great-grandparents were in the business too.) Now that's a true Hollywood dynasty! We'll have to wait and see if Drew's little girls, Olive and Frankie Kopelman, find their way to fame too…
"Scandal" actor Tony Goldwyn has enjoyed a long Hollywood career (remember him in "Ghost"?!) but he also has one of the oldest Hollywood legacies around! His grandfather was Old Hollywood film producer and studio founder Samuel Goldwyn (of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer fame!).
Javier Bardem isn't the only man in his family to take an interest in acting. The "No Country For Old Men" star is also the grandson of Spanish actor Rafael Bardem, who appeared in films from the '40s to '60s like "A Cuban in Spain," "The Song of Sister Maria," "We Thieves are Honourable," "College Boarding House" and "Love and Other Solitudes."
Billie Lourd has built a career for herself by working in super-producer Ryan Murphy's projects and appearing in the newest "Star Wars" movies alongside her late mother, Carrie Fisher. But her maternal grandparents were among the most famous stars of their generation: Screen legend Debbie Reynolds is Billie's grandmother, and singer-actor Eddie Fisher is her grandfather.
"Veep" actress Sarah Sutherland doesn't just have a famous father in Kiefer Sutherland — she has a famous grandpa and grandma too! Sarah is the granddaughter of Canadian actor and "M*A*S*H" star Donald Sutherland, who's racked up eight Golden Globe Awards throughout his career. Her paternal grandmother, the late Shirley Douglas, was also an actress. Sarah's uncles Rossif and Angus are also actors — a profession that clearly runs in the family.
On "Arrested Development," Alia Shawkat played a member of the dysfunctional Bluth-Fünke family. In real life, her grandfather was actor Paul Burke, a two-time Emmy nominee for his work on the '60s TV series "Naked City."
Jason Schwartzman seems to have a blend of his family's fame: He's an actor like his Oscar-nominated mom, Talia Shire, and a musician like his composer grandfather, Carmine Coppola. (Jason's uncle, of course, is Talia's director-producer brother, Francis Ford Coppola.)
Cameron Douglas is the grandson of Hollywood acting legend and three-time Oscar nominee Kirk Douglas, who famously starred in "Spartacus." Like his grandpa and dad, actor Michael Douglas, Cameron has also taken an interest in performing: He's set to appear in the upcoming film "The Runner."
Zoe Kazan has both acted in and written movies. Maybe one day she'll add directing to her resume and take after not only her parents, writer-directors Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord, but also her Oscar-winning grandfather, Elia Kazan, who helmed movies like "Gentleman's Agreement" and "A Streetcar Named Desire."
Micheál Richardson has not only taken after his famous parents in pursuing an acting career — he also followed in grandmother Vanessa Redgrave's footsteps. Micheál — the son of actors Liam Neeson and the late Natasha Richardson (he's seen here with his actress aunt, Joely Richardson) — has appeared in films like "Cold Pursuit" and "Made in Italy" alongside his father. As for his famous grandma? Vanessa has starred in everything from 1977's "Julia," for which she won a best supporting actress Oscar, to 2007's "Atonement." (Vanessa's parents were famed English actors Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson.) On top of that, Micheál's grandfather, Tony Richardson, is the Academy Award-winning director-producer of 1963's "Tom Jones."
Performing runs in the family for "Arrow" actress Katie Cassidy. Not only is her dad the late David Cassidy of music and "The Partridge Family" fame, but her grandparents are actors Jack Cassidy and Evelyn Ward.
Steven R. McQueen doesn't just share an occupation with his grandfather — he shares a name with him too! Yep, the "Chicago Fire" and "The Vampire Diaries" actor's grandpa is the late king of cool Steve McQueen, star of "Bullitt" and "The Thomas Crown Affair."
As the son of late "Three's Company" star John Ritter, Jason Ritter was born and bred in Hollywood. But he also has country (music) roots: His grandfather was country music performer Tex Ritter.
Comedian Abby Elliott, who's perhaps best known for her work as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live," is the granddaughter of comedian Bob Elliott. Bob — one-half of the comedic duo Bob and Ray — is also widely remembered for portraying the character of Wally Ballou. After making her debut on "SNL," Abby — whose father is comedian and "Schitt's Creek" star Chris Elliott — has appeared in films like 2011's "No Strings Attached" and on TV shows including NBC's "Indebted."
Bridget Fonda's late dad, Peter Fonda, is best known for co-writing and starring in "Easy Rider." Her aunt is "Barbarella" star Jane Fonda. But it was a different Fonda who kicked off the family's fame: Bridget's grandfather, Henry Fonda, won an Oscar for "On Golden Pond."
Ethan Peck had some big shoes to fill when he took over Heath Ledger's role in the television version of "10 Things I Hate About You." Even bigger are the shoes of his grandfather, Gregory Peck, who starred in classics like "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Roman Holiday."
Like his "Zoey 101" co-star Jamie Lynn Spears, Sean Flynn isn't the first famous member of his family. His grandfather was Old Hollywood acting legend Errol Flynn, star of many swashbuckling romances including the original "The Adventures of Robin Hood."
Oona Chaplin memorably played Robb Stark's wife, Talisa Maegyr, on "Game of Thrones," starred on the buzzy FX/BBC One miniseries "Taboo" with Tom Hardy and will appear in the upcoming "Avatar' sequels. No doubt her late grandfather, Charlie Chaplin, would be proud. Oona's mom, Geraldine Chaplin, also carried on the family legacy: She's a three-time Golden Globe-nominated actress.
Activist and writer Zoleka Mandela is the granddaughter of late South African president and philanthropist Nelson Mandela. Zoleka has written candidly about her abusive childhood, the tragic passing of her 13-year-old daughter and her experience battling breast cancer.
Charlotte Casiraghi has made a name for herself as a model, journalist and equestrian. But as the granddaughter of Prince Rainier III and the late Princess Grace of Monaco, she's also 11th in line to the Monegasque throne!
British-Swiss former model Emma Hepburn Ferrer appeared in the movie "The Man in the Attic" in 2019. Her paternal grandparents are actress Audrey Hepburn and actor-director Mel Ferrer.
Folk singer-songwriter Pablo Dylan has certainly taken after his musically gifted grandfather, Bob Dylan. Both Pablo and his famous grandpa released albums in 2020 — Pablo's second studio album, "Notes from Columbia," debuted on Feb. 21, while Bob's 39th studio album, "Rough and Rowdy Ways," was released on June 19. Pablo's father is music video and film director Jesse Dylan.
Conor Kennedy made headlines when he dated Taylor Swift in 2012 because of his famous pedigree: He's the grandson of former U.S. attorney general and presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968, and the politician's widow, Ethel Kennedy. Conor's gotten political just like his famous kin: He and his father, environmental lawyer and activist RFK Jr., were arrested outside the White House in 2013 while participating in a peaceful protest meant to draw attention to climate change.
Who is Versace model Tuki Brando's famous grandfather? None other than legendary actor Marlon Brando! The star of "The Godfather," who earned two Academy Awards for best actor over the course of his career, also memorably appeared in films like "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "On the Waterfront."
Not only is Oscar winner Anjelica Huston a third-generation Hollywood star — her father and grandfather made history together: In 1948, her dad, director-screenwriter John Huston, and grandfather, actor-singer Walter Huston, both took home Oscars for their work in "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre," making them the first father-son duo to win Academy Awards during the same year.
"Boardwalk Empire" star Jack Huston comes from a long line of Hollywood stars (his aunt is Anjelica Huston and his dad is Tony Huston). But his grandfather happens to be esteemed director and screenwriter John Huston!