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15 Celebrities You Didn't Know Are Related

Biography.com / The Daily Banter

When you're a celebrity, family reunions must be tough. Regardless of all your other relatives' achievements, they're not the one living in the glitz and glam of Hollywood.

Who cares about cousin Philip coming second place at his annual workplace golf tournament when you're out hobnobbing with Tinseltown's elite?

Most stars visit their family to feel a sense of normalcy again, not to be greeted by relatives-turned-paparazzi. So nosy Aunt Susan's neverending questions about being a celebrity probably aren't appreciated.

Luckily, sometimes stardom runs in the family, so living the high life is the norm, and these exhausting situations are avoided, or at the very least, split between all of you.

Curious to see which celebrities have equally famous relatives? Well, here are 15 famous family relationships that'll knock your socks off.

1. Melissa McCarthy and Jenny McCarthy

Business Insider/Celebzz

Relationship: first cousins

Only two years apart, Melissa and Jenny McCarthy are first cousins who are immensely supportive of each other.

In 2013, Jenny defended her cousin after movie critic, Rex Reed, wrote offensive comments about Melissa's weight, dubbing her a "female hippo," "tractor-sized" and "obese and obnoxious."

"I don't have the whole story, but, I do know that, after being in this business 20 years, it's really crummy that you get attacked in your personal life in general," Jenny told E! News.

"Anyone to attack like that is just wrong and hurtful and it doesn't do anyone any good. Not even Rex Reed," she added. "She's very, very, very talented and people know that. So, he can go to hell."

With a cousin as fierce as Jenny, critics should think twice before they target Melissa!

2. Nicolas Cage and Sofia Coppola

Relationship: first cousins

Nicolas Cage is one of the biggest names in Hollywood, but not many people realize he's also a member of the significantly talented Coppola family.

Cage and and Oscar Award-winning screenwriter Sofia Coppola share the same grandfather, composer Carmine Coppola. Of course, Sofia isn't the only big name the Leaving Las Vegas star is related to.

He's also the cousin of director Roman Coppola, film producer Gian-Carlo Coppola, and actors Robert Carmine and Jason Schwartzman.

Hopefully Cage's famous family is more money savvy than him!

3. Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt

Relationship: brother-in-law and sister-in-law

Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci officially became family in 2012 after he wed Blunt's older sister Felicity. Blunt had introduced the pair after she starred with Tucci in the film The Devil Wears Prada, and they immediately hit it off.

However, Tucci admitted while he truly loves Felicity, the death of his first wife, Kathryn, cast originally cast shadow on their marriage.

"It was very hard to go on vacations at first, really hard to go with Felicity someplace," he told the Times. "I felt guilty. It's horrible. You always feel guilty."

4. Rashida Jones and Quincy Jones

Relationship: father and daughter

While Rashida Jones is known for her roles in Parks and Recreation and I Love You, Man, the actress also has another claim to fame: the daughter of renown record producer, Quincy Jones.

The father-daughter duo are incredibly close, and often attend award shows and galas together. In the 90s, Rashida was also quick to come to her father's defense when Tupac Shakur publicly dissed Quincy for dating white women.

"Tupac, if you learn one lesson, let it be that at least my father took the time to look at how fucked up life would be if he didn't get his shit together early on," Rashida wrote in a letter to the rapper.

"Where the hell would you be if Black people like him hadn't paved the way for you to even have the opportunity to express yourself? I don't see you fighting for your race. In my opinion, you're destroying it and shitting all over your people."

5. Rob Schneider and Elle King

Relationship: father and daughter

When we watched the hilarious Rob Schneider on Saturday Night Live, fans focused on the comedian's hilarious antics instead of the details surrounding his personal life.

While it's not unusual for celebrity children use their superstar parents' connections to jumpstart their careers, Schneider's daughter, songstress Elle King, decided to pave her without her father's help.

King said she decided her mother's last name on stage so the public will listen to her music because they enjoy it, not because of her famous father.

"It's not that I wanted to be a famous person. I wanted to be a performer," King told ABC News. "But I worked really hard and I did everything myself and I took a name that ... is my mother's name ... I took that name because I wanted to be myself."

"And, yeah, people know who my dad is," she added. "But I think that my voice and my music speaks for itself: that I am my own person."

6. Al Roker and Lenny Kravitz

Relationship: distant Cousins

Al Roker and Lenny Kravitz are two talented men who skyrocketed into fame on their own respective merits.

However, in 2011 it was revealed the two gentlemen are actually distant cousins when Roker revealed he and Kravitz's grandfathers were cousins.

"We both have Roker," Kravitz said on Today. "My mother was Roxie Roker, my grandfather, Albert Roker from the Bahamas. Has to be."

"All I know is I'm going with it," Roker added. "Kids think it's cool."

7. David Spade and Kate Spade

Relationship: brother-in-law and sister-in-law

Even though they share the same last name, it may come as a shock to you that comedian David Spade and fashion designer Kate Spade are related. Kate Spade is married to David's older brother Andy, who she started her massive empire with.

On The Ellen DeGeneres Show, David had even joked about gifting his one-night stands a Kate Spade irregular bag out of his garage.

8. Denis Leary and Conan O'Brien

Relationship: third cousins

You might be able to tell through their shared Irish heritage, actor Denis Leary is a third cousin to to late night talk show host, Conan O'Brien.

In a 2003 interview with CNN, O'Brien joked he doesn't actually believe the two are related at all.

"You know, Leary claims we're related. I'm having my people look into it," O'Brien said. "Denis always says after about a few drinks, hey, buddy, you and me, we're cousins, right? And then he hits me up for money. So let's -- yes, sure, we're related."

9. Steven Spielberg and Jessica Capshaw

Relationship: stepfather and stepdaughter

Although you might know Jessica Capshaw as Dr. Arizona Robbins on Grey's Anatomy, her family is more familiar with her as Steven Spielberg's stepdaughter. When Capshaw was 15, Spielberg married her mother Kate Capshaw and has been an influential figure in her life ever since.

In an interview with PeopleTV, Capshaw was proud to say her favorite film of her stepfather was his iconic film, E.T.

10. Tom Cruise and William Mapother

Huffington Post/Superman Wiki

Relationship: first cousins

If you ever wondered why Lost actor William Mapother looks familiar, it may be due to the fact he's cousins with the one and only Tom Cruise (whose real last name is also Mapother). Their fathers are brothers and the two have even starred in five movies together, Mission: Impossible II, Minority Report, Vanilla Sky, and Magnolia.

However, in an interview with BlogTalkRadio, Mapother said he refrains from being as vocal about his religious beliefs compared to his cousin.

"I have kind of an unusual feeling about questions like that. On the one hand, I'm grateful that people are interested... At the same time... there's kind of an ever-wavering boundary between the things I'm willing to talk about, and the things I'm not. And part of the reason that I find myself particularly cautious in this area is because of the things my cousin has been through," Mapother said.

11. Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine

Relationship: brother and sister

We all know Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine are two fabulous actors in Hollywood, but plenty of people don't realize they're also related. Even though they've never starred in  brother-sister duo have always been supportive of each other in their individual careers. When Beatty had his massive faux pas at the 2017 Oscars, MacLaine was there to support her beloved brother.

"I think we're all processing the horror of it," she told USA TODAY. "I'm still dealing with it."

"I'm concerned with how (Beatty) must have felt being so close to him. I'm three years older and I'm protective," MacLaine added. "We know how difficult it was for him, but it was also for me."

12. Snoop Dogg and Brandy

Relationship: first cousins

Outrageously talented musicians based on their own accord, fans of the two artists are always shocked to learn rapper Snoop Dogg and R&B singer Brandy are first cousins.

In a 2006 interview with MTV, Snoop explained he decided to keep his relation to Brandy, her brother Ray J because they didn't want to impede on each other's careers.

"We never really told the world because we weren't trippin' off of that, but that's my family." Snoop said.

13. Ashlee Simpson and Diana Ross

Relationship: mother-in-law and daughter-in-law

We all remember Ashlee Simpson for her lip syncing disaster on Saturday Night Live, but after her 2014 wedding to Evan Ross, can now be remembered as the daughter-in-law of Motown legend, Diana Ross.

The two women get along so well, Diana even officiated Ashlee's wedding to her son, along with singing her hit song, "Endless Love" at the reception.

"The wedding went perfectly," Diana told Us Weekly. "We had a beautiful rainbow surrounding us, loving family and friends, great music, and great speeches from loving and caring friends, and joyful children dancing the night away."

"I thank everyone who supported us on the spectacular day and our neighbors who were kind enough to let us have fun.

We had great friends that traveled from Norway, London, Switzerland, and from all over the world. Wishing Evan and Ashlee congratulations," she tells Us, "I want only love, happiness, and joy for my son and his bride."

14. Jason Sudeikis and George Wendt

Relationship: uncle and nephew

As someone as talented as Jason Sudeikis, it's not surprising that acting is in his blood. His mother's brother is Cheers star, George Wendt, and the twosome are frequently seen spending time with one another when they're both out on the town.

"He's always been very encouraging, but there was no 'Tuesdays With Morrie' kind of relationship between him and I," Sudeikis told Playboy in 2011. "He was just a good example that being an actor was a viable option. Here's a guy from the Midwest, in my family, who took the road less traveled and it worked out for him. The advice he gave me, and I say this jokingly, is 'Get on one of the best sitcoms of all time and then ride it out.'"

15. Halle Berry and Sarah Palin

InStyle/Dish Nation

Relationship: ???

In one of the most surprising celebrity relations, it's been reported Halle Berry is somehow related to the former governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. While their exact connection is unknown, in 2012, Berry expressed her complete shock when she found out she has a famous (albeit controversial) relative.

"You want to know who I'm related to? Sarah Palin!" Berry told Extra. "[In] some twisted way. Somebody sent me this information that she was my distant [relative]."

What celebrity relatives surprised you the most?

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