You’ll Never Guess How These 11 Celebs Are Weirdly Connected
Hollywood might seem big, but sometimes it feels like one small family reunion. As it turns out, many famous faces are related in ways you’d never expect — through family ties, old friendships, and even surprising babysitting gigs. Here are some weird and wonderful celebrity links you probably had no idea about.
Dolly Parton Once Dressed Keanu Reeves for Halloween
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Keanu Reeves has a fun connection to Dolly Parton. When he was a kid, his costume one Halloween was Dolly’s outfit from a famous magazine cover—and it wasn’t a random choice. His mother used to design costumes for Dolly, including that iconic look. Years later, Keanu once told the story with a laugh.
Alice Cooper Babysat Keanu Reeves
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Adding to Keanu’s list of incredible childhood moments, legendary rocker Alice Cooper babysat him once. Cooper didn’t realize it until years had passed when Keanu brought it up during an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Imagine saying that your babysitter is also a rock and roll icon!
Jenny and Melissa McCarthy Grew Up Close — Then Drifted Apart
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Before they became household names, Jenny and Melissa McCarthy were super close while growing up in Illinois. Jenny helped Melissa land her first acting gig in the ’90s. But over the years, their worlds took different paths. Melissa later admitted they live in “opposite worlds” now, so much so that she skipped Jenny’s wedding.
Snoop Dogg Is Cousins With Brandy and Ray J
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Talent runs strong in this family. Snoop Dogg is a first cousin of Brandy and Ray J. In 2006, Snoop shared that they had kept it under wraps for a long time, focusing on building their names first. Still, the link makes sense when you look at all that musical success.
Prince Charles and Ralph Fiennes Are Related
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Who knew Voldemort had royal blood? Ralph Fiennes, it turns out, is an eighth cousin of King Charles, tracing back to King James II of Scotland. Unlike their ill-fated ancestor, who died in a cannon explosion, both have enjoyed long and successful careers — one in acting, and one in public life.
Queen Elizabeth II and Hilary Duff Share a Family Tree
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Hilary Duff is Hollywood royalty, and she has real royal blood. The Younger actress is an 18th cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. That’s right, Lizzie McGuire’s world collides with Buckingham Palace! Although distant, it’s still a fun claim to fame for Hilary, which is proof that her roots run deeper than the red carpet.
Ashley Tisdale and Austin Butler Are Distant Cousins
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During an episode of 2 Lies & A Lead, Ashley Tisdale and Austin Butler discovered that they’re 10th cousins once removed. They had worked together before and always felt like siblings, so finding out they really were distant relatives made their bond more special.
Gabrielle Union and Saweetie Are Second Cousins
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The actress surprised fans when she revealed she’s related to rapper Saweetie. Gabrielle Union explained on social media that her father and Saweetie’s grandmother were siblings. Although the rapper has built her career independently, both women show that creativity clearly runs amongst the relatives.
Phil Collins Is Lily Collins’ Dad
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While Phil became a music legend, Lily forged her own path as an actress. She shared in a book of essays that their relationship had its ups and downs, but that she ultimately forgave her father and focused on building a lasting bond moving forward.
Denzel Washington and John David Washington Share the Spotlight
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John David Washington and his father, Denzel Washington, have more in common than just a last name. When John David scored a Golden Globe nomination for BlacKkKlansman, Denzel celebrated right alongside him. That proud moment between father and son says a lot about their bond, shared talent, and steady support that runs deep between these two.
Dolly Parton Is Miley Cyrus’ Godmother
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It may surprise you to know that the duo that we saw on Hannah Montana is a thing in real life. Dolly is Miley’s godmother. Their bond comes from the close friendship the country singer shares with Billy Ray Cyrus. Miley has long credited Dolly with inspiring her both personally and musically.
Rip Torn Helped Launch Sissy Spacek’s Career
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Before Sissy Spacek became an Oscar-winning actress, her cousin Rip Torn gave her a major helping hand. Rip, already an established actor, introduced Sissy to important contacts in New York and encouraged her to study acting seriously. Thanks to his early support, Sissy eventually landed iconic roles like Carrie.
Cameron Diaz and Snoop Dogg Were High School Classmates
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Before either of them rose to fame, Cameron Diaz was crossing paths with Snoop Dogg in the school hallways of Long Beach. She once joked that she bought “something” from Snoop during those school days. It’s wild to think about a future movie star and a rap icon starting out just lockers apart.
Tom Hanks and Fred Rogers Have Deeper Ties Than You Think
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It’s not just warmth and kindness that tie Tom Hanks and Fred Rogers — they’re actually related. Research through Ancestry.com revealed that the two share a five-times great-grandfather, which makes them sixth cousins.
Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci Are Family Off-Screen Too
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Emily Blunt’s bond with Stanley Tucci goes far beyond The Devil Wears Prada. After meeting at Emily’s wedding, Tucci fell for her sister, Felicity Blunt. That wedding introduction ended up tying Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt together in real life.