Actors Who Shared The Screen With Their Own Children

Martin and Charlie Sheen - Wall Street (1987)

In Oliver Stone's iconic '80s drama, a young Charlie Sheen plays Bud Fox, an ambitious stockbroker. His on-screen father, Carl Fox, a blue-collar airline mechanic who represents the film's moral compass, is played by his real father, Martin Sheen. Their tense, "you stop going for the easy buck" confrontation is a classic, powerful father-son scene.

Angelina Jolie and Vivienne - Maleficent (2014)

This casting happened for a very practical and adorable reason. In the film, Maleficent needed a scene with the 5-year-old Princess Aurora. But Angelina Jolie's costume—with the horns, sharp cheekbones, and glowing eyes—was so terrifying that every child actor who auditioned would freeze in terror. The only child who wasn't scared of her was her own daughter, Vivienne, who got the part.

Meryl Streep and Mamie Gummer - Ricki and the Flash (2015)

Meryl Streep's eldest daughter, Mamie Gummer, has played a younger version of her mother's character, but their most direct collaboration was in Ricki and the Flash. Streep plays an aging rocker who returns home to comfort her daughter (Gummer), who is in the midst of a painful divorce. Their on-screen chemistry is electric, adding a layer of raw, real-life tension and love to their scenes.

Kirk and Michael Douglas - It Runs in the Family (2003)

This film is a pure monument to a Hollywood dynasty. It stars three generations of the Douglas family: legendary patriarch Kirk Douglas, superstar son Michael Douglas, and Michael's son, Cameron Douglas. The film, which follows the messy lives of a wealthy New York family, was a true passion project and the only time all three generations acted together.

Leslie Mann and Maude/Iris Apatow - This Is 40 (2012)

This is the ultimate "family project." In Knocked Up and This Is 40, director Judd Apatow cast his real-life wife, Leslie Mann, and their two real-life daughters, Maude and Iris, to play... a mother and her two daughters. The bickering, loving, and chaotic family dynamic feels incredibly real because, in many ways, it was.

Brendan and Domhnall Gleeson - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010)

This one is a fun blockbuster "Easter egg." Veteran actor Brendan Gleeson famously played the grizzled Auror, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody. His son, Domhnall Gleeson (who would become a star in his own right), played the eldest Weasley sibling, Bill Weasley. The two are in the same scenes together during the "Battle of the Seven Potters" at the beginning of the film.

Tom and Colin Hanks - The Great Buck Howard (2008)

While Colin had a small part in his dad's directorial debut, That Thing You Do!, their most significant collaboration was in this 2008 indie. Colin Hanks stars as a law-school dropout who becomes the road manager for a "fading" mentalist (John Malkovich). In a perfect bit of meta-casting, his character's disapproving father, who just wants him to be a lawyer, is played by Tom Hanks.

Will and Jaden Smith - The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

In one of the most powerful and heart-wrenching film pairings, Will Smith starred as the struggling, homeless salesman Chris Gardner. His real-life son, Jaden Smith (in his film debut), played his on-screen son, Christopher Jr. Their natural, loving bond made the film's devastating lows and triumphant highs feel incredibly real, earning Jaden critical acclaim.

Eugene and Dan Levy - Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)

Not only did comedy legend Eugene Levy co-star with his son, Dan Levy, for six seasons as the father-son duo Johnny and David Rose, but they also created and wrote the show together. The series became a global phenomenon, winning a historic armful of Emmys, and their genuine, understated father-son chemistry was its anchor.

Jerry and Ben Stiller - Zoolander (2001)

The Stiller family comedy-dynasty is legendary. While they appeared together in multiple films (like The Heartbreak Kid and Heavyweights), their most iconic pairing is in Zoolander. Jerry Stiller plays Maury Ballstein, the aggressive, gold-chain-wearing agent to Ben's clueless male model, Derek Zoolander. Their scenes together are a perfect clash of comedic energy.