While we may idolize them and aspire to even achieve their looks, actors are people too. With the red carpets and the glamorous lifestyles, it is easy to forget that actors have lives outside their films. While some prefer to remain a bachelor forever, like Jack Nicholson, most actors have families off-screen. For example, spaghetti Western star Clint Eastwood has eight children, most of whom are a part of the film industry in some way (like his son, and renowned actor, Scott Eastwood).
While not all children of actors would want to be a part of the Hollywood scene, many cannot resist the temptation. From Kate Hudson to Jane Fonda, there are generations of Hollywood stars plaguing the screen. In fact, some parents are even lucky enough to star in a film alongside their children. Here are movies where an actor shared the screen with their real-life children.
9 Striptease
Needing money to fight for custody of her daughter, Erin (Demi Moore) gets a job at a strip club. But her new job proves to be more than just a peep-show when she catches the eyes of politician David Dilbeck (played by Burt Reynolds). A bold choice by Moore for Striptease, she chose to have the role of her daughter, Angela, be played by her real-life daughter Rumer Willis. This is somewhat controversial considering the content of the film has to do with Moore’s character becoming an exotic dancer, which is not exactly child-appropriate. However, the decision also makes Erin’s goal to get her daughter back more convincing by sharing the screen with her daughter.
8 It Runs in The Family
Three generations of the Gromberg family come together after grandfather Mitch suffers a stroke in It Runs in the Family. Alex, Mitch's son, struggles with becoming a potentially neglectful father and hopes to save his son Asher from the world of drug use. The cast lives up to the name of this film as Kirk Douglas, his son Michael Douglas, and his grandson Cameron Douglas all star in this feel-good film about family healing. The film examines aspects of family and generational trauma that future generations hope to change, breaking the cycle of damage. Having real-life grandfather-son-grandson trio onscreen gives the film a much more authentic feel.
7 Forsaken
Modern Western Forsaken follows an old west town's struggle to survive the threats coming their way: from the railroad to the criminals trying to take land from the ranchers. But all things change when well-known gun-slinger John returns home to his father and struggles to decide whether he should return to his violent ways to protect the people in his hometown. While the relationship between the father and son is strained throughout the film, they grow closer over a shared enemy. The father-son duo are played by real-life father and son Donald and Keifer Sutherland, both of whom have carved great names for themselves on the Hollywood wall.
6 Pursuit of Happyness
Probably the most emotional film on this list, The Pursuit of Happyness follows single father Chris who struggles to make ends meet. After being evicted from their apartment, father and son bounce around shelters, while Chris works hard to build a better life for them both. The film is based on the inspiring true story of Chris Gardner who struggled to find stable housing for him and his son for one year. The onscreen father-son duo is yet again played by real life father-son Will and Jaden Smith, making the experience more real for Smith and enhancing his performance tenfold. Will Smith’s phenomenal performance even earned him a nomination for Best Actor at the Academy Awards.
5 Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
The long-running sci-fi franchise returned with a boom in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens with defected Stormtrooper Finn and drifter Rey finding their way into the Resistance to fight the First Order. In this sequel to the original Star Wars trilogy, we see the return of many beloved characters including Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher). Fisher’s real-life daughter Billie Lourde was present throughout the Star Wars sequels, but her first appearance was in The Force Awakens. While her role is small and initially more of a cameo, her presence was noticeable enough for super fans of the franchise to take note of it.
4 Maleficent
Maleficent is a film about the villain of the classic Disney film Sleeping Beauty, which brought joy to many fans. It shows that Maleficent wasn’t always what she appeared to be. Maleficent was once a beautiful young woman, until betrayal twisted her into a vengeful monster that curses Aurora, only for Maleficent to discover how important Aurora truly is to the Kingdom. A young Aurora is played by Angelina Jolie’s five-year-old daughter Vivienne, whom Maleficent picks up and holds, looking at her with a mixture of confusion and disgust. This may seem like an odd decision as the scene does not last long, but it was necessary for Jolie’s daughter to play the role as she was the only girl not afraid of Jolie in the severe Maleficent makeup, unlike the other children they tried to use.
3 On Golden Pond
Jane Fonda stars alongside her father Henry in this award-winning film. Retirees Norman and Ethel spend their summers at their cottage along New England’s Golden Pond. This summer, daughter Chelsea comes to visit with her fiancée and his son. On Golden Pond examines the fractured relationship between Norman and his daughter Chelsea who is attempting to restore the relationship before it’s too late. On Golden Pond received 10 nominations at the Academy Awards and earned three: Best Actor for Henry Fonda, Best Actress for Katherine Hepburn and Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. The film saw both critical and commercial success, being the second-highest grossing film of 1981 in North America.
2 Sylvia
Sylvia follows the life and death of critically-acclaimed poet Sylvia Plath. The film examines her relationship with Ted Hughes, her struggles to make a name as a poet in her husband’s shadow and her own mental illness taking hold of her. In this biopic Gweneth Paltrow stars alongside her real-life mother Blythe Danner, playing the roles of Sylvia Plath and Aurelia Plath, Sylvia’s mother, respectively. Aurelia’s concerns for Sylvia’s life, due to her suicidal tendencies, are brought to the surface as Aurelia keeps a watchful on Sylvia and speaks with her husband Ted, telling him he must never leave her. Not only is the resemblance clear between the two, but the ease and chemistry between the mother-daughter enhance the performance.
1 Melancholia
A film known for its thoughtful and realistic depiction of depression and how the public views depression, Lars von Trier’s Melancholia is a truly unique film. After a quick marriage and divorce, Justine moves in with her sister Claire. After discovering that a planet is going to collide with Earth, the sisters cope with the news in very different ways. The film features father-son duo Stellan and Alexander Skarsgård, with Stellan playing Justine’s boss who harasses her about work at her wedding and Alexander playing the role of Justine’s husband-turned-ex-husband Michael. While their characters may seem different, they have one thing in common, neither of them understand Justine’s depression.