Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were Related to Each Other

We already know that Hollywood is filled with A-list families. Heck, the viral conversation of the influx of nepo babies in 2022 proved that Hollywood is truly a who’s who of who belongs in what mega-star family. And while we know the bulk of which celebrities are siblings or godparents, there are a lot more celebrities related to one another that most people don’t know about.

When you dive into the world of Hollywood, you realize so many more stars are related than you may have originally thought.

Think about it, there are so many celebrities who are cousins with one another, and even 10th cousins with one another! They can be quite distantly related, but it’s still related, and it never fails to make our jaws drop.

Not only that, but quite a few celebrities are related to other A-listers in the media. Some of your favorite actors are distantly (and sometimes not-so-distantly) related to political figures like Senators and former US Presidents. Along with that, some Hollywood elites are even distantly related to members of the British Royal family like the late Queen Elizabeth II and Kate Middleton.

It’s a crazy road to go down, but let’s go down it together.

Check out which celebrities are shockingly related to other celebrities below:

A version of this article was originally published on Aug 2023. 

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Michael Douglas & Scarlett Johansson

Michael Douglas couldn’t contain his enthusiasm when he learned he was a long-lost cousin of Scarlett Johansson on a recent episode of Finding Your Roots.

“Ahh! Are you kidding?” the legendary actor said, per New York Post. “That’s amazing. Alright, this is cool. This is so cool.”

“That’s incredible,” he added. “Well, I look forward to seeing Scarlett next time,”

Andy Cohen & Scarlett Johansson

Three years ago, Andy Cohen had a similar reaction when finding out he’s also related to Johansson in an episode of Finding Your Roots, per New York Post.

“Scar Jo? Yes! You’re kidding me?” Cohen said when he saw the actress’ face.

According to the host, the two stars share five identical chromosomes.

Lena Dunham & Larry David

In a recent episode of Finding Your Roots, Girls creator Lena Dunham found out she’s related to Larry David, Us Weekly reports.

“My husband’s going to freak out! It’s Larry David! The other L.D.,” she said, noting their same initials. “This is the hottest information I could have ever gotten.”

Ciara & Derek Jeter

Ciara and New York Yankee Derek Jeter are distant cousins! Ciara found out the news on the new episode of Finding Your Roots, per DailyMail.

Elle Fanning & Kate Middleton

It turns out that Elle Fanning and Kate Middleton are distant cousins! Historians from Ancestry.com discovered in 2014, per People, that Fanning is the 22nd great-granddaughter of King Edward III, which made her the 21st cousin of Kate.

Brandy Norwood & Snoop Dogg

Per Entertainment Weekly, Brandy Norwood (along with her brother Ray J) and Snoop Dogg are first cousins!

Halle Berry & Sarah Palin

So this one may be the most shocking, but Halle Berry and Sarah Palin are distant relatives. Berry confirmed this in an interview with Extra, saying, “You wanna know who I’m related to? Sarah Palin… That’s what I said! Ah!”

Lenny Kravitz & Al Roker

So Lenny Kravitz’s mother is Roxie Roker, who is Al Roker’s cousin, making him and Kravitz second cousins!

Jason Sudeikis & George Wendt

Jason Sudeikis’s uncle on his mother’s side is Cheers alum George Wendt! Isn’t that cosmic? That family gathering has to be a super fun time!

Francis Ford Coppola & Nicolas Cage

Did you know that legendary director Francis Ford Coppola is Nicolas Cage’s uncle?! Because we sure didn’t!

King Charles & Ralph Fiennes

So, Ralph Fiennes (also known as Lord Voldemort) is an eighth cousin to King Charles II, per Marie Claire.

Hilary Duff & Queen Elizabeth II

While Hilary Duff is the pop Queen of our hearts, it turns out she’s also the 18th cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Because of this, per Marie Claire, FindMyPast.com gave Duff the title of “America’s most royal celebrity” since she’s the closest American celebrity relative of the late Queen.

Laura Dern & Queen Elizabeth II

Along with Hilary Duff, Laura Dern is the 19th cousin, thrice removed, from the late Queen Elizabeth II

Rachel Brosnahan & David Spade

Okay, so before we get into this cosmic actor duo, you need to know the basic fact that the late designer Kate Spade was Rachel Brosnahan’s aunt. And Kate later married David Spade’s brother Andy Spade. So this makes David the uncle-in-law to Brosnahan.

Brad Pitt & Barack Obama

A family tree from the Guardian shows that Brad Pitt and former US President Barack Obama are actually ninth cousins.

Ashlee Simpson & Diana Ross

Ashlee Simpson fans probably already know this, but Diana Ross is Simpson’s mother-in-law, and she has been ever since she married Diana’s son Evan Ross in 2014.

Dionne Warwick & Whitney Houston

Did you know the legendary stars Dionne Warwick and the late Whitney Houston are cousins? And they were close ones at that!

Sen. Cory Booker & RuPaul

During a 2020 episode of the PBS series Finding Your Roots, Senator Cory Booker and RuPaul were discovered to be cousins! And ever since then, Booker has even shouted out Rupaul, per Romper.

Kyra Sedgewick & Edie Sedgewick

This one may be a bit more obvious since they share the same last name, but a lot of people don’t know that Kyra Sedgewick and Andy Warhol’s late muse Edie Sedgewick are cousins.

Rip Torn & Sissy Spacek

Did you know the late Rip Torn and Sissy Spacek are cousins?! Torn, Back in a 1970s interview with Photoplay magazine, per EW, Spacek said: “My cousin, Rip Torn, persuaded me not to change my name. You shouldn’t change what you are in search of success.”

Larry David & Bernie Sanders

Larry David and Bernie Sanders are distant cousins! Honestly, this makes perfect sense, and in an interview while on the TV Critics’ Association summer press tour per CNN, David said he “was very happy about that. I thought there must have been some connection. I love Bernie.”

Madonna & Hillary Clinton

So, Madonna and Hillary Clinton are 10th cousins, and we’re still wrapping our heads around that.