Actors who played their parents on-screen

James Gandolfini's son plays a young Tony Soprano in 'The Sopranos' prequel 'The Many Saints of Newark' (2021). "It was an intense process. Because, as an actor, I had to watch this guy who created the role, to look for mannerisms, voice, all those things I would have to echo,” explained Michael Gandolfini.

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Michael Gandolfini -

"But then I'd also be seeing my father. I think what made it so hard was I had to do it alone. I was just sitting alone in my dark apartment, watching my dad all the time," he added. Michael Gandolfini was 14 when his father passed away suddenly.

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Mamie Gummer -

Meryl Streep's daughter played the younger version of character Lila Wittenborn Ross in the 2007 movie 'Evening.'

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O'Shea Jackson Jr. -

The actor played his father Ice Cube in the N.W.A 2015 biopic 'Straight Outta Compton.' "[Director F. Gary Gray] knew that this movie had to be authentic and nobody is going to handle this role as passionately as I would because it’s my family’s legacy," said the actor.

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Melissa Rivers -

Melissa Rivers played her late mother Joan Rivers in the biopic based on Miracle Mop inventor Joy Mangano, 'Joy' (2015).

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Sophia Loren -

The iconic Italian actress played her mother Romilda Villani in 'Sophia Loren: Her Own Story' (1980). Years later, in 2010, Sophia Loren played her mother again in 'My House Is Full of Mirrors.'

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Willow Smith -

A young Willow Smith voiced the younger version of Jada Pinkett Smith's character Gloria in 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa' (2008).

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Quinlin Dempsey Stiller -

Similarly, Ben Stiller's son voiced the younger version of Alex the lion, the character voiced by his father, in 2008's 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.'

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Shia LaBeouf -

The actor played James Lort in the semi-autobiographical movie 'Honey Boy' (2019). The character is based on his father, whose real name is Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf.

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Michael Consuelos -

Mark Consuelos' son played a younger version of his character Hiram Lodge, in an episode of 'Riverdale.'

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Zoe Perry -

Zoe Perry plays Mary Cooper, Sheldon's mom, on 'Young Sheldon.' The role was originally played by Perry's mom, Laurie Metcalf, on 'The Big Bang Theory.'

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Eva Amurri -

Susan Sarandon's daughter, Eva Amurri, first played one of her mother's characters in 1995. Amurri played the younger version of Sister Helen Prejean in 'Dead Man Walking.'

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Eva Amurri -

And then in 2012 both Susan Sarandon and her daughter played the same character, Mary McGarricle, in 'That's My Boy.'

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Mario Van Peebles -

Melvin Van Peebles' son, Mario, wrote, directed, and starred as his father in the 2003 biopic 'Baadasssss!'

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James Paxton -

We can watch the late Bill Paxton's son, James Paxton, playing his father's character in season seven of 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'

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Sosie Bacon -

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's daughter played a younger version of her mom's character Emily in 'Loverboy' (2005).

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Indio Falconer Downey -

Robert Downey Jr.'s son played a younger version of his dad's character Harry Lockhart in 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' (2005).

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Sean Harmon -

Mark Harmon's son played a younger version of his father's character, Gibbs, in a few episodes of 'NCIS.'

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Max Winkler -

Henry Winkler's son can be seen playing the younger version of his dad's character Barry Zuckerkorn in three episodes of 'Arrested Development' (season four).

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John Cromwell -

James Cromwell's son played a younger version of his dad's character, Arthur Arden, in 'American Horror Story: Asylum.'

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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson -

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson played his father, the wrestler Rocky Johnson, on an episode of 'That '70s Show' in 1999.

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Annie Starke -

Glenn Close's daughter plays the younger version of her mother's character, Joan Castleman, in the 2017 movie 'The Wife.'

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C.J. Wallace -

C.J. Wallace played his father, rapper Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, as a child in the 2009 biopic 'Notorious.' The actor was just five months old when Biggie was fatally shot in 1997.

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Ever Anderson -

Mila Jovovich's daughter played a younger version of her mom's character, Alicia Marcus, in 'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter' (2016).

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Vincent Sinclair -

Vin Diesel's son played a young Dominic Toretto in 'F9: The Fast Saga' (2021).

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Alice Richmond -

In 2012, Tina Fey's daughter played her mother's character, Liz Lemon, in an episode of '30 Rock.'

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Jennifer Ehle -

Daughter Jennifer Ehle and mother Rosemary Harris play the same character at different stages of her life in the movie 'Sunshine' (1999).

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Rubén Amaro Jr. -

The former GM of the Philadelphia Phillies played his father, former MLB player Rubén Amaro Sr., in a couple of episodes of 'The Goldbergs.'

See also: These actors are notoriously difficult to work with

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Michael Gandolfini -

NL Beeld

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Michael Gandolfini -

NL Beeld

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Mamie Gummer -

Meryl Streep's daughter played the younger version of character Lila Wittenborn Ross in the 2007 movie 'Evening.'

NL Beeld

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O'Shea Jackson Jr. -

NL Beeld/Getty Images

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Melissa Rivers -

Melissa Rivers played her late mother Joan Rivers in the biopic based on Miracle Mop inventor Joy Mangano, 'Joy' (2015).

NL Beeld

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Sophia Loren -

The iconic Italian actress played her mother Romilda Villani in 'Sophia Loren: Her Own Story' (1980). Years later, in 2010, Sophia Loren played her mother again in 'My House Is Full of Mirrors.'

Getty Images

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Willow Smith -

A young Willow Smith voiced the younger version of Jada Pinkett Smith's character Gloria in 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa' (2008).

Getty Images

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Quinlin Dempsey Stiller -

Similarly, Ben Stiller's son voiced the younger version of Alex the lion, the character voiced by his father, in 2008's 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.'

Getty Images

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Shia LaBeouf -

The actor played James Lort in the semi-autobiographical movie 'Honey Boy' (2019). The character is based on his father, whose real name is Jeffrey Craig LaBeouf.

NL Beeld

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Michael Consuelos -

Mark Consuelos' son played a younger version of his character Hiram Lodge, in an episode of 'Riverdale.'

NL Beeld

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Zoe Perry -

Zoe Perry plays Mary Cooper, Sheldon's mom, on 'Young Sheldon.' The role was originally played by Perry's mom, Laurie Metcalf, on 'The Big Bang Theory.'

NL Beeld/Getty Images

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Eva Amurri -

Susan Sarandon's daughter, Eva Amurri, first played one of her mother's characters in 1995. Amurri played the younger version of Sister Helen Prejean in 'Dead Man Walking.'

Getty Images

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Eva Amurri -

And then in 2012 both Susan Sarandon and her daughter played the same character, Mary McGarricle, in 'That's My Boy.'

Getty Images

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Mario Van Peebles -

Melvin Van Peebles' son, Mario, wrote, directed, and starred as his father in the 2003 biopic 'Baadasssss!'

Getty Images

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James Paxton -

We can watch the late Bill Paxton's son, James Paxton, playing his father's character in season seven of 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'

Getty Images

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Sosie Bacon -

Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick's daughter played a younger version of her mom's character Emily in 'Loverboy' (2005).

Getty Images

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Indio Falconer Downey -

Robert Downey Jr.'s son played a younger version of his dad's character Harry Lockhart in 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' (2005).

Getty Images

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Sean Harmon -

Mark Harmon's son played a younger version of his father's character, Gibbs, in a few episodes of 'NCIS.'

Getty Images

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Max Winkler -

Henry Winkler's son can be seen playing the younger version of his dad's character Barry Zuckerkorn in three episodes of 'Arrested Development' (season four).

Getty Images

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John Cromwell -

James Cromwell's son played a younger version of his dad's character, Arthur Arden, in 'American Horror Story: Asylum.'

Getty Images

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Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson -

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson played his father, the wrestler Rocky Johnson, on an episode of 'That '70s Show' in 1999.

NL Beeld

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Annie Starke -

Glenn Close's daughter plays the younger version of her mother's character, Joan Castleman, in the 2017 movie 'The Wife.'

NL Beeld

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C.J. Wallace -

C.J. Wallace played his father, rapper Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace, as a child in the 2009 biopic 'Notorious.' The actor was just five months old when Biggie was fatally shot in 1997.

Getty Images

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Ever Anderson -

Mila Jovovich's daughter played a younger version of her mom's character, Alicia Marcus, in 'Resident Evil: The Final Chapter' (2016).

NL Beeld

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Vincent Sinclair -

Vin Diesel's son played a young Dominic Toretto in 'F9: The Fast Saga' (2021).

NL Beeld

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Alice Richmond -

In 2012, Tina Fey's daughter played her mother's character, Liz Lemon, in an episode of '30 Rock.'

Getty Images

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Jennifer Ehle -

Daughter Jennifer Ehle and mother Rosemary Harris play the same character at different stages of her life in the movie 'Sunshine' (1999).

NL Beeld

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Rubén Amaro Jr. -

The former GM of the Philadelphia Phillies played his father, former MLB player Rubén Amaro Sr., in a couple of episodes of 'The Goldbergs.'

See also: These actors are notoriously difficult to work with

NL Beeld

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Actors who played their parents on-screen

These stars made their parents proud!

10/07/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Appearances

Indeed, it's not uncommon for Hollywood parents and kids to be seen together in movies. But it's not as common for young actors to play their parents on-screen. This is true for both their parents' characters, as well as characters based on their real parents.

Click through the following gallery and find out who paid homage to their parents on-screen.