Pop culture

Celebrities You Didn't Know Were Related

When it comes to Hollywood, it's all in the family.

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It's not uncommon for celebrities to have famous siblings or even entire families. From the Kardashians to the Cyruses to the Smiths, familial ties in Hollywood run deep. However, over the course of marriages, divorces, estrangements, and name changes, the blood connection between stars can become less obvious. Some celebs have even tracked their distant ancestral relations back to the times of royalty. L'OFFICIEL traces all the apples on the family tree of Hollywood that you've never heard of with these notable names.

Taylor Swift and Emily Dickinson

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Taylor Swift is now not only breaking records while on The Eras Tour but it's now been revealed that the global superstar is also related to poet Emily Dickinson (they are sixth cousins, three times removed). It’s no surprise to superfans that the songwriter has an ancestry line dating back to the 19th-century poet, especially since Swift is known for penning devastating breakup songs.

Ashley Tisdale and Austin Butler

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Austin Butler in a black tuxedo at the Met Gala 2022.
Photos: Getty Images.

Ashley Tisdale encountered a shocking revelation in an episode of Ancestry's 2 Lies and a Leaf when she learned that Elvis actor and her former Sharpay's Fabulous Adventure co-star, Austin Butler, is her 10th cousin, once-removed. 

Kate Middleton and the Fanning Sisters

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According to an Ancestry.com historian, Dakota and Elle Fanning's lineage can be traced back to England's King Edward III from the 14th century. Kate Middleton's mother, Carole, is a direct descendant of the king, making Kate and the two Hollywood sisters distant cousins.

Gabrielle Union and Saweetie

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In an Instagram post last year, Gabrielle Union revealed that she and Saweetie are actually cousins. Union explained, "Her father and I are 1st cousins. Her grandma is my aunt Joanne Glass who I based Eva from Deliver Us From Eva on."

Nicolas Cage and Sofia Coppola

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As the son of August Coppola, Nicolas Cage (born Nicolas Kim Coppola) is the nephew of the famous Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola. Francis's daughter Sofia, director of Marie Antoinette, is Cage's first cousin.

Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci

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Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci might not be blood-related, but they are in-laws. After becoming friends on the set of The Devil Wears Prada, Tucci was invited to Blunt's wedding to John Krasinski. While there, the actress introduced Tucci to her sister Christine. They married two years later. 

Florence Pugh and Toby Sebastian

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Florence Pugh isn't the only person in the family with acting talent. Although the Little Women actress still uses her given name, her brother, Game of Thrones actor Toby Sebastian, dropped the family name to pursue his career. However, side by side, the resemblance is uncanny.

Mariska Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield

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Law & Order actress Mariska Hargitay is the daughter of Hollywood legend Jayne Mansfield and actor Mickey Hargitay. As a child, she and her two brothers survived the car accident that killed her mother.

Snoop Dogg and Brandy

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The music gene seems to run in Snoop Dogg's family, as he is first cousins with the singer Brandy and her brother Ray J.

Andie MacDowell and Margaret Qualley

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While many may recognize Margaret Qualley from her roles in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Fosse/Verdon, the young actress is actually following in her mother's footsteps. Her parents are Paul Qualley and actress Andie MacDowell, the star of Groundhog Day and Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Christian Bale and Gloria Steinem

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Everyone knows Christian Bale for his Oscar-winning performances and teen heartthrob status, but did know that feminist icon and writer Gloria Steinem is his stepmother? In 2000, Steinem married Christian's father David, just three years before his death. However, Christian wasn't even aware of the wedding until after the fact. "It was news to me; I was in Germany,” the actor told The Guardian in 2018. “I found out about it afterwards."

Larry David and Bernie Sanders

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During the 2016 and 2020 election cycles, comedian Larry David guest-starred on Saturday Night Live to play New Hampshire Senator Bernie Sanders. However, in an episode of Finding Your Roots, the two learned that they are actually cousins. "Cousin Bernie," David joked.

Lenny Kravitz and Al Roker

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Lenny Kravitz may be known for his music, but most people don't know that he and Today Show weatherman Al Roker are third cousins. Their grandfathers were first cousins, and Kravitz's mother was born Roxie Roker.

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