9 Young Actors Who Look So Much Like Their Famous Parents, They Got Cast as Them

Young Sheldon 0

In general, Hollywood nepotism is pretty unfair. However, there’s one situation where, honestly, it makes sense: casting an actor’s child to play a younger version of their character.

Here are 16 times actors’ kids shared their famous roles:

1. Laurie Metcalf had a recurring role on The Big Bang Theory as Mary Cooper, Sheldon’s mom, from 2007-2018.

Laurie Metcalf is sitting on a couch in a floral dress, smiling with hands clasped. A glass coffee table with snacks and a drink is in front of her
Michael Yarish / ©CBS / courtesy Everett Collection

Her daughter, Zoe Perry, played Mary Cooper on the prequel series Young Sheldon from 2017-2024, and she’ll be reprising the role on the spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.

Mary Cooper in a vintage-style kitchen looks contemplative. She wears a light dress with a belt. Unpacked boxes are on the counter
Cbs Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

In 2017, Zoe told The Hollywood Reporter, “I know the casting directors and they were aware of the parental connection, and [Young Sheldon co-creators] Chuck and Steve Molaro were as well. Chuck was aware that I had become an actor but not of anything I’d done. I went in knowing that I had this odd connection on my side. Odd meaning that I am my mother’s daughter and there was a character already established by her. I knew I had to prove to them that [casting me] would be a good idea and showcase what they were envisioning in this character in a different stage of life.”

2. That’s not the first time Laurie and Zoe shared a role! Laurie played Jackie Harris, Roseanne’s sister, on Roseanne from 1988-1997, then again on the shortly-lived reboot in 2018. She’s continued to play Jackie on the retooled reboot The Connors since 2018.

Bonnie Bramlett as Bonnie Watkins in a kitchen scene from the TV show "Roseanne," wearing a denim shirt and a cow-themed apron, holding a cleaning cloth
Abc Photo Archives / Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

On the original run of Roseanne, Laurie appeared as the younger version of Jackie Harris twice — once in 1992, and again in 1995.

A young Laurie dressed as a ballerina with a tiara is sitting and talking. An adult stands behind her
ABC / Via Peacock

3. In 2022, Tom Hanks starred as Otto Anderson in A Man Called Otto.

Tom Hanks waves with a slight smile, wearing a dark jacket and sweater. He is seated indoors next to a window with blinds
© Sony Pictures Entertainment / Courtesy Everett Collection

His son, Truman Hanks, played the younger version of Otto.

young Otto wearing a button-up shirt in a close-up
Sony Pictures Releasing / Via youtube.com

4. John Kani played King T’Chaka in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and 2018’s Black Panther.

John Kani wearing traditional attire in a savanna landscape
Marvel Studios / Via Disney+

His son, Atandwa Kani, planyed young T’Chaka in Black Panther.

Atandwa Kani in a Black Panther costume without a mask
Marvel Studios / Via Disney+

5. James Gandolfini played Tony Soprano on The Sopranos from 1999-2007.

James Gandolfini, portraying Tony Soprano, sits in an office setting with a bookshelf in the background, in a scene from "The Sopranos" on HBO
HBO / Via youtube.com

In 2021, his son, Michael Gandolfini, played a teenage Tony Soprano in The Many Saints of Newark.

Michael Gandolfini in a jean jacket with shearling collar, looks through a phone booth in a film scene
© Warner Bros. / Courtesy Everett Collection

Before reprising his dad’s iconic role, Michael hadn’t watched much of The Sopranos. However, he knew writer/producer David Chase growing up, and he agreed to audition for the role in hopes of impressing the casting director enough to be considered for different parts in the future. To get ready for the audition, he watched the whole first season of The Sopranos.

He told the New York Times, “It was hard to watch my dad alone and then having no one to lean onto…He so was not Tony. The only insight that I think I gained was deep pride in him. I’m exhausted after three months — you did that for nine years?”

6. From 2022-2023, Rhys Darby starred as Stede Bonnet on Our Flag Means Death.

Rhys Darby dressed as Stede Bonnet in a rustic setting from "Our Flag Means Death," wearing a light, old-fashioned shirt
Max / Via you

His son, Theo Darby, played Stede as a child in three episodes in 2022.

A young Stede in historical attire with a tri-corner hat, gloves, a dark coat, and a blood-splattered  neck scarf, stands outdoors among greenery
Max

7. Mark Harmon played NCIS SA Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS from 2003-2021. He reprised the role on NCIS: New Orleans from 2014-2021 and the pilot episode of NCIS: Origins in 2024.

Mark Harmon wearing a suit, standing near police tape at an outdoor crime scene
Cbs Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

Between 2008-2020, his son, Sean Harmon, guest starred as a young Gibbs on NCIS seven times.

young Gibbs is seen with a slight injury on his forehead, wearing a uniform and speaking seriously
CBS / Via youtube.com

While fimling an epsiode in 2020, Sean had the idea for the prequel series NCIS: Origins. In 2024, he told USA Today, “It was a lightning-bolt moment. Gibbs is a guy who has something broken inside, a guy who at one point could have down a darker path.”

However, he had no desire to play the lead himself.

He said, “It was an absolute honor to step into the role; it will always be something I’ll hold close to my heart. In truth, I never intended to make a career out of it.”

Austin Stowell stepped into the role of Gibbs on NCIS: Origins.

8. Mark Consuelos played the villainous Hiram Lodge on Riverdale from 2017-2023.

Camila Mendes and Mark Consuelos in a field scene, Mendes facing away in a sleeveless dress, and Consuelos in a blazer and shirt, holding an object
Dean Buscher / ©The CW Network / Courtesy Everett Collection

His son, Michael Consuelos, appeared as teenage Hiram Lodge twice — once in 2018, and again in 2021.

Michael Consuelos in a high school setting, in a leather jacket holding a thermos
Katie Yu / ©The CW / Courtesy Everett Collection

In 2018, Michael told Live with Kelly & Ryan, “Dad told me that they wanted me to audition for it, and I was so nervous. I never auditioned for anything before. So, I went there with a bunch of people who could’ve been brothers or cousins. It looked like there was a bunch of Michaels in the audition room.”

9. From 2013-2019, Dascha Polanco played Daya Diaz on Orange Is the New Black.

Dascha Polanco, in a prison uniform, appears concerned in a scene from a TV show, with two blurred men in suits in the background
JoJo Whilden / ©Netflix / courtesy Everett Collection

In 2017, her daughter, Dasany Kristal Gonzalez, played 14-year-old Daya in a flashback.

young Daya has an expression of surprise or excitement. She wears a shirt with metallic details and large hoop earrings
Netflix
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