Hollywood's hidden connections: 12 celebrities you didn't know were related

It’s always amusing to connect the dots between family lines and find out who's related to whom.

Talking about the buzzing entertainment industry of Hollywood, we’re aware of the nepotism claims artists are met with if they have any lineage or ancestral connections within the industry.

The Kardashian-Jenners, the Baldwins, the Osbournes, the Jacksons, the Smiths, the Beckhams, the Roberts family, the Clooneys, the Crawford-Gerber family are the famous connections that we already know.

Have a look at some celebrities who have surprising connections you might not have been aware of:

Sabrina Carpenter and Nancy Cartwright

Sabrina Carpenter, the internet sensation ruling pop culture these days, is the niece of Nancy Cartwright, the renowned and highly acclaimed voice actress behind Bart Simpson.

The 67-year-old artist confirmed the buzz in a clip shared on her Instagram handle, stating that the Espresso hitmaker is indeed closely related to her.

Gushing over Carpenter, Cartwright said, “She’s pretty amazing.”

Matthew Perry and Keith Morrison

This connection now carries a sense of grief, as Friends alum Matthew Perry is no longer among us. But he had a family tie within the field of jorunalism: Keith Morrison, famous for his work as a correspondent for NBC’s Dateline, is Perry's stepfather.

It is worth noting that Perry, who died on October 28, 2023, had spoken highly of Morrison on various occasions, particularly for helping bring his broken family together, per Daily Mail.

Matty Healy and Denise Welch

Many people don't know this deep connection, but Matty Healy is the son of actress and TV personality Denise Welch.

Recently, Welch made headlines by throwing shade at the 1975 frontman’s former fling, Taylor Swift.

It is pertinent to mention that Healy and Swift dated briefly in 2023.

In a surprising update, Welch admitted that she was “glad” she didn't end up being the 35-year-old songstress’s mother-in-law, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Snoop Dogg, Ray J and Brandy

Snoop Dogg is a first cousin of American singers Ray J and Brandy. They share a family connection through their parents, who are siblings or cousins, with roots in McComb, Mississippi.

As reported by US Weekly, the 53-year-old rapper even teamed up with Brandy for a 2009 duet, Special.

Austin Butler and Ashley Tisdale

This one wasn't just a surprise for fans, it was for Ashley Tisdale too. In a bizarre turn of events, the High School Musical alum and Elvis actor Austin Butler are 10th cousins.

They discovered this surprising connection after working together on Aliens in the Attic and Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure.

Tisdale learned about their family link on an episode of Ancestry's 2 Lies & A Leaf. 

Jason Sudeikis and George Wendt

Jason Sudeikis, best known for playing the role in Ted Lasso, is the nephew of the late Cheers actor George Wendt.

Wendt was the maternal uncle of Sudeikis, specifically, the brother of his mother, Kathy.

Following his uncle's passing on May 20, 2025, the We’re the Millers actor fondly remembered him, crediting Wendt with being an integral influence in his life.

“He was an incredible influence to me, both as someone that plays the trail being from the Midwest and teaching me that acting was a career you could actually have,” Sudeikis recalled, per the New York Post.

Tom Hanks and Abraham Lincoln

Here's a bombshell: Tom Hanks is distantly related to Abraham Lincoln. They are connected through Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks, making them distant cousins.

To be clearer, according to NBC, the 69-year-old actor, famous for his breakthrough character in Forrest Gump, is a third cousin, four generations removed from the 16th U.S. President.

Abby Elliott and Chris Elliott

Abby Elliott, known for her roles in How I Met Your Mother and The Bear, is the daughter of Schitt’s Creek actor, Chris Elliott.

The father-daughter duo also share a legacy at Saturday Night Live, with Chris having been a cast member and Abby later joining the show.

Fun fact: The Elliots appeared together in How I Met Your Mother. Chris played Mickey, the father of Lily, while Abby played Jeanette Peterson.

Jonah Hill and Beanie Feldstein

Jonah Hill and Beanie Feldstein are real-life siblings, as the Booksmart actress is the younger sister of the 41-year-old Superbad actor.

The pair share a very close relationship and are frequently seen supporting each other’s work.

Hill has often praised his sister’s talent and work ethic.

According to Vanity Fair, he once called her an “iconic sister alert” before her big Broadway debut.

Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning, and Kate Middleton

Elle Fanning and Dakota Fanning are connected, a fact most people are aware of, but the sisters have some regal blood running through their veins, which is nothing short of mind-blowing.

To everyone’s utter surprise, Elle and Dakota are Kate Middleton’s 21st cousins, according to PEOPLE.

This distant relationship stems from a shared ancestor, King Edward III, through their mother, Heather Joy Arrington.

Middleton’s mother, Carole Middleton, is also a great-granddaughter of King Edward III.

Previously, in 2014, when Elle got to know about the news, she told E! News, “It’s so weird.”

The Maleficent actress added, "I saw it the other day. My cousins called me up and they were like, 'Look online!' I looked online and like King Edward III is my great-great-great-grandfather. I was like, 'Is this real?'"

"It's crazy," she remarked.

Brad Pitt and Barack Obama

Brad Pitt and former U.S. President Barack Obama are ninth cousins linked through Edwin Hickman, a shared ancestor who died in Virginia in 1769.

The connection was discovered in 2008 by the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

When asked about the revelation during an interview to The View, Obama joked, "I guess we're ninth cousins, something removed – or something. I think he got the better-looking side of the gene pool."

Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Lee Curtis:

Last but not the least, Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Lee Curtis share a very close and sacred bond, as Curtis is Gyllenhaal’s godmother.

The 44-year-old actor offered glimpses into their relationship last year, saying, “She gives me strength and gives me love at times [that] I’ve definitely needed it, and I hope I can be the same for her.’

He also expressed his desire to work with the Freaky Friday actress, noting that it would be an “honour” to work alongside Curtis.