• Björn Tantau@swg-empire.de
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    25 days ago

    Ewan McGregor’s (Obi-Wan in the Star Wars prequels) uncle Denis Lawson is one of the few lesser characters to be in all three of the original movies. He played Wedge Antilles.

    McGregor says that he originally just went to watch Star Wars in the cinema with his brother to see their uncle. Then they were blown away by the movie itself.

  • lime!@feddit.nu
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    25 days ago

    maybe not lesser known but Nick Cage’s real surname is Coppola. he’s Francis Ford Coppola’s nephew.

  • DontMakeMoreBabies@lemm.ee
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    24 days ago

    I’m not really shocked by these sorts of things anymore - just more evidence that Hollywood runs on nepotism/“who you know” like any other industry.

    Edit: Also “insider information” privilege - knowing “what you do” to get certain jobs. That’s huge in my experience…

    • NineMileTower@lemmy.world
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      25 days ago

      That AND people with basically endless amounts of money have time to practice skills for themselves like acting, art, or music. Rich people have the most valuable resource in life. Time.

      • ArtieShaw@fedia.io
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        24 days ago

        Right? I recently read a book by an author who appeared to be confused to the point of paranoia by how many of the 1960s rock musicians from California (Topanga Canyon scene) were from wealthy or politically connected families.

        Although it started out pretty entertaining, I didn’t make it all the way to the end of the book. I mean - has he never met that type of kid? There’s no conspiracy beyond wealth and connections. Banal to the point of boredom.

      • sartalon@lemmy.world
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        24 days ago

        I mean sometimes. That is not always the case though. Take Chris Pratt for example, he was mentioned elsewhere in this post. He was dirt poor, working as a waiter when his antics impressed a producer who wanted to put him in front of a camera.

        Then he got rich, mingles with other rich people and met Arnold’s daughter. (After divorcing Anna Faris and becoming a born again).

        • sunzu2@thebrainbin.org
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          24 days ago

          He was dirt poor, working as a waiter when his antics impressed a producer who wanted to put him in front of a camera.

          Regime always has these stories in every industry so justify nepotism babies existence

          Sure some pedon go through… Good for him. Read between the lines

          It means nothing in the grand scheme of things…

  • sartalon@lemmy.world
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    24 days ago

    Some of the ones I remember, just because I’m old and involve some of my favorite movies.

    Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Potter from It’s a Wonderful Life) is Drew Barrymore’s Great Uncle.

    Debbie Reynolds (Singin’ in the Rain, God I love that movie) was Carrie Fisher’s mom.

    I think everyone knows Dakota Johnson’s parents, Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith.

    Shirley Maclaine (The Apartment and Two Mules for Sister Sara) is Warren Beatty’s sister.

    And some cool but not duo-celebrity relative facts.

    Ewan McGregor’s brother was a pilot in the RAF and his call sign was Obi-Two.

    The awesome Bogart movie, To Have and Have Not (“Put your lips together and blow”) was written by Hemingway and adapted into a screenplay by William Faulkner. Both considered in the top five of all time American authors. (Unless you think Steinbeck was better, then 6th (Which I don’t)). Faulkner and Hemingway were not particularly fond of each other, but then I don’t think there was a lot of love lost between Hemingway and his contemporaries.

  • sik0fewl@lemmy.ca
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    23 days ago

    Actor Tony Goldwyn is the grandson of the “G” in MGM.

    Actor William Mapother Jr is Tom Cruise (Mapother)'s cousin.

    Actress Rooney Mara decends from the Rooney family (founded the Pittsburgh Steelers) and Mara family (owned the New York Giants). Her sister is Kate Mara.

    Jon Voight is Angelina Jolie’s estranged father. They reconciled during the filming of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), but it didn’t last long.

  • Disgruntled@lemmy.ca
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    24 days ago

    Chris Pine (Star Trek, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) is the son of Robert Pine (CHiPs 1977-1983, additional voices in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth)

  • thefartographer@lemm.ee
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    25 days ago

    “Was.” His attempt to crowdfund treatment was an eye-opening indictment of American healthcare and the celebrity mythos

  • distantsounds@lemmy.world
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    25 days ago

    Diane Ladd is Laura Dern’s mother…and in Wild at Heart they play as mother/daughter.

    Also, (way more obvious) Bruce Dern is Laura Dern’s father irl

  • Vinny_93@lemmy.world
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    25 days ago

    Jonathan Nolan is Christopher Nolan’s nephew and they share an uncle in John Nolan.

        • doctorskull@lemmy.world
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          24 days ago

          I always remember because Jonathan has an American accent and Christopher has a British one which I always found super interesting for some reason, due to where they were each primarily raised/attended school