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0 / 28 Fotos
Kate Hudson
- Kate's Hudson's mother is well known. Kate never needed to use Goldie Hawn's last name, nor that of her adoptive father, Kurt Russell, to find success.
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1 / 28 Fotos
Eva Amurri
- The actress has an equally famous actress as her mother: Susan Sarandon. They've worked together and both continue to be successful in Hollywood.
© Getty Images
2 / 28 Fotos
Margaret Qualley
- You probably know the name Andie MacDowell. What you might not know is that Margaret Qualley is her daughter. She's following her mom's footsteps and establishing herself as an actress.
© Getty Images
3 / 28 Fotos
Duncan Jones
- This accomplished film director, producer, and screenwriter is the son of the late British superstar David Bowie.
© Getty Images
4 / 28 Fotos
Carrie Fisher
- Carrie Fisher not only was a famous mother, but she was also the daughter of a famous mother: Debbie Reynolds.
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5 / 28 Fotos
Carrie Fisher
- Reynolds starred in many famous movies and shows, including 'Singin' in the Rain,' 'Will & Grace,' and 'Halloweentown.'
© Getty Images
6 / 28 Fotos
Gwyneth Paltrow
- Two hugely famous stars with different last names, Gwyneth Paltrow is the daughter of actress Blythe Danner.
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7 / 28 Fotos
Angelina Jolie
- Their relationship is famously troubled, but it's safe to say that Jon Voight's daughter did pretty well for herself without his last name.
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8 / 28 Fotos
Kaia Gerber
- Cindy Crawford's daughter can change her name 100 times, but the resemblance to her mom is just too obvious. She's following the footsteps of her former supermodel mother and is doing great.
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9 / 28 Fotos
Emilio Estevez
- Unlike his brother Charlie, Martin Sheen's other son kept his father's original last name (Martin's real name is Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez). He went on to become a successful actor, director, screenwriter, and producer.
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10 / 28 Fotos
O'Shea Jackson Jr.
- You probably remember O’Shea Jackson Jr. playing his dad in 'Straight Outta Compton.' Yes, he's Ice Cube's son.
© Getty Images
11 / 28 Fotos
Mamie Gummer
- How's Meryl Streep for a famous mother? Despite not carrying her famous mom's name, Gummer has had a successful career as an actress.
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12 / 28 Fotos
Riley Keough
- The actress has a very famous family name indeed, but she's doing great without it. She's the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley, making her the granddaughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley.
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13 / 28 Fotos
Mariska Hargitay
- Did you know that the 'Law & Order' star is the daughter of an equally famous Hollywood star? Her mother was Jayne Mansfield.
© Getty Images
14 / 28 Fotos
Jason and Robert Schwartzman
- Can you recognize Jason and Robert's mother? Yes, it's actress Talia Shire. Better know for playing Adrian in the 'Rocky' movies.
© Getty Images
15 / 28 Fotos
Billie Lourd
- Can you imagine being a kid and telling your friends that Princess Leia was your mom? Carrie Fisher's daughter is following her footsteps in Hollywood and has been doing pretty well!
© Getty Images
16 / 28 Fotos
Chet Haze
- You might know him for his rapper name Chet Haze, but the son of Tom Hanks is also a successful actor.
© Getty Images
17 / 28 Fotos
Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon
- Madonna's first daughter is finding her space as a celebrity. Though, to be fair, Ciccone is Madonna's last name, but not many people know that!
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18 / 28 Fotos
Keira Knightley
- The famous actress is the daughter of Sharman MacDonald, an actress, screenwriter, and playwright.
© Getty Images
19 / 28 Fotos
Elle King
- Rob Schneider's daughter changed her name to King (which is her mother's last name) to pursue a singing career without people associating her with her father.
© Getty Images
20 / 28 Fotos
Larry Hagman
- Can you guess who 'Dallas' J.R. Ewing's mother was? The famous actress Mary Martin.
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21 / 28 Fotos
Maya Rudolph
- Maya Rudolph's mother was singer Minnie Riperton. She was known as the "queen of the whistle register," because of her five-octave vocal range.
© Getty Images
22 / 28 Fotos
Anderson Cooper
- The famous journalist is the son of fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt. He did pretty well without the help of the Vanderbilt name, we must say.
© Getty Images
23 / 28 Fotos
Norah Jones
- The famous singer, born Geetali Norah Shankar, is the daughter of the famous Indian musician Ravi Shankar.
© Getty Images
24 / 28 Fotos
Reginae Carter
- The daughter of Lil Wayne is on a TV show, has a book, and is pursuing a music career as well.
© Getty Images
25 / 28 Fotos
Jack Schlossberg
- Jack Schlossberg is the son of Caroline Kennedy, making him the only grandson of JFK. He's doing great in law school and is likely to have a successful career. All this without the Kennedy name behind him.
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26 / 28 Fotos
Natasha Richardson
- The late actress had an equally famous mother: actress Vanessa Redgrave. Sources: (Babygaga) (Best Life) See also: Celebrity kids who became more famous than their parents
© Getty Images
27 / 28 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 28 Fotos
Kate Hudson
- Kate's Hudson's mother is well known. Kate never needed to use Goldie Hawn's last name, nor that of her adoptive father, Kurt Russell, to find success.
© Getty Images
1 / 28 Fotos
Eva Amurri
- The actress has an equally famous actress as her mother: Susan Sarandon. They've worked together and both continue to be successful in Hollywood.
© Getty Images
2 / 28 Fotos
Margaret Qualley
- You probably know the name Andie MacDowell. What you might not know is that Margaret Qualley is her daughter. She's following her mom's footsteps and establishing herself as an actress.
© Getty Images
3 / 28 Fotos
Duncan Jones
- This accomplished film director, producer, and screenwriter is the son of the late British superstar David Bowie.
© Getty Images
4 / 28 Fotos
Carrie Fisher
- Carrie Fisher not only was a famous mother, but she was also the daughter of a famous mother: Debbie Reynolds.
© Getty Images
5 / 28 Fotos
Carrie Fisher
- Reynolds starred in many famous movies and shows, including 'Singin' in the Rain,' 'Will & Grace,' and 'Halloweentown.'
© Getty Images
6 / 28 Fotos
Gwyneth Paltrow
- Two hugely famous stars with different last names, Gwyneth Paltrow is the daughter of actress Blythe Danner.
© Getty Images
7 / 28 Fotos
Angelina Jolie
- Their relationship is famously troubled, but it's safe to say that Jon Voight's daughter did pretty well for herself without his last name.
© Getty Images
8 / 28 Fotos
Kaia Gerber
- Cindy Crawford's daughter can change her name 100 times, but the resemblance to her mom is just too obvious. She's following the footsteps of her former supermodel mother and is doing great.
© Getty Images
9 / 28 Fotos
Emilio Estevez
- Unlike his brother Charlie, Martin Sheen's other son kept his father's original last name (Martin's real name is Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez). He went on to become a successful actor, director, screenwriter, and producer.
© Getty Images
10 / 28 Fotos
O'Shea Jackson Jr.
- You probably remember O’Shea Jackson Jr. playing his dad in 'Straight Outta Compton.' Yes, he's Ice Cube's son.
© Getty Images
11 / 28 Fotos
Mamie Gummer
- How's Meryl Streep for a famous mother? Despite not carrying her famous mom's name, Gummer has had a successful career as an actress.
© Getty Images
12 / 28 Fotos
Riley Keough
- The actress has a very famous family name indeed, but she's doing great without it. She's the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley, making her the granddaughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley.
© Getty Images
13 / 28 Fotos
Mariska Hargitay
- Did you know that the 'Law & Order' star is the daughter of an equally famous Hollywood star? Her mother was Jayne Mansfield.
© Getty Images
14 / 28 Fotos
Jason and Robert Schwartzman
- Can you recognize Jason and Robert's mother? Yes, it's actress Talia Shire. Better know for playing Adrian in the 'Rocky' movies.
© Getty Images
15 / 28 Fotos
Billie Lourd
- Can you imagine being a kid and telling your friends that Princess Leia was your mom? Carrie Fisher's daughter is following her footsteps in Hollywood and has been doing pretty well!
© Getty Images
16 / 28 Fotos
Chet Haze
- You might know him for his rapper name Chet Haze, but the son of Tom Hanks is also a successful actor.
© Getty Images
17 / 28 Fotos
Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon
- Madonna's first daughter is finding her space as a celebrity. Though, to be fair, Ciccone is Madonna's last name, but not many people know that!
© Getty Images
18 / 28 Fotos
Keira Knightley
- The famous actress is the daughter of Sharman MacDonald, an actress, screenwriter, and playwright.
© Getty Images
19 / 28 Fotos
Elle King
- Rob Schneider's daughter changed her name to King (which is her mother's last name) to pursue a singing career without people associating her with her father.
© Getty Images
20 / 28 Fotos
Larry Hagman
- Can you guess who 'Dallas' J.R. Ewing's mother was? The famous actress Mary Martin.
© Getty Images
21 / 28 Fotos
Maya Rudolph
- Maya Rudolph's mother was singer Minnie Riperton. She was known as the "queen of the whistle register," because of her five-octave vocal range.
© Getty Images
22 / 28 Fotos
Anderson Cooper
- The famous journalist is the son of fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt. He did pretty well without the help of the Vanderbilt name, we must say.
© Getty Images
23 / 28 Fotos
Norah Jones
- The famous singer, born Geetali Norah Shankar, is the daughter of the famous Indian musician Ravi Shankar.
© Getty Images
24 / 28 Fotos
Reginae Carter
- The daughter of Lil Wayne is on a TV show, has a book, and is pursuing a music career as well.
© Getty Images
25 / 28 Fotos
Jack Schlossberg
- Jack Schlossberg is the son of Caroline Kennedy, making him the only grandson of JFK. He's doing great in law school and is likely to have a successful career. All this without the Kennedy name behind him.
© Getty Images
26 / 28 Fotos
Natasha Richardson
- The late actress had an equally famous mother: actress Vanessa Redgrave. Sources: (Babygaga) (Best Life) See also: Celebrity kids who became more famous than their parents
© Getty Images
27 / 28 Fotos
Celebrities who succeeded without their parents' last name
From actors to singers
© Getty Images
It's safe to say that a famous name can take you places. You don't automatically get a free pass to success, but it certainly helps if your last name is known in the world of showbiz.
Many stars born to famous families have, however, rejected the old tradition of nepotism. In fact, all the celebrities in this gallery have shown that they could become successful without the weight of their famous parents' last name behind them.
Click through and discover the stars who've found their own fame without their celebrity parents' last name.
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