40+ Movie Cameos From Celeb Offspring That We Didn’t Notice the First, Second, and Third Time Around

There’s a good story behind the casting of Vivienne Jolie Pitt as a young Aurora in fantasy film Maleficent. When the casting team was looking for kids to play the young princess, they ran into some problems. Namely, that all the little kids were terrified of Angelina Jolie dressed in villainous garb.

The actress explained, “It had to be a child that liked me and wasn’t afraid of my horns and my eyes and my claws. So it had to be Viv.”

Nowadays, we know Sofia Coppola as an acclaimed filmmaker. Of course, she comes from a filmmaking family, including her father, director Francis Ford Coppola. Interestingly, Nicolas Cage is also part of this family, and cousins with Sofia.

Anyway, Sofia Coppola made her film debut by starring in her dad’s hit crime movie The Godfather. She played baby Michael Rizzi, or Little Mike. She also starred in the movie’s sequels but after receiving criticism she turned her hand to directing. Now, she’s an Oscar winner.

We have another family operation next with the sixth instalment of the Resident Evil franchise. This sci-fi action movie was written and directed by English filmmaker Paul W. S. Anderson. It starred his wife, actress Mila Jovovich as the lead character. And guess what? These two have a daughter!

Well, actually they have three daughters, but in this case, we’re talking about eldest daughter Ever. The pair’s daughter played the younger version of her mom’s character. She’s now an actor in her own right.

Isn’t it convenient when actors have newborn babies? That way, studios don’t need to source a tiny actor baby, and can just use the one already attached to a star. Handy! Little Eve Renner was only one month old when she first appeared on the big screen.

Eve is the daughter of actor Jeremy Renner, who plays a corrupt Mayor in black comedy American Hustle. When his character kisses a baby on the street, that’s his own little girl.

At this stage, lots of us are aware of Chet Hanks. He’s the black sheep of the Hanks family, headed by actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. While son Colin looks just like his actor dad, Chet is a whole other ballgame. He’s been involved in quite a few controversies and had various run-ins with the law.

Potentially as a favor to his famous father, Chet Hanks has a cameo in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. He’s a student in the library.

There are several kids on this list who have played a younger version of their parents on the big screen. It definitely makes sense — who else has the actual DNA of these well-known faces? For the biopic of rapper Christopher Wallace, or Biggie Smalls, the casting director turned to his son, Christopher Wallace Jr.

Speaking about the role, young Christopher said, “I did well because I know how to react because my grandmother […] told me about him and his actions and other things.”

It’s easy to forget that singer and actress Liza Minnelli also comes from a showbiz lineage. She’s the daughter of iconic performer Judy Garland and performed with her many times. However, for her first-ever role, Liza had an uncredited cameo in her mom’s movie, In the Good Old Summertime.

By the age of seven, Liza was on stage for her mom’s variety show. By age 10, she was hosting. Now, she has the coveted EGOT — an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony.

Likewise, actor Ben Stiller comes from a famous family. He’s the son of comedy duo Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller. Of course, he too would end up in comedy! He has said, “It’s impossible to think of doing what I do if they hadn’t done what they do.”

And the tradition continues! Ben Stiller’s son Quinn landed a small role in one of his dad’s movies. He played the younger version of Alex the lion, Ben’s character, in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa.

Actress and singer Rumer Willis has not one, but two, extremely famous actors as parents. As a result, she has appeared with both mom Demi Moore and dad Bruce Willis in various on-screen projects.

Rumer’s first-ever acting role was in the coming-of-age dramedy, Now and Then. The movie stars Christina Ricci, Thora Birch, and Melanie Griffith. Young Rumer played her mom’s sister Samantha in the movie. These days, she’s still appearing on the big screen. Plus, she won Dancing With the Stars!

Clearly, it’s common for Hollywood kids to go on to be just like their parents. That’s what we have with John David Washington, who’s now a very successful actor in his own right. But, Denzel Washington’s son had to start somewhere, and that was with a cameo.

In Denzel’s epic biopic, Malcolm X, John David plays a student in a Harlem classroom. He’s the first kid to stand up and say, “I’m Malcolm X.” Denzel’s mom also had a cameo, playing Mrs. Johnson.

And so we begin the first of our many Star Wars entries. It makes sense — it would be cruel to be involved in Star Wars, have a child, and not try to combine the two. Which kid would turn down an afternoon surrounded by lightsabers and Wookiees? Not this one!

Director George Lucas adopted daughter Katie as a single parent. She appears as Anakin Skywalker’s childhood friend in Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace. She even has a line!

We couldn’t get a picture of Alexandrea Martin’s face in either of her cameos, but we guarantee she was there! The daughter of actress Whoopi Goldberg has appeared as an extra in several of her mom’s big hits. Firstly, she was a child in the Easter scene of 1985’s The Color Purple.

After that, Alexandrea was an extra in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. Considering this is one of the best movies ever, she must have been delighted. Oh, happy day!

For many, Dakota Johnson is just an actress. But really, she’s an actress raised by actors. Dakota is the daughter of actress Melanie Griffith, who herself is the daughter of actress Tippi Hedren. Dakota’s father is actor Don Johnson, though her stepfather is actor Antonio Banderas. That’s a whole lot of acting royalty!

As a result, Dakota had a cameo in Crazy in Alabama, starring her mom, and directed by her step-dad. In this picture, she’s the one with braids and overalls.

We have a two for one up next with DC superhero movie Wonder Woman 1984. In this scene from the film, the handsome smiling man is actually actress Gal Gadot’s husband, Yaron Varsano. Beside him, happily riding a carousel horse, is the couple’s daughter Maya. The picture of contentment!

Gal and Israeli real estate developer Yaron got married in 2008. They have three daughters in total. In 2019, the couple started their own production company. Expect more mini-me cameos!

Here’s another well-known actor that comes from a family of performers. She’s one of four of director and actor Ron Howard’s children. Interestingly, Ron and wife Cheryl kept their kids away from showbiz. In fact, they weren’t even allowed to watch TV. Presumably, this is because Ron started working at five years old.

However, the kids were allowed to be extras in their dad’s movies. Bryce played the red-headed girl in the audience in the family comedy, Parenthood. She’s also in Apollo 13.

We didn’t know that director Alfred Hitchcock had a daughter, but we can certainly see the similarity. The extremely influential English director married screenwriter Alma Reville in 1926 and they had one daughter, named Patricia.

Patricia wanted to be an actress and got several small roles in her father’s films. She was an acting student in Stage Fright, a lover in Strangers on a Train, and Marion’s co-worker Caroline in Psycho. She passed away in 2021 at 93 years old.

Doesn’t Melissa Rivers look exactly like her mom Joan? Clearly, that was the point for this small cameo in biopic Joy. The late comedian’s daughter was the perfect choice to play a younger version of her mom. Melissa is the star’s only daughter with producer Edgar Rosenberg.

Speaking about the part, Melissa said, “I wanted to make sure it looked right. I wanted to make sure that it was respectful. And honestly, once the wig was on I stopped looking in a mirror — it was too bizarre.”

Director Judd Apatow is regularly trolled by his two daughters online. The pair have been starring in their dad’s movies since they were little kids. Plus, their mom is actress Leslie Mann, so they have double the opportunities.

Iris and Maude Apatow played giggling sisters in their dad’s comedy Knocked Up, alongside their mom. They then reprised their roles in spin-off This Is 40, and appeared in comedy-drama Funny People. Since then, Maude has landed some major roles of her own.

Our next entry is another celebrity kid playing a younger version of their parent’s character. In black comedy crime movie Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, young Indio Falconer Downey plays the nine-year-old version of his father’s character. Plus, Robert Downey Jr’s wife, Susan Levin, executive-produced the movie.

Indio is the son of the actor along with singer and actress Deborah Falconer. They tied the knot after only 42 days of knowing each other. Funnily enough, they split up.

Here’s another Star Wars entry, though with a somewhat older child. In Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, released in 1983, Billy Dee Williams played Lando Calrissian. While there, he got his son. Corey Dee Williams, a part playing one of Jabba the Hutt’s henchmen.

As well as this fun part, Corey doubled for his dad. 36 years after this movie was released, Billy Dee Williams appeared in The Rise of Skywalker. That’s one of the longest breaks between playing the same part ever!

Directors’ kids must have all sorts of opportunities to jump into the background of scenes. For Ivan Reitman, both of his children ended up on screen in Ghostbusters II. His son Jason is the kid that tells the Ghostbusters, “You know my dad says you guys are full of crap.” Amazingly, he’s the director of 2021’s Ghostbusters Afterlife.

Ivan Reitman’s daughter, Catherine, also appears in the movie. She’s the little girl in Egon’s lab with a puppy at the beginning. Now, she’s the creator of Workin’ Moms.

The title of this 2003 comedy-drama was perfect for the men that ended up starring in it. Yes, we admit, this is slightly more than a cameo. In this movie, three generations of the Douglas family star together as three generations of a family. Imagine?

Acting legend Kirk Douglas played the grandfather, his son Michael played the son, and his son Cameron played the grandson. Plus, Kirk’s ex-wife and Michael’s mom also starred. Still with us? Kirk is just out of shot in this snap from the movie.

Towards the beginning of comedy-drama Forrest Gump, a young Forrest boards the bus to school. He tries to sit beside a freckle-faced little girl, but she won’t let him take the seat next to her. Amusingly, that little girl was actor Tom Hanks’ daughter, Elizabeth. She was credited as “School Bus Girl.” What a role!

Elizabeth is Tom’s daughter from his first marriage to actress Samantha Lewes. Her brother is actor Colin Hanks, who looks just like his famous father.

Angelina Jolie has already been on our list as a parent, but now she’s here as a child. Angie is the daughter of actor Jon Voight, though the pair have been estranged for some time. The actress made her first-ever appearance on screen in this comedy, which was released back in 1982.

Jon Voight wrote and starred in this movie, which followed two New Yorkers trying to break a casino bank. Angelina is Voight’s daughter with actress Marcheline Bertrand.

And here she is again! Well, her child anyway. This time, Angelina and Brad Pitt’s daughter Shiloh appeared in an uncredited cameo in one of his movies. She was just 20 months old at the time, and played Benjamin and Daisy’s infant daughter Caroline.

Since then, Shiloh hasn’t done any more acting. However, she has done voice work in one of her mom’s movies. Angelina has said, “We think it’s fun for our kids to have cameos and join us on set, but not to be actors.”

We’ve seen Christopher Wallace Jr. play his rapper father in a biopic, and this entry is along those lines again. However, O’Shea Jackson Jr. didn’t just play the younger version of his father in a flashback — he played him for the entire movie.

Speaking about taking on the role of Ice Cube, he said, “[The director] 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.”

OK, back to a classic cameo for our next entry. This time it’s the third and final installment of Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. Towards the end of this epic fantasy adventure movie, the weary gang return home to the Shire. Then, they’re greeted joyfully by their families.

When Samwise Gamgee (played by Sam Astin) returns home, he gets a hug from his real-life daughter. The adorable curly-haired girl that grabs him is Alexandra Astin herself.

This is a real blink and you’ll miss it cameo. In psychological drama Eyes Wide Shut, there’s a moment where Tom Cruise’s Dr. Bill Harford is attending to a child. In the background, the boy’s mother stands against the wall. And that’s director Stanley Kubrick’s daughter, Katherina.

The acclaimed director has two daughters from his marriage to German actress Christina Harlan. Katherina is actually Harlan’s daughter from a previous relationship. She also made original paintings for this movie.

When it comes to famous kids, the Smith children must be up there. These days, Willow just goes by her first name, but she certainly owes a lot to that surname. She appeared in her first movie in 2007, playing the daughter of her dad’s character.

After that, Willow starred as the younger version of her mom’s character Gloria in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Because of these early experiences, Willow decided at a young age to go into acting. Now, she’s a singer.

While some celebrity offspring get given roles, others have to work for them. According to Clint Eastwood’s son Scott, he always had to audition for a role in one of his father’s movies. Plus, the actor initially used Reeves as a surname to avoid getting credit for his dad’s impressive movie legacy.

Scott Eastwood appeared in Flags of Our Fathers, which was directed by his dad. While he might not be as well-known as some of our celebrity kids, he’s clearly following in the footsteps of his father.

It must be great to have little kids while working on a superhero movie. It’s the perfect way to see whether the world and characters you’re creating will excite little minds. In this superhero sequel, director Jon Favreau’s son Max managed to get a great little cameo.

He’s the kid wearing an Iron Mask at the Stark Expo who stands up to Hammer Drone. Interestingly, actor Tom Holland has since confirmed that the character was actually a young Peter Parker.

We’ve already mentioned George Lucas’ daughter Katie, but the director has more than one kid! In fact, he has four altogether. Jett Lucas was also adopted by the director as a single dad.

Young Jett got surely the most ideal role for a little boy with a close connection to a galaxy far, far away. In the 2005 entry of the epic space opera, he played the youngling who saves Bail Organa. We bet he has a bunch of lightsabers at home.

Another star with a famous family is beloved late actress Carrie Fisher. Of course, she had her breakthrough in George Lucas’ beloved sci-fi movies back in the ’70s. Carrie was the daughter of actress Debbie Reynolds and singer-actor Eddie Fisher.

Though she was a bookish child, young Carrie appeared on Broadway with her mom at age 16. Carrie Fisher also has a bunch of movie cameos. She’s a “mystery girl” in The Blues Brothers, and appeared with her mom in These Old Broads.

And here’s another! We didn’t realize Laura Dern comes from an acting family, but now we know. The Oscar-winning actress is the daughter of two actors — Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern. Laura had an uncredited part as an extra in one of her mom’s movies in the ’70s.

However, her first credited role was in comedy-drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Again, her mom was in the film. She’s the little blonde girl eating ice cream at the counter in Mel’s Diner.

It’s time for another lucky kid that found himself in a superhero movie. We bet that went down well at school. This time, we’re talking about DC Comics sequel The Dark Knight Rises, released in 2012.

Like the other movies in this trilogy, this entry was directed by British-American director Christopher Nolan. The filmmaker is married to Emma Thomas, and they have four kids. One of them — Rory — was a little boy at the bridge in the movie.

So, Carrie Fisher is the daughter of Debbie Reynolds, but Carrie’s daughter is Billie Lourd. And guess what? She’s been on your screens too. Billie auditioned to play Rey in the new installments of the beloved franchise, but instead got the role of Lieutenant Connix.

Amazingly, Carrie and Billie were able to star in an installment of the series together, despite Carrie passing away before its release. She said, “It was like she had left us a gift that would allow Leia’s story to be completed.”

Now, for something a little different. In the fifth entry to the View Askewniverse movies, there’s a scene of Jay and Silent Bob as babies. And who better to get to play a baby version of yourself than your own child? They basically are baby versions of yourself.

So, Kevin Smith’s daughter Harley Quinn Smith played the younger version of her dad’s character, Silent Bob. In a later entry to the franchise, she played Millennium “Milly” Faulken.

And here’s yet another acting dynasty that’s been in Hollywood for decades. At the head of this entertainment family is Lloyd Bridges, an actor who appeared on TV and in over 150 movies. Lloyd had four kids, including actors Beau and Jeff. Both of the boys appeared in their father’s shows and movies over the years.

Jeff Bridges had his first-ever on-screen appearance just after his 1st birthday. He had the uncredited role of Infant at Train Station. Meanwhile, Beau played Kid at Train Station.

Much like the kids who get to temporarily enter universes full of superheroes, it must be great to have a parent that works in fantasy. What more would a small child want than to be able to actually set foot in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

The director of the first installment of the magical franchise was American filmmaker Chris Columbus. He got his daughter Eleanor the part of first-year Susan Bones, who gets called for the sorting hat.

It’s easy to forget that Charlie Sheen is also part of a seriously talented family. At a young age, Charlie — or Carlos Estevez — was making movies with his brother Emilio and friends Sean Penn and Rob Lowe.

Back in the ’70s, Charlie’s dad, Martin Sheen, got a role in a TV movie. During shooting, nine-year-old Charlie was on set and managed to get a role as an extra. The two would go on to work together many times.

British-born Canadian actor Kiefer Sutherland grew up with two successful actors as parents. In fact, he’s named after the person who directed Donald Sutherland in his first-ever movie.

When Kiefer was in his teens, he had a cameo in one of his dad’s movies. He has since said that this interested him in his father’s world, and he realized he was famous. Now, Kiefer has an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and two SAG awards for his own performances.

Mark Hamill is best known for playing Luke Skywalker in George Lucas’ first sci-fi trilogy. As well as that, he’s provided the voices for several characters, including the Joker in various DC projects. Mark Hamill has three kids, and they’ve all made appearances in their dad’s movies.

In 2017, Nathan, Chelsea, and Griffin Hamill all appeared as rebel soldiers in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. They must have access to all the best Halloween costumes every year!

Meryl Streep’s daughter, Mamie Gummer, has appeared alongside her in a bunch of movies. Like many other famous kids on this list, young Mamie ended up pursuing acting as her own career. Mamie’s dad is sculptor Don Gummer, and she has three siblings.

Mamie’s on-screen debut was with her mom in this 1986 comedy-drama. She was 20 months old at the time, and credited as Natalie Stern. Apparently, this was to avoid any extra press attention. Mamie and Meryl have since acted together.

We’ve seen Willow Smith’s first movie role, but what about her siblings, Jaden and Trey? Well, we know that Jaden starred alongside his dad in 2006 drama The Pursuit of Happyness. At just eight years old, it was his first lead role.

However, Jaden had been on screen before that. He and older brother Trey had brief cameos during a chase scene in Men in Black II. Since then, Jaden and Will have acted together again in Will’s self-penned movie.

Finally, we close with some more kids that got to have a great time on a superhero movie set. Will Arnett and Amy Poehler’s children, Abel and Archie, were visiting their actor dad on set and walked away with two minor voice roles. The celebrity sons play orphans in the movie.

Hilariously, the kids then bragged about their roles to Idina Menzel’s daughter. Apparently, the actress joked to Arnett, “Thanks, now Frozen’s not good enough for my kids.”