Celebrities Whose Siblings Struggle To Escape The Shadow Of Stardom

There's no predicting who in this world will turn out to be famous. Although those who do find prominence will often have supportive family members telling the press that they knew what they were destined for, it's also true that some families will say the same thing about people who never find fame.

But while some celebrities are plucked from obscurity, others come from showbiz families, which means they're often not the only of their siblings who are trying to make it in the entertainment world. These siblings find themselves completely overshadowed by their A-list relative's fame.

Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson

L. Cohen/WireImage via Getty Images
L. Cohen/WireImage via Getty Images

Through movies like How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days and Raising Helen, Kate Hudson established herself as a bankable star for romantic comedies. But considering her career has spanned well over 20 years and seen her appear in hits like Almost Famous and Glass Onion, it's a challenge to find someone who doesn't know who she is.

However, the same cannot quite be said for her brother Oliver. Although he played a popular character in the TV show Rules Of Engagement and secured recurring roles in Nashville and Scream Queens, people are still more likely to call him "Kate Hudson's brother" than Oliver.

ADVERTISEMENT

James Franco and Dave Franco

ADVERTISEMENT
21st Annual Hollywood Film Awards
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Prior to James Franco's career-jeopardizing scandal, it was easy to regard him as both more famous and more accomplished than his younger brother, Dave. This had a lot to do with the fact that he could handle himself just as well in goofball comedies like Pineapple Express and This Is The End as he could in challenging prestige work like Milk and 127 Hours.

ADVERTISEMENT

That's not to say Dave doesn't have his own accomplishments, either. He proved himself a capable actor known for being the snarky voice of reason in comedies like Neighbors and 21 Jump Street and was perfectly cast alongside his brother in The Disaster Artist. Still, James is the Oscar nominee and two-time Golden Globe winner.

ADVERTISEMENT

Helen Mirren and Katerine Mirren

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
2007 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted by Graydon Carter - Inside
E. Charbonneau/WireImage for Vanity Fair Magazine
E. Charbonneau/WireImage for Vanity Fair Magazine
ADVERTISEMENT

After acting for about 40 years and receiving multiple Academy Award nominations, Helen Mirren secured Oscar gold in 2007 after playing Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen a year prior. Although she's acclaimed for her prestige dramas, she's also not averse to more lighthearted fare like RED and Barbie.

ADVERTISEMENT

And while she's brought her sister Katherine along with her to various award shows, that's about the extent of information available to the public about the woman. With that in mind, it seems likely that she would largely prefer to keep her life outside of the public eye. Although Helen is certainly more famous, it's hard not to be with a sibling who isn't competing for that fame.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sean Penn and Chris Penn

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Chris Penn And Sean Penn In 'At Close Range'
Orion/Getty Images
Orion/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Prior to Chris's tragic passing, both Penn brothers had established themselves as incredibly talented actors known for their emotionally raw performances. Yet, while Chris shored up his legacy with performances in Footloose and classic crime films like Reservoir Dogs and True Romance, it was clear even during his time in the industry that Sean had the bigger career of the two.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although his career had fairly humble beginnings with lighthearted fare like Fast Times At Ridgemont High, the decades that followed would see Sean take increasingly challenging, intense, and prestigious roles that would culminate in two Academy Awards for his performances in Mystic River and Milk.

ADVERTISEMENT

Chris Hemsworth and Liam Hemsworth

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Premiere of Touchstone Pictures'
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

During the 2010s, it seemed more or less neck-and-neck as to which of the hunky Hemsworth brothers had the more prominent career. Although Chris landed the role of Thor in both the character's own line of movies and the consistently successful Avengers films, Liam had also built significant buzz by playing Gale Hawthorne in the Hunger Games series.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, that race would become significantly less close in the decade that followed, as Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, and Thor: Ragnarok all worked wonders for Chris's celebrity. Meanwhile, Liam would become better publicized for his ill-fated marriage to Miley Cyrus than for any of his roles after Mockingjay Part 2 wrapped.

ADVERTISEMENT

Beyoncé and Solange Knowles

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter - Inside
Kevin Mazur/VF15/WireImage via Getty Images
Kevin Mazur/VF15/WireImage via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When Beyoncé started branching out from Destiny's Child and finding her own solo success as a musician during the early 2000s, her sister Solange also started a music career of her own. Yet, while the white-hot success of "Crazy In Love" made Beyoncé a household name almost instantly, Solange's career could be described as more of a slow burn.

ADVERTISEMENT

This was partially because she's never quite had her sister's tight release schedule and partially because she makes less pop-friendly R&B than Beyoncé, but she's become an incredibly acclaimed artist in her own right since the late 2000s. Of course, Beyoncé is still Beyoncé and it would be hard for anyone to compete with Lemonade and Renaissance when those massive albums dropped.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rashida Jones and Kidada Jones

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Disney's Alice in Wonderland Mad Tea Party
Donato Sardella/WireImage via Getty Images for Disney Consumer Products
Donato Sardella/WireImage via Getty Images for Disney Consumer Products
ADVERTISEMENT

Although she's never been a household name, there was a time when Kidada Jones was better known within the entertainment industry than her now-famous sister Rashida. Although she's done some acting and writing, Vice confirmed that she's most prominent for her work as a fashion designer, particularly when it came to her close, decade-spanning work with Tommy Hilfiger.

ADVERTISEMENT

Indeed, Kidada was already an established designer who was engaged to Tupac Shakur before Rashida even landed her first role. But a string of successes that began with The Office, a supporting role in The Social Network, and especially her major role in Parks And Recreation led Rashida on a path to become the more famous sister of the two.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jake Gyllenhaal and Maggie Gyllenhaal

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
59th New York Film Festival - The Lost Daughter - Red Carpet
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Both actors started at around the same time and have shared the screen on multiple occasions (most notably in Donnie Darko), but their careers have taken Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal in very different directions. Jake's known for an intense style of method acting that's afforded him some deeply challenging roles in movies like Nightcrawler and Prisoners, but he's also made the jump to big-budget movies like The Day After Tomorrow and Spider-Man: Far From Home.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although Maggie has also delighted in off-beat films like Secretary and Stranger Than Fiction, her highest profile role came when she was tapped to replace Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes in The Dark Knight. But while many of the movies she's worked in have been smaller than her brother's, the 2020s have seen her find her own lane as the director of The Lost Daughter.

ADVERTISEMENT

Emilio Estevez and Charlie Sheen

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Emilio Estevez (left) and his brother, Charlie Sheen, get to
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although there were only a few years between their breakout roles, Emilio Estevez would find success slightly earlier than his brother, thanks to a role in The Outsiders that would open the door to a series of successful movies like The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire. Although Charlie Sheen's success would pick up speed a little later, starring roles in Platoon and Wall Street ensured he was no slouch in the '80s either.

ADVERTISEMENT

By the 2000s, however, Estevez would act in lesser-known films and turn to directing, with his most prestigious work being the 2006 Robert Kennedy assassination story Bobby. But while his level of fame would eventually come at a cost, Sheen would achieve a great deal of success on TV through a turn on Spin City and a starring role in Two And a Half Men.

ADVERTISEMENT

Joaquin Phoenix and Rain Phoenix

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Joaquin Phoenix Hosts Release Party For His Sister Rain Celebrating Her New Album
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although both siblings were overshadowed by their brother River before his tragic passing in 1993, Joaquin's fortunes would start to reverse in the 2000s. He started the decade off strong by playing the reviled Roman emperor Commodus in Gladiator before racking up a string of high-profile roles in Signs and Walk The Line. His momentum built in the following decade with The Master and Her before his turn as The Joker solidified his A-list status.

ADVERTISEMENT

In that period, his sister Rain has also pursued an acting career, with some of her most prominent appearances including the deeply disturbing 1998 film Happiness, the 2001 film O, and the the Will Smith romantic comedy Hitch. However, her work was never quite as prominent or as frequent as Joaquin's.

ADVERTISEMENT

Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The 35th Annual GRAMMY Awards
Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images
Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although Michael Jackson had an early start in outshining his entire family as the starring voice in the Jackson 5, he earned his status as the King of Pop in the late '70s and throughout the '80s with the unbeatable album trilogy of albums Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad. However, by the time the third of those albums dropped, his sister Janet was already becoming a superstar in her own right, thanks to her breakout album Control.

ADVERTISEMENT

Indeed, as Michael's star faltered in the '90s, hers only shined brighter thanks to momentum provided by 1989's Rhythm Nation 1814, 1993's Janet, and 1997's The Velvet Rope. However, her career would face its own Waterloo in the form of a wardrobe malfunction during the 2004 Superbowl Halftime Show, and Michael would shore up his legacy shortly before his passing in 2009.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mark Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
1991 MTV Rock 'n Jock Basketball
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc via Getty Images
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although it may be hard to understand in retrospect, there was a time when Donnie Wahlberg was more successful by far than Mark. Although the latter saw significant if short-lived musical success in 1991 as Marky Mark, Donnie had already been a New Kid On The Block for five years by then. But while both turned to movies after these opportunities dried up, Mark would quickly outshine his brother in this domain.

ADVERTISEMENT

That's not to say Donnie completely struck out as an actor, as he was able to secure a recurring role in the popular Saw series. However, Boogie Nights, The Departed, The Fighter, and Ted are just a few examples of films that have contributed to Mark's film stardom. And his success has shown more longevity in Hollywood than either of them had in music.

ADVERTISEMENT

Julia Roberts and Eric Roberts

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Ron Galella Archive - File Photos 2011
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Throughout the '90s, Julia Roberts would find herself in the midst of a meteoric rise powered by films like Pretty Woman and My Best Friend's Wedding, which made her America's sweetheart until she took on more prestigious roles like Erin Brockovich in the 2000s. In the case of that movie, she even secured an Oscar for Best Actress.

ADVERTISEMENT

In terms of raw output, her brother Eric is easily the more prolific of the two siblings since his total number of film credits more than quintuple hers. However, he's also shown far less quality control in his script choices because for every high-profile role in The Dark Knight or The Expendables, he does about 20 movies that most people have justifiably never heard of.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hilary Duff and Haylie Duff

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Celebs Attend
Sebastian Artz/Getty Images
Sebastian Artz/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

During the 2000s, Hilary Duff was riding high enough off the success of Lizzie McGuire to pursue both a wider film career in movies and a music career. While films like A Cinderella Story, Raise Your Voice, and Cheaper By The Dozen made her a common sight in theaters at the time, songs like "Wake Up," "With Love," and "Come Clean" all made Billboard's Top 40 list.

ADVERTISEMENT

During that time, her sister Haylie also achieved some prominence during that time, most notably with a supporting performance in the cult hit Napoleon Dynamite. She also teamed up with her sister for a moderately successful duet, a cover of The Go-Go's "My Lips Are Sealed." However, while Hilary has landed roles in Younger and How I Met Your Father in more recent years, Haylie's career has been comparatively quiet.

ADVERTISEMENT

Fred Savage and Ben Savage

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Ron Galella Archive - File Photos 2010
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Even if nothing particularly worrying happens as they come of age, it's generally quite difficult for child stars to transition into viable acting careers as adults. And while that was a struggle that both Fred and Ben Savage know well, they've dealt with that hurdle in different ways. Although Fred was a breakout star during the '80s thanks to The Wonder Years and movies like The Princess Bride, Ben would see his own success during the following decade with Boy Meets World.

ADVERTISEMENT

Both would also find some footing as men, but Ben's biggest return would come in the form of the spin-off series Girl Meets World in 2014. By that point, Fred had long found his second calling as a TV director, with It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, 2 Broke Girls, and Modern Family presenting the most opportunities for him to ply his trade.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ron Howard and Clint Howard

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Apple Store Soho Presents Meet The Filmmaker: Ron Howard
Andy Kropa/Getty Images
Andy Kropa/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Throughout most of their lives, Ron and Clint Howard have been fixtures of the entertainment industry. But while both of them were child stars who kept their jobs when they came of age, Ron always seemed ahead each step of the way. He appeared in more episodes of The Andy Griffith Show than Clint did in episodes of Gentle Ben, and he was on Happy Days while Clint was still finding his footing as a grown actor.

ADVERTISEMENT

As both men grew older, that dynamic would only intensify as Ron would not only become the successful director of films like Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and The Da Vinci Code but also set aside parts for his brother in many of these movies. Still, Clint has remained a prolific actor without Ron's help, and his memorable performances encapsulate the phrase, "There are no small parts, only small actors."

ADVERTISEMENT

Macaulay Culkin and Kieran Culkin

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Macaulay Culkin (left) joins his brother, Kieran, at LINK Re
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although Kieran was memorable in his role as Kevin McCallister's bedwetting cousin Fuller in the first two Home Alone movies, it was obvious at the time that his brother Macaulay was the star of the show when they were kids. Yet, while he would continue to be incredibly successful throughout the '90s, Macaulay stepped back significantly from acting after that, largely keeping to TV appearances and independent films like 2004's Saved!

ADVERTISEMENT

Although Kieran's star wouldn't quite yet rise by that point, he would see a boost to his career through his memorable and beloved role as Wallace Wells in Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World. However, that was only the start of things for him, as his hilarious turn as Roman Roy in the popular HBO series Succession would make him a household name.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jane Fonda and Peter Fonda

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Actors Peter Fonda and Jane Fonda Rally Voters to Vote
Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images
Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although Peter Fonda will forever be remembered for his iconic role in Easy Rider, he was also acclaimed for Ulee's Gold before taking significant roles in Ghost Rider and 3:10 To Yuma during the 2000s. From his radical breakout role to the work he secured before his passing, he had a respectable career as an actor.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, films like Klute, Julia, and The China Syndrome ensured his sister Jane had already had a respectable career by the end of the '70s. And by the time she experienced her major resurgence with Grace & Frankie in 2015, she had gone from an actress to a movie star to an icon. And each stage of her career, she could add "activist" to her list of accomplishments.

ADVERTISEMENT

Miley Cyrus and Noah Cyrus

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
61st Annual GRAMMY Awards - Inside
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
ADVERTISEMENT

From her beloved childhood stint as Hannah Montana to her unpredictable but often successful music career, Miley Cyrus has been a bona fide celebrity since she was 14 years old. And with a high-profile appearance in Black Mirror and a massive viral hit in the form of "Flowers," it's clear that her star shines as bright as ever.

ADVERTISEMENT

But while her sister Noah was half her age when she voiced the titular character in the English dub of the Studio Ghibli film Ponyo and has pursued a music career of her own since the 2010s, it hasn't brought her quite as much success as her sister's. She had two songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2016 and 2020, but neither reached the Top 40. By contrast, Miley has had two number-one hits and 12 Top 10 hits.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jessica Simpson and Ashlee Simpson

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A Special Preview Of “The Gleason Project” at ZEFR Warehouse
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After a few years of buzz in the pop music world during the late '90s, Jessica Simpson came to prominence as a singer with a powerful vocal presence during the early-to-mid 2000s. She also saw success in a wider pop-cultural context as the reality show Newlyweds: Nick And Jessica, which she shared with then-husband Nick Lachey, was a significant cultural touchstone at the time.

ADVERTISEMENT

Shortly after her fame was solidified, her younger sister Ashlee made her own bid for mainstream success with her album Autobiography. With hits like "Pieces Of Me" and "Shadow," Ashlee rivaled her sister's success for a time. However, a lip-syncing scandal on Saturday Night Live brought about her downfall to such an extent that there was no longer any debate on who the most famous sister was.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jeff Bridges And Beau Bridges

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Jeff Bridges, Star Of The Upcoming
Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Twentieth Century Fox
Robin Marchant/Getty Images for Twentieth Century Fox
ADVERTISEMENT

Jeff Bridges found his breakout role in The Last Picture Show in 1971, but he's amassed an enviable number of iconic roles in just about every decade since. His roles in Tron and Starman in the '80s and in The Fisher King and The Big Lebowski in the '90s remain dearly beloved, but he would practically define his modern career with his Academy Award-winning performance in Crazy Heart in 2009 and in the True Grit remake a year later.

ADVERTISEMENT

But while his brother Beau has been steadily working for even longer and starred alongside Jeff in 1989's The Fabulous Baker Boys, he's typically been considered a character actor rather than a leading man. Respect is due to someone who can hold down a career as a professional actor for over 60 years, but it's still no secret that Jeff has consistently secured the larger roles for much of that time.

ADVERTISEMENT

Alec Baldwin and Stephen Baldwin

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
62nd Annual Tony Awards - Arrivals
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Among the various Baldwin brothers, it's not hard to say who had the loftiest career. After a plumb breakout role in 1988's Beetlejuice, Alec Baldwin became a fixture of the film and TV world. He found as much success on NBC's 30 Rock as he did in major releases like The Hunt For Red October, Glengarry Glen Ross, and The Cooler.

ADVERTISEMENT

But while none of his brothers can really say they've achieved as much as Alec in their careers, Stephen's memorable performance in The Usual Suspects hinted that he could have been on his way to similar status in the '90s. However, a string of panned movies like Bio-Dome and The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas quickly put those hopes to bed.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jason Bateman and Justine Bateman

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Toyota Pro-Celebrity Grand Prix Classic At Long Beach Raceway in Long Beach, California on April 4, 1987
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Both Bateman siblings began their careers in TV as children, with Justine co-starring on Family Ties and Jason serving as part of the family ensemble in Little House On The Prairie. Throughout the '80s, it wasn't unusual for the two to be spotted out together often, partially due to the novelty of a young brother and sister having successful TV careers at the same time.

ADVERTISEMENT

By the 2000s, however, Arrested Development and successful comedies like Horrible Bosses made Jason a star in his own right. And his starring role in Ozark proved he could flex his dramatic chops as well. Although Justine's acting career has comparatively flown under the radar since her youth, she's taken to writing and directing her own movies now.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jaden Smith and Willow Smith

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Louis Vuitton : Front Row - Paris Fashion Week - Menswear Spring/Summer 2024
Pierre Mouton/Getty Images for Louis Vuitton
Pierre Mouton/Getty Images for Louis Vuitton
ADVERTISEMENT

After Jaden Smith co-starred with his dad in The Pursuit Of Happyness, there was a significant push in the late 2000s and early 2010s to make him as big a star as his famous parents. At the same time, he also followed in Will's footsteps by pursuing a rap career that continues to this day. Meanwhile, that same period saw his sister Willow attract the wrong kind of attention with the widely derided pop song "Whip My Hair."

ADVERTISEMENT

Over the last decade, however, these siblings' fortunes would start to balance out. Although Jaden still gets significant buzz as a rapper and produced his own animated series, his viability as a movie star largely fell apart following the failure of After Earth. Meanwhile, his sister has attracted widespread acclaim with her music after reinventing herself as a pop-punk star. Her time could now be coming.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dennis Quaid and Randy Quaid

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
quaid
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images | J. P. Aussenard/WireImage/Getty Images
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images | J. P. Aussenard/WireImage/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Randy Quaid got his start in 1971's The Last Picture Show, which set him on a path of playing rough-around-the-edges characters from rural or southern backgrounds. For the most part, this would take the form of goofy characters like Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or Russell Casse from Independence Day.

ADVERTISEMENT

Yet, while Randy's career started first, his brother Dennis's star burned brighter once he got going in 1977. He was often cast in more dramatic fare like Far From Heaven and Frequency before taking a major role in The Day After Tomorrow. When his roles were comedic, they tended to be a little more sophisticated, which gave his career the perception of being more respectable than Randy's.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nicole Kidman and Antonia Kidman

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
60th Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
KMazur/WireImage via Getty Images
KMazur/WireImage via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Nicole Kidman has been a celebrated dramatic actress for decades, and while she showed a great deal of promise in films like Eyes Wide Shut in the '90s, her star really took off in the 2000s. This period would see her nominated for her starring role in the mega-successful Moulin Rouge before she brought an Academy Award home the following year for playing Virginia Woolf in The Hours.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although her sister Antonia may not quite boast Nicole's international recognition, she's nonetheless quite famous in her own right in their native Australia. According to speaker booking website Ovations, Antonia started as a print journalist and fashion editor for MODE Brides magazine before making the jump to TV as an on-scene reporter for Fox Entertainment News in 1997. She would produce her own TV programs in the following decade.

ADVERTISEMENT

David Arquette and Patricia Arquette

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
2005 Los Angeles Film Festival -
Alison Buck/WireImage via Getty Images
Alison Buck/WireImage via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although Patricia and David Arquette are far from the only actors in their family, their careers have certainly been the most successful. Yet, the determination of who achieved more with their careers depends a lot on the era being examined. Although roles in buzz-worthy movies like True Romance and Ed Wood gave Patricia a better early start, her brother would overtake her once he was cast in Scream.

ADVERTISEMENT

After all, not only did this open the door for all future installments of the long-running series, but it also afforded him other acting opportunities, like his role in 1996's Never Been Kissed. However, their fortunes would reverse again. Although Patricia's career has typically been considered under-the-radar, that changed in a big way after she won an Academy Award for her supporting role in Boyhood.

ADVERTISEMENT

John Travolta and Ellen Travolta

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
John Travolta Sighting at Tavern on the Green in New York City - December 9, 1979
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

When the Travolta siblings got their respective starts in the mid-1970s, they were essentially on equal footing as television actors. Although John found early success as Barbarino in Welcome Back, Kotter, Ellen would find substantial gigs on Joanie Loves Chachi and Charles In Charge during the '80s. However, her brother's star had risen considerably by the time that decade rolled around.

ADVERTISEMENT

Not only was Saturday Night Fever a red-hot cultural sensation in 1977, but it would open the door for his other classic roles like Grease, Blow Out, and Pulp Fiction. Although his career has certainly had ups and downs over the years, he's nonetheless been able to sustain international stardom for well over 40 years.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mary-Kate, Ashley, and Elizabeth Olsen

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Elizabeth and James Celebrates Flagship Store Opening With InStyle
Donato Sardella/Getty Images for InStyle
Donato Sardella/Getty Images for InStyle
ADVERTISEMENT

According to Cosmopolitan, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen started amassing their fortunes in their breakout roles on Full House, a show that first featured the twins while they were infants. From there, they would star in a series of incredibly popular direct-to-video movies released through Dualstar Entertainment Group, which they own. This company, plus their successful The Row fashion house, would make them multi-millionaires by the time they were 20.

ADVERTISEMENT

As for their sister Elizabeth, she would remain unknown until her acclaimed role in Martha Marcy May Marlene brought her acclaim that she would parlay into global fame once she joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2014. Although she remains a world-famous actress who rose to even greater heights once Wanda Maximoff's character was further developed, it's still hard not to be overshadowed by two business titans who were famous before they could read.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rob Lowe and Chad Lowe

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Rob and Chad Lowe ride
Mathew Imaging/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Mathew Imaging/FilmMagic via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After securing his breakout role in 1983's The Outsiders, Rob Lowe saw a great deal of success as part of a young, bankable stable of actors during the '80s who were derisively called the "Brat Pack." But while others in that group were hurt by the label, Rob was able to sustain his career by showing his versatility in both the comedic Austin Powers movies and the prestigious TV series The West Wing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Although his younger brother Chad has acted about as long as he has, he wasn't as firmly in the spotlight. In fact, he wasn't able to secure a standout role until the '90s TV series Life Goes On and then again in Pretty Little Liars during the 2010s. However, there is one advantage Chad has over his more famous brother. Although Rob has been nominated for an Emmy, Chad actually won it for Life Goes On.

ADVERTISEMENT

Matt Dillon And Kevin Dillon

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Jim Spellman/WireImage via Getty Images
Jim Spellman/WireImage via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After a promising start in the 1983 movies The Outsiders and Rumble Fish, Matt Dillon would enjoy a high-profile acting career that featured hits such as 1989's Drugstore Cowboy, 1997's There's Something About Mary, and the Academy Award-winning film Crash from 2004.

ADVERTISEMENT

After starting a little later than his brother, Kevin Dillon would also pick up some promising roles in major '80s releases like Platoon and The Blob before entering the '90s with a part in Oliver Stone's Jim Morrison biopic The Doors. But while Kevin would eventually find fame of his own as Johnny Drama in the popular TV series Entourage, it's nonetheless true that Matt retained the higher profile.

ADVERTISEMENT

John and Joan Cusack

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Joan Cusack and her brother, John, get together at the after
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Throughout their careers that saw them share the screen on multiple occasions, John and Joan Cusack have illustrated the difference between an acclaimed actor and a bankable actor. After all, Joan has been nominated for two Academy Awards for her performances in Working Girl in 1988 and In & Out in 1997. However, John is nonetheless the bigger celebrity of the two.

ADVERTISEMENT

And that came from his involvement in multiple high-profile movies that served as key moments in time for their respective decades. His iconic boom box scene in 1989's Say Anything practically made his star but he was able to attain similar caché from 1997's Grosse Pointe Blank and the 2000 hipster classic High Fidelity. Needless to say, John made himself a difficult man to forget.

ADVERTISEMENT

Joey King and Hunter King

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Premiere Of Warner Bros. Pictures'
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage via Getty Images
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Although both King sisters started acting at very young ages, there was already a difference in the kinds of opportunities they got when they were starting out. Hunter's early career generally consisted of acting in stray episodes of various TV shows, while Joey found herself in major releases like The Conjuring and White House Down as early as 14.

ADVERTISEMENT

And once both actresses found their footing, that divide in their careers remained. Although Hunter was able to land a steady job on the long-running soap opera The Young And The Restless, Joey's star rose significantly after securing the lead role in the high-profile (if maligned) The Kissing Booth film series. Both women have done well for themselves, but this difference explains Joey's level of celebrity.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tom Hanks and Jim Hanks

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
hanks
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images | Jace Diehl/youtube
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images | Jace Diehl/youtube
ADVERTISEMENT

Although many relatives of celebrities will find they're in that A-lister's shadow, Tom Hanks's brother Jim has practically made a career out of being there. And the seeds of their unusual collaborations started to germinate while Tom was making Forrest Gump, one of his most popular movies.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to People, that's because Jim was Tom's body double in that movie. However, his unlikely career in entertainment wouldn't really start until Tom voiced Sheriff Woody in Toy Story. Although Tom continued to bring the character to life in the main series of films, Jim soon found that could be counted on to do Woody's voice in any other Disney property that featured the character, especially the video games.

ADVERTISEMENT

Margaret and Rainey Qualley

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Arrivals
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After getting her start in Palo Alto and the Shane Black movie The Nice Guys, Margaret Qualley saw her star rise in 2014 after she signed on to play Jill Garvey in The Leftovers. After this acclaimed role, she made a long-lasting impression on audiences with her complex and mysterious performance in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

ADVERTISEMENT

But while Margaret may be better known than her sister Rainey, the gap between them is closer than some might think. Although her acting career hasn't been subject to the same breakout opportunities as her sister's, that's partially because recent years have seen her focus most of her energy on her music career. According to People, she's released three EPs since 2015 under the name Rainsford.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jonah Hill and Beanie Feldstein

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
LA Special Screening Of Annapurna Pictures'
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

While Jonah Hill's level of fame may still overshadow his rising star sister Beanie Feldstein, the biggest surprise among their casual observers is the fact that they're even brother and sister. Before he struck gold with Superbad, kicked the comedic side of his career into high gear with 21 Jump Street, and showed his versatility in Moneyball and The Wolf Of Wall Street, he was born Jonah Feldstein.

ADVERTISEMENT

Yet, while it's true that Jonah had a 10-year head start on his sister, Beanie started to make her own high-profile appearances in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and Lady Bird. With these parts and her acclaimed yet comedic work in What We Do In The Shadows and Booksmart, Beanie proved that she's just as versatile as her brother. Time will tell who will turn out to be the bigger star.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cara Delevigne and Poppy Delevigne

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Elephant Family Presents
David M. Benett/Getty Images
David M. Benett/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

In many ways, Cara Delevigne and her sister Poppy have had similar careers. According to the South China Morning Post, Poppy started out as a fashion model before starting an acting career in 2009. But while this pursuit led her to roles in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and Kingsman: The Golden Circle in 2017, it seems her sister's film career has attracted more attention.

ADVERTISEMENT

Like Poppy, Cara also started modeling before she appeared in the prestige drama Anna Karenina in 2012. But while this aspect of her career led to missteps like Paper Towns, Pan, and Suicide Squad, her unimpressed expression remains deeply recognizable, and she's landed long-term roles in shows like The Only Murders In The Building and Carnival Row.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jesse Eisenberg and Hallie Eisenberg

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The 67th Annual Tony Awards - Backstage & Audience
Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions
ADVERTISEMENT

Although most audiences are more likely to recognize Jesse Eisenberg before his sister Hallie nowadays, those of a certain age will remember that she was famous long before anyone knew Jesse's name. Back in the '90s, she was known as "Pepsi Girl" due to a series of advertisements that became popular enough to afford her major roles in the 1998 talking parrot movie Paulie and the 1999 Robin Williams vehicle Bicentennial Man.

ADVERTISEMENT

Yet, it wasn't long before she stopped acting in 2011 that her brother Jesse made a running start at amassing his own fame and prestige. After playing relatable geeks in both Adventureland and Zombieland in 2009, Jesse secured his signature role as Mark Zuckerberg in the Oscar-winning film The Social Network. After that, Eisenberg's public perception went from "backup Michael Cera" to a legitimate star in his own right.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lily Allen and Alfie Allen

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Jon Furniss/WireImage via Getty Images
Jon Furniss/WireImage via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Not only was British singer Lily Allen significantly more famous than her brother Alfie during the 2000s, but one of the singles from her debut album, Alright, Still, was even about his lack of direction in life at the time. But as the years went by, the tables seemed to turn. Lily's music career never quite recovered from the cold reception of her album Sheezus in 2014, but Alfie's acting career was at a serious fever pitch around the same time.

ADVERTISEMENT

While he was three years into playing Theon Greyjoy in Game Of Thrones, Alfie cast a memorable impression as the bratty Russian mob scion responsible for John Wick's legendary rampage of revenge. And after securing another choice role in Taika Waititi's Jojo Rabbit, Aflie's career seemed all the brighter.

ADVERTISEMENT

Haley Joel Osment and Emily Osment

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
44th AFI Life Achievement Awards Gala Tribute - Arrivals
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

For actors Haley Joel Osment and Emily Osment, fame is a relative and fleeting beast. After all, Haley established himself as one of the most talented and haunting child actors in history through his performances in The Sixth Sense, Pay It Forward, and A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Yet, while he's certainly still in the public eye with a host of film and TV appearances to his name, his career is a little more low-key than it was in his youth.

ADVERTISEMENT

By contrast, his sister Emily's early career saw her take on the role of a supporting character more often than a starring role, save for the well-intentioned but infamously clumsy TV movie Cyberbully. Yet after spending five years playing Hannah Montana's best friend, Emily's fortunes also reversed as she starred in the popular TV series Young & Hungry. She's since secured substantial roles in The Kominsky Method, Family Guy, and Young Sheldon.