Which of the star children managed to become successful, and who remained in the shadow of their parents

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

It is often difficult for a second generation actor to find recognition and popularity outside of his famous parent. But there are those who, in spite of everything, were able to achieve success, winning the hearts of the audience. However, not without those who remained in the shadow of their star fathers.

1. Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts is a talented actress, singer and curator known for her roles in Scream Queens and American Horror Story, as well as for her famous aunt, the iconic and beautiful Julia Roberts and equally star father Eric Roberts. In fact, Emma's family tree branches out across the entertainment industry, as does her career. Her acting career started out as a dream when she played Johnny Depp's daughter in the movie Kick.

After that, she starred in the Nickelodeon TV series Unfabulous and even recorded an album for the show. However, there were also setbacks on her way to fame, which she had to face during her acting career. And nevertheless, she stoically was able to withstand their onslaught, overcoming all difficulties, achieving no less enchanting success than her father.

2. Jason Connery

But Jason Connery, the son of the legendary Sean Connery, despite the sudden collapse of success, remained in the shadow of his star father.

His interest in acting developed while attending the Gordonstone School for Boys in the North of Scotland, where he oversaw a small theater group, taking on the duties of director.

Jason was admitted to Bristol's Old Vic Theater School, and a year later to the Perth Scottish Repertoire Company. For six months, he was engaged in weekly repertoire work, performed and worked as an assistant director in an attempt to attract attention and pluck the cherished star from the sky. As a result, fate was not long in coming, giving him the chance to play Robin Hood in the popular British television series "Robin of Sherwood" (1984). This role propelled him to fame in England, and he remains a cult favorite among passionate fans of the series to this day.

After that, many offers and leading roles in films of various genres fell on him. But no matter how hard Jason tried to impress the viewer, they continued and continue to compare him, saying that he is not so talented compared to his father.

3. Laura Dern

Playing a variety of characters ranging from typical virgins to wayward sirens to underdog drug addicts, Laura Dern is one of the most interesting actresses of the screen today.

Her parents, Bruce Dern and Diana Ladd, both successful actors, at first discouraged their daughter from participating in this profession. However, acting was Laura's childhood goal, and after her parents divorced, she made her film debut at the age of six in White Lightning.

She later played a small role in Martin Scorsese's Alice No Longer Lives Here, and got her first major role in 1980, playing a teenager in Adrian Lyne's Foxes.

She has dozens of films with various plots on her account. She played in "The Mask" (1985), as well as in the cult film by David Lynch "Blue Velvet" and, of course, starred in the movie "Wild at Heart", playing the adorable girlfriend of Nicolas Cage.

But many will probably remember her from the film “The Fault in Our Stars”, from the movie saga “Jurassic Park”, where she played the main role, and also from the mysterious TV series “Twin Peaks” (2017), where she tried on the role of an imaginary woman.

Laura is one of the few actresses who has managed to achieve incredible success and receive many awards, surpassing her star parents in this matter.

4. Donal Gleason

Despite his impressive filmography and far from the last roles in quite cult films and TV series, Donal Gleeson, alas, could not surpass his father, although he showed great promise.

He starred in Anna Karenina, playing the role of Konstantin Levin, appeared in the TV series Black Mirror, did not go unnoticed in the fantastic Star Wars saga, became a youth idol after his role in the Harry Potter film, played Caleb in science -fantastic film "Out of the Car" and appeared in the thriller "Mom!".

But even all of the above roles in the films cannot be compared with the roles of his father, who played in cult films, fully appreciated by critics. You probably remember "Kingdom of Heaven", "Artificial Intelligence", "Braveheart", "Mission Impossible 2", "Troy" and many other films where Brendan Gleeson shone on the screen, causing a lot of emotions, thereby leaving few people indifferent. And it is not at all surprising that for many years he was firmly entrenched in the list of some of the brightest and most memorable actors, which cannot be said about his son, who often only got episodic roles.

5. Angelina Jolie

Perhaps Angelina Jolie needs no special introduction. This amazing and incredibly talented woman has been on everyone's lips for a long time. And not only because she is the daughter of the legendary John Voight famous for the films: "National Treasure", "Pearl Harbor", "Lara Croft", "Enemy of the State", etc., but because, first of all, she is an excellent actress, who managed to surpass her father.

And it is not at all surprising that in the arsenal of lively Lara Croft and the mysterious Maleficent there are many different awards and awards that speak better than any words about her talent and acting skills, as well as her ability to transform. Take, for example, the psychological thriller Taking Lives, where Angelina starred as the gullible and loving Illyana Scott, who, once trapped in a cage, showed how unpredictable a frightened woman can be.

6. Max Irons

Even though Max is part of the acting royal family thanks to his famous father Jeremy Irons and mother Sinead Cusack, this does not make him a successful and talented actor with a couple of interesting roles under his belt. He starred in the mini-seraglio The White Queen, appeared alongside Helen Mirren in The Woman in Gold and played Charles in The Twisted House. However, this is just a needle in a haystack compared to how brightly and often his father shone on TV screens for more than a dozen years. Surely many remember the series "Borgia", where Jeremy played Pope Alexander VI, "Kingdom of Heaven" and his role of Tiberius, "The Man in the Iron Mask" (Aramis), the terrorist in "Die Hard 3" and, of course, his no less striking role Henry IV in The Empty Crown: The War of the Scarlet and White Rose.

7. Sean Astin

Since both of his parents were famous, respected actors, it's no surprise that Sean's career, spanning four decades with over a hundred roles, kicked off at an early age. He made his debut in 1981 in the television film Please Don't Hit Me Mom, in which he starred opposite his real mother Patti Duke.

His filmography is so rich and unique that many have probably seen at least one film with him. Not to mention, Sean starred in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, released in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Along with numerous awards for the trilogy (notably its final installment, The Return of the King), Sean brought home a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor, as well as awards from the Las Vegas Film Critics Society, Seattle Film Critics, the Utah Film Critics Association and the Society film critics of Phoenix.

On television, Sean has appeared in many films and series, including Jeremiah, where he played the enigmatic Mr. Smith, the hit thriller 24, and Guillermo del Toro's Tension.

He joined the award-winning cast of the exciting and critically acclaimed Netflix series Stranger Things as beloved Radio Shack manager Bob Newby. In 2019, he starred in three episodes of the final season of The Big Bang Theory and two episodes of Supergirl.

In addition, he voiced the beloved Raphael in the hit Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as the paranoid Siamese cat Chester in Bunnicula. And this is just a small part of the merits of a truly talented actor who really surpassed his equally talented father John Astin.

8. Peter Fonda

Peter Fonda's reputation as an actor never matched that of his father Henry or older sister Jane. His acting career was shaky and erratic from the start, and despite his role as Captain America in Easy Rider, it did not bring him the fame he dreamed of.

Like his sister, Peter had a difficult childhood. In his 1998 memoir Don't Tell Dad, he described his uneasy relationship with his famous dad.

Peter decided at an early age that he wanted to become an actor, and after studying at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, his father's hometown, he began performing at the local theater. His first success was starring in Harvey, about an alcoholic who believes he is seeing a giant rabbit. He made his Broadway debut in the 1961 army comedy Blood, Sweat and Stanley Poole, for which he won the Theater World award for Best Actor.

But no matter how hard Peter tried to reincarnate from one role to another, throughout his acting career he remained in the shadow of his father, with whom he was constantly compared, saying that he was far from Henry.

9. Robert Rainer

Robert Reiner was born in New York to Estelle Reiner (née Lebost) and Emmy award-winning actor, comedian, writer and producer Karl Reiner.

As a child, he often looked to his father as his inspiration and role model. This is why Rob often felt compelled to match his father's twelve Emmys, prestigious awards and successes.

When Robert graduated from high school, his parents advised him to participate in the Summer Theater. Rainer took a job as an apprentice at the Bucks County Theater in Pennsylvania. He completed his further education at the University of California Los Angeles Film School. But at the same time, he continued to feel insufficiently successful, still trying to match his father.

And soon he managed to achieve the very success that he had dreamed of for so long. Rob began his own directing career and many of his films have received Academy Award nominations.

Robert is also known as a political activist, co-founder of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, a group that has been a consultant on same-sex marriage. Rainer has spoken at several rallies on several controversial topics and is also considered an advocate for social issues such as domestic violence and tobacco use.

On top of that, Robert has also made cameos on shows such as 30 Rock, The Simpsons and Hannah Montana, as well as The First Wives Club, Bullets Over Broadway, Primary Colors and Throw Momma From the Train, among many others. can be considered those who really managed to surpass their own successful father by their own efforts and labor.

10. Emilio Estevez

Despite the fact that Emilio Estevez is the son of Martin Sheen and brother of Charlie Sheen, he turned out to be far from his star family, and remained in their shadow. But behind the shoulders of this actor there were many roles, but all of them, compared to the roles of his father, are a sheer dummy. At least, this is what numerous critics think, who never cease to compare the play of Emilio and Martin, who has a successful acting career behind him.

You can talk about films and actors forever. And what one likes is often not like another. However, history with the films of James Cameron Is a great example of this, because according to IMDb, some of his paintings are not at all worthy of attention.