From famous offspring of celebrity parents to the sons and daughters of superstars taking on the role of their famous parents, one of the interesting aspects of the entertainment industry is having parents who are famous in a completely different field. There are numerous Hollywood stars whose parents have reached success in other areas—from sports to politics—and in some cases, even of a higher status than the actor themself. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous names in Hollywood whose parents are also celebrities, but in a completely different field.
Elizabeth Banks
The Hunger Games star Elizabeth Banks is the daughter of Ann Wallace, a nurse, and Mark Mitchell, a factory worker. Banks’ mother reportedly worked up to three jobs to make ends meet and her complicated family life wasn’t easy for the actress but likely served to motivate her. Banks gained fame with her comedic roles in Scrubs and comedies such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The Lego Movie, and Zoolander.
John Krasinski
John Krasinski had a number of minor roles before his work on The Office skyrocketed him to fame. But it might come as a surprise to recognize his father—Dr. Ronald Krasinski—was a doctor who ran a practice in the Boston area. His medical background runs in the family, with Krasinski’s eldest sister, and mother both being nurses in Boston.
Krasinski’s first chance to combine his acting and writing skills happened when he co-wrote the semi-autobiographical web series, “Struggles in Suburbia” with his oldest sister. He has since gone on to star in and write and direct critically acclaimed projects, including the hit horror movie A Quiet Place.
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise’s mother Mary Lee South was a special-education teacher. His father, Thomas Cruise Mapother III was an electrical engineer, who was mostly absent during Cruise’s childhood. Cruise first gained notice in film when he played the role of a leukemia patient alongside Renée Zellweger in the 1983 drama All the Right Moves. Since then, the actor has starred inmega-hits such as Risky Business and Top Gun.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger was born to Gustav Schwarzenegger and Aurelia Schwarzenegger in 1947 in Austria. His father was the local police chief who served in the Austro-Hungarian army during WWI. The former bodybuilder started competing in bodybuilding contests in Europe before launching his bodybuilding career and turning to acting. Schwarzenegger famously starred in The Terminator franchise as the robotic killer from the future who has come to destroy Sarah Connor.
Bradley Cooper
Grammy Award-winning director, actor, and producer Bradley Cooper comes from a completely different professional background. His mother Gloria was a Philadelphia social worker and his father, Charles Cooper, was a stockbroker.
Cooper made his first breakthrough in film with The Hangover and followed it up with a string of successes, including American Sniper, A Star Is Born, and Guardians of the Galaxy. He was nominated four times for an Oscar and won a BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in A Star Is Born.
Scarlett Johansson
One of the world’s highest-paid actresses, Scarlett Johansson is an international star. Her mother Melanie Sloan was a producer and aspiring English teacher, while father Karsten Johansson was an architect from Copenhagen, Denmark. Johansson first gained recognition with her role as Rebecca in the 1998 romantic comedy The Horse Whisperer which was her first major role. Johansson has since been in various blockbuster films, from the Marvel universe series to Ghost in the Shell.
Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt’s parents; Kathleen Louise and Daniel Clifton Pratt, raised him in Washington State. His father was a building manager and his mother was an office worker. While in high school, Pratt was an avid athlete and wrestler. But an injury forced him to switch gear and try acting instead. His first major role was playing Bright Abbott in the WB series Everwood.
Pratt initially gained fame with his roles in the hit comedy films The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Wanted. He then solidified his acting chops with a lead role in Parks and Recreation and landed roles in blockbusters such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World.
Angelina Jolie
Hollywood sweetheart Angelina Jolie may come from fame—her mother was Marcheline Bertrand, an actress and her father was the renowned actor Jon Voight. Her first Hollywood success was when she played the cyber-assassin in the movie Hackers in 1995. She then went on to win numerous awards for her high-profile roles in various films such as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Changeling, and Maleficent.
Blake Lively
Gossip Girl star Blake Lively is the daughter of former actor Ernie Lively, and Elaine Lively, a talent scout. She followed in her father’s footsteps to start her acting career and received her breakthrough role as Bridget Vreeland in The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. She followed it up with the lead role in Gossip Girl and then prominent roles in films such as The Shallows, A Simple Favor, and The Age of Adeline.
Acting may seem like a hereditary job, but these actors are each unique proof that a good performer can come from any background. Not all of these stars had to grow up around the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. In fact, some had parents who were involved in completely different fields. From doctors to stockbrokers to electricians, these actors prove that success comes from hard work and dedication, regardless of what your parents do.
