You’ll Be Shocked to Learn That These Celebrities Are Cousins

Mar. 15, 2025

Ashley Tisdale attends SHEGLAM’s Glam House Pop-Up, which she also hosted, on Nov. 10, 2022, in West Hollywood, Calif.; Austin Butler poses for photographs ahead of BAFTA A Life in Pictures: Baz Luhrmann at BAFTA on Sept. 30, 2022, in London, England.Photo: Steven Simione/Getty Images; Kate Green/Getty Images

“No way! That’s my cousin?“That was probablyLance BassandAshley Tisdale’s reactions when they learned they were related to a pop princess and anOscar-nominatedElvis Presleyimpersonator, respectively.It’s no surprise that some of the most famous celebrities share family ties with other equally notable figures — you know what they say: It’s a small world!Can you guess the icy female rapperGabrielle Unionis proud to call her little cousin? You’ll probably gag when you find out which ofRuPaul’s cousins happens to be a popular senator.Read on to discover some celebrity cousins that you probably didn’t know about.

“No way! That’s my cousin?”

That was probablyLance BassandAshley Tisdale’s reactions when they learned they were related to a pop princess and anOscar-nominatedElvis Presleyimpersonator, respectively.

It’s no surprise that some of the most famous celebrities share family ties with other equally notable figures — you know what they say: It’s a small world!

Can you guess the icy female rapperGabrielle Unionis proud to call her little cousin? You’ll probably gag when you find out which ofRuPaul’s cousins happens to be a popular senator.

Read on to discover some celebrity cousins that you probably didn’t know about.

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Cory Booker and RuPaul

Cory Booker attending the premiere of Sony Pictures' ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ at the Regency Village Theatre on Oct. 10, 2019, in Westwood, Calif.; RuPaul visits Build Series to discuss his daytime talk show on FOX, ‘RuPaul,’ at Build Studio on June 6, 2019, in New York City.Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty; Slaven Vlasic/Getty

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Jenny McCarthy and Melissa McCarthy

Jenny McCarthy at SiriusXM Studios on April 24, 2018, in New York City; Melissa McCarthy attends the BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on Jan. 5, 2019, in Los Angeles.Santiago Felipe/Getty Images; Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images

Now that both McCarthy ladies have cemented their places in Hollywood, Jenny hasspoken out against criticism of Melissaon multiple occasions.

03of 15Tom Cruise and William MapotherTom Cruise attends the 10th annual Lumiere Awards at Warner Bros. Studios on Jan. 30, 2019, in Burbank, Calif.; William Mapother attends the 14th annual Final Draft Awards at Paramount Theatre on Jan. 29, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.Leon Bennett/Getty Images; Michael Tullberg/Getty ImagesOnce you knowTom Cruise’sreal nameis Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, the resemblance between the A-lister and his character-actor cousin William Mapother becomes much more apparent. (Look at their chins!)Mapother has acted in five films with Cruise —Born on the Fourth of July(1989),Magnolia(1999),Vanilla Sky(2001),Minority Report(2002) andMission: Impossible II(2006) — but to us,he’ll always be Ethan, the duplicitous member of the Others fromLost.

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Tom Cruise and William Mapother

Tom Cruise attends the 10th annual Lumiere Awards at Warner Bros. Studios on Jan. 30, 2019, in Burbank, Calif.; William Mapother attends the 14th annual Final Draft Awards at Paramount Theatre on Jan. 29, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.Leon Bennett/Getty Images; Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Once you knowTom Cruise’sreal nameis Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, the resemblance between the A-lister and his character-actor cousin William Mapother becomes much more apparent. (Look at their chins!)

Mapother has acted in five films with Cruise —Born on the Fourth of July(1989),Magnolia(1999),Vanilla Sky(2001),Minority Report(2002) andMission: Impossible II(2006) — but to us,he’ll always be Ethan, the duplicitous member of the Others fromLost.

04of 15Brandy and Snoop DoggBrandy and Snoop Dogg pose together before A Midsummer Night’s Dream Celebrity and All-Star Basketball Game on July 9, 2006, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.M. Caulfield/WireImageThis is one of those facts that you feel a lot more people should know than they do. We’re talking about two of the most famous musicians to come out of the ’90s!Although, perhaps that would have made it weird for them to collaborate on a love song, asGrammy-winning singer-songwriterBrandydid onSnoop Dogg’s 2009 track, “Special.”

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Brandy and Snoop Dogg

Brandy and Snoop Dogg pose together before A Midsummer Night’s Dream Celebrity and All-Star Basketball Game on July 9, 2006, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.M. Caulfield/WireImage

This is one of those facts that you feel a lot more people should know than they do. We’re talking about two of the most famous musicians to come out of the ’90s!

Although, perhaps that would have made it weird for them to collaborate on a love song, asGrammy-winning singer-songwriterBrandydid onSnoop Dogg’s 2009 track, “Special.”

05of 15Kyra Sedgwick and Edie SedgwickKyra Sedgwick attending the Vulture Spot during the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 28, 2019, in Park City, Utah; Edie Sedgwick pictured at the Factory.Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images; Herve GLOAGUEN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesIf someone asks you to explain the concept of first cousins once removed, just tell them, “It’s likeKyra Sedgwickand Edie Sedgwick!” (Edie’s father was the younger brother of Kyra’s grandfather.)

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Kyra Sedgwick and Edie Sedgwick

Kyra Sedgwick attending the Vulture Spot during the Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 28, 2019, in Park City, Utah; Edie Sedgwick pictured at the Factory.Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images; Herve GLOAGUEN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

If someone asks you to explain the concept of first cousins once removed, just tell them, “It’s likeKyra Sedgwickand Edie Sedgwick!” (Edie’s father was the younger brother of Kyra’s grandfather.)

06of 15Glenn Close and Brooke ShieldsGlenn Close and Brooke Shields attending V-Day’s V to the Tenth: NYC - Kickoff to New Orleans at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Feb. 14, 2008, in New York City.Scott Wintrow/Getty ImagesLikewise, the next time someone asks you how to explain the concept ofsecondcousins once removed, just tell them, “It’s likeBrooke ShieldsandGlenn Close!” (Shields' great-grandmother was the sister of Close’s grandfather.)The difference? You have probably met most of your first cousins once removed at least once or twice (unless your parents hated their cousins). You probably haven’t met many of your second cousins once removed.

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Glenn Close and Brooke Shields

Glenn Close and Brooke Shields attending V-Day’s V to the Tenth: NYC - Kickoff to New Orleans at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Feb. 14, 2008, in New York City.Scott Wintrow/Getty Images

Likewise, the next time someone asks you how to explain the concept ofsecondcousins once removed, just tell them, “It’s likeBrooke ShieldsandGlenn Close!” (Shields' great-grandmother was the sister of Close’s grandfather.)

The difference? You have probably met most of your first cousins once removed at least once or twice (unless your parents hated their cousins). You probably haven’t met many of your second cousins once removed.

07of 15Damon Dash and Stacey DashDamon Dash and Stacey Dash pose together at Damon’s America Magazine party at the Concorde in Hollywood, Calif.J.Sciulli/WireImageWhile some might assume “Damon Dash” was not the real name the former Roc-A-Fella Records honcho was born with — it actually is!When you realize that “your whole perspective is wack,” it makes more sense that he andCluelessactressStacey Dashare cousins.

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Damon Dash and Stacey Dash

Damon Dash and Stacey Dash pose together at Damon’s America Magazine party at the Concorde in Hollywood, Calif.J.Sciulli/WireImage

While some might assume “Damon Dash” was not the real name the former Roc-A-Fella Records honcho was born with — it actually is!

When you realize that “your whole perspective is wack,” it makes more sense that he andCluelessactressStacey Dashare cousins.

08of 15Sofia Coppola, Nicolas Cage and Jason SchwartzmanSofia Coppola attends the Chanel Haute Couture Spring Summer 2019 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on Jan. 22, 2019, in Paris; Nicolas Cage poses at the Columbia-Tristar Dinner in December 1999 in Berlin; Jason Schwartzman attends the premiere of The Orchard’s ‘The Unicorn’ at ArcLight Hollywood on Jan. 10, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images; Gisela Schober/Getty Images; Rich Fury/Getty ImagesComposerCarmine Coppolaunwittingly spawned a Hollywood dynasty: His sonFrancis Ford Coppolabecame the famed director ofThe Godfather(1972) andApocalypse Now(1979). At the same time, his daughter Talia Shire starred as Adrian in theRockymovies.Decades later, the second generation of Coppola cousins got mixed up in the family business: Francis' daughterSofia Coppolaand Shire’s son Jason Schwartzman have each followed in their parent’s footsteps, while their cousinNicolas Cage(son of the comparatively unknown August Coppola) took a new name from one of his favorite superheroes and became the internet’sOne True God.Other Coppola cousins in the entertainment industry include Sofia’s older brother, Roman Coppola, who co-wroteThe Darjeeling Limited(2007) andMoonrise Kingdom(2012), and Schwartzman’s younger brother, Robert Schwartzman, lead singer of the band Rooney.

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Sofia Coppola, Nicolas Cage and Jason Schwartzman

Sofia Coppola attends the Chanel Haute Couture Spring Summer 2019 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on Jan. 22, 2019, in Paris; Nicolas Cage poses at the Columbia-Tristar Dinner in December 1999 in Berlin; Jason Schwartzman attends the premiere of The Orchard’s ‘The Unicorn’ at ArcLight Hollywood on Jan. 10, 2019, in Hollywood, Calif.Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images; Gisela Schober/Getty Images; Rich Fury/Getty Images

ComposerCarmine Coppolaunwittingly spawned a Hollywood dynasty: His sonFrancis Ford Coppolabecame the famed director ofThe Godfather(1972) andApocalypse Now(1979). At the same time, his daughter Talia Shire starred as Adrian in theRockymovies.

Decades later, the second generation of Coppola cousins got mixed up in the family business: Francis' daughterSofia Coppolaand Shire’s son Jason Schwartzman have each followed in their parent’s footsteps, while their cousinNicolas Cage(son of the comparatively unknown August Coppola) took a new name from one of his favorite superheroes and became the internet’sOne True God.

Other Coppola cousins in the entertainment industry include Sofia’s older brother, Roman Coppola, who co-wroteThe Darjeeling Limited(2007) andMoonrise Kingdom(2012), and Schwartzman’s younger brother, Robert Schwartzman, lead singer of the band Rooney.

09of 15K-Ci & JoJo and Fantasia BarrinoCedric ‘K-Ci’ Hailey and Joel ‘JoJo’ Hailey at Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 25, 2018, in Los Angeles; Fantasia Barrino at Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 25, 2018, in Los Angeles.Jun Sato/WireImage; Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesAll their lives, brothers Cedric “K-Ci” Hailey and Joel “JoJo” Hailey have been cousins with season 3American Idolwinner andThe Color PurpleactressFantasia Barrino.The trio hasn’t officially recorded together, but K-Ci did appear during Barrino’s September 2012 concert in Oklahoma City toduet on “Nobody Greater"with his younger cousin.

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K-Ci & JoJo and Fantasia Barrino

Cedric ‘K-Ci’ Hailey and Joel ‘JoJo’ Hailey at Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 25, 2018, in Los Angeles; Fantasia Barrino at Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones at the Microsoft Theatre on Sept. 25, 2018, in Los Angeles.Jun Sato/WireImage; Kevin Winter/Getty Images

All their lives, brothers Cedric “K-Ci” Hailey and Joel “JoJo” Hailey have been cousins with season 3American Idolwinner andThe Color PurpleactressFantasia Barrino.

The trio hasn’t officially recorded together, but K-Ci did appear during Barrino’s September 2012 concert in Oklahoma City toduet on “Nobody Greater"with his younger cousin.

10of 15Melissa Gorga and Ralph MacchioMelissa Gorga arrives at the 3rd annual Vanderpump Dog Foundation Gala at Taglyan Cultural Complex on Nov. 15, 2018, in Hollywood, Calif.; Ralph Macchio visits ‘Sway’s Universe’ on Shade 45 at SiriusXM Studios on May 3, 2018, in New York City.Aude Guerrucci/Getty Images; Roy Rochlin/Getty ImagesCousins often experience different levels of success at different points in their lives, but the comparison between these two relatives is striking.Melissa Gorgawas just a child when her cousinRalph Macchioshot to fame inThe Karate Kid(1984). Years later, while Macchio was working as a guest actor on shows likePsychandHow I Met Your Mother, an all-grown-up Gorga became a cast member onThe Real Housewives of New Jersey.

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Melissa Gorga and Ralph Macchio

Melissa Gorga arrives at the 3rd annual Vanderpump Dog Foundation Gala at Taglyan Cultural Complex on Nov. 15, 2018, in Hollywood, Calif.; Ralph Macchio visits ‘Sway’s Universe’ on Shade 45 at SiriusXM Studios on May 3, 2018, in New York City.Aude Guerrucci/Getty Images; Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

Cousins often experience different levels of success at different points in their lives, but the comparison between these two relatives is striking.

Melissa Gorgawas just a child when her cousinRalph Macchioshot to fame inThe Karate Kid(1984). Years later, while Macchio was working as a guest actor on shows likePsychandHow I Met Your Mother, an all-grown-up Gorga became a cast member onThe Real Housewives of New Jersey.

11of 15Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcusGary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus at the 2007 CMT Music Awards.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagicThough they’re only second cousins, Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus probably spend more time together than most of the relatives on this list. They have to — they’re two of the three members of the country groupRascal Flatts!

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Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus

Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus at the 2007 CMT Music Awards.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Though they’re only second cousins, Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus probably spend more time together than most of the relatives on this list. They have to — they’re two of the three members of the country groupRascal Flatts!

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Gwyneth Paltrow and Katherine Moennig

Gwyneth Paltrow appears at a signing for her book ‘The Clean Plate’ at Barnes & Noble at The Grove on Jan. 14, 2019, in Los Angeles; Katherine Moennig attends Showtime’s ‘Ray Donovan’ season 4 FYC event at DGA Theater on April 11, 2017, in Los Angeles.Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

For a2000Observerprofile, when Moennig was asked aboutGwyneth Paltrow, “a wary look crossed [her] eyes, and her facial muscles seemed to freeze up.”

Later, she expressed gratitude for their lack of resemblance: “We’re totally different people. We look very different, too. No one’s judging me solely on the fact that I am her cousin.”

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Ashley Tisdale and Austin Butler

Rick Rowell/Disney Channel via Getty

Ashley Tisdale andAustin Butleraren’t just the best of friends; they’re also relatives! Despite starring together inAliens in the Attic(2009) andSharpay’s Fabulous Adventure(2011), theHigh School Musicalalumna and theElvisstar never realized they were 10th cousins once removed.

Tisdalerevealed her surprising family tieswhile speaking to her sister, Jennifer Tisdale, for a 2022 episode of Ancestry’s2 Lies & A Leafseries. “Austin and I always say that we’re like fraternal twinsborn very far apart because he’s much younger, and we’ve always had that connection,” the Frenshe founder told Jennifer.

“I’m telling you, when we first met, I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ We were like brother and sister from the minute we met,” Tisdale added of Butler, whom she dotingly called her “twin born 7 years later” in asweet tribute Instagram postfor his 30th birthday in 2021.

14of 15Gabrielle Union and SaweetieGabrielle Union and Saweetie during the AT&T Slam Dunk as part of the 019 NBA All-Star Weekend on Feb. 16, 2019, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.Issac Baldizon /NBAE/GettySome fans were shocked to learn thatSaweetieis actually Union’s “little cousin.” TheBring It Onactresssnuck in this familial fun factabout herself in 2018 while praisingKehlaniin a Woman Crush Wednesday post on X (formerly Twitter).“Wait, so you & @Saweetie  are cousins? Frfr,”one user tweeted, to whichUnion replied with the breakdown: “Yup. Her father and I are 1st cousins. Her grandma is my aunt Joanne Glass, who I based Eva from ‘Deliver Us From Eva’ on. #FunFact #DozensOfCousins.”

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Gabrielle Union and Saweetie

Gabrielle Union and Saweetie during the AT&T Slam Dunk as part of the 019 NBA All-Star Weekend on Feb. 16, 2019, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.Issac Baldizon /NBAE/Getty

Issac Baldizon /NBAE/Getty

Some fans were shocked to learn thatSaweetieis actually Union’s “little cousin.” TheBring It Onactresssnuck in this familial fun factabout herself in 2018 while praisingKehlaniin a Woman Crush Wednesday post on X (formerly Twitter).

“Wait, so you & @Saweetie  are cousins? Frfr,”one user tweeted, to whichUnion replied with the breakdown: “Yup. Her father and I are 1st cousins. Her grandma is my aunt Joanne Glass, who I based Eva from ‘Deliver Us From Eva’ on. #FunFact #DozensOfCousins.”

15of 15Lance Bass and Britney SpearsLance Bass and Britney Spears pose on the red carpet for the 31st annual American Music Awards on Nov. 16, 2003, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Calif.KMazur/WireImageIn 2021, Bass’ dreams of having a pop star to call family became a shocking reality. The revelation came when the*NSYNCmember appeared on Ancestry’s2 Lies & A Leafseries with his husband,Michael Turchin, who asked Bass to guess which famous singer was part of his family tree:Faith Hill,Britney Spearsor Elvis.“I wish!” Bass said of the chances of being one of the “Toxic” singer’s relatives. “I really hope it’s Britney, but there’s no way,” he added, before going with Presley. Turchin guessed Spears, and although his boy bander husband believed the odds were “too good to be true,” it was revealed that Bass and Spears are actually sixth cousins once removed.“Are you kidding me? … This is amazing. Oh my gosh!” the “Bye Bye Bye” singer exclaimed. “Look, I wanted to be related to the Queen. Well, now I’m related to the queen of pop!““That is so crazy though, ‘cause, I mean, I feel like she’s my little sister, and this whole time she’s been my little cousin. And it makes sense because we were born an hour from each other. This is so cool,” Bass added. “For some reason, I always felt like we looked like family, even when we were kids. I mean, this means so much to me. She is like family to me, so the fact that we are blood-related is amazing.”

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Lance Bass and Britney Spears

Lance Bass and Britney Spears pose on the red carpet for the 31st annual American Music Awards on Nov. 16, 2003, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Calif.KMazur/WireImage

In 2021, Bass’ dreams of having a pop star to call family became a shocking reality. The revelation came when the*NSYNCmember appeared on Ancestry’s2 Lies & A Leafseries with his husband,Michael Turchin, who asked Bass to guess which famous singer was part of his family tree:Faith Hill,Britney Spearsor Elvis.

“I wish!” Bass said of the chances of being one of the “Toxic” singer’s relatives. “I really hope it’s Britney, but there’s no way,” he added, before going with Presley. Turchin guessed Spears, and although his boy bander husband believed the odds were “too good to be true,” it was revealed that Bass and Spears are actually sixth cousins once removed.

“Are you kidding me? … This is amazing. Oh my gosh!” the “Bye Bye Bye” singer exclaimed. “Look, I wanted to be related to the Queen. Well, now I’m related to the queen of pop!”

“That is so crazy though, ‘cause, I mean, I feel like she’s my little sister, and this whole time she’s been my little cousin. And it makes sense because we were born an hour from each other. This is so cool,” Bass added. “For some reason, I always felt like we looked like family, even when we were kids. I mean, this means so much to me. She is like family to me, so the fact that we are blood-related is amazing.”

source: people.com